Netherdrake

The **Netherdrake** is a large Stoker Class dragon that lives in open caves.

## Official Description

Born of the howl between the worlds, the Netherdrakes are truly the children of Chaos. It spews forth bolts of pure nether energy and casts rift storms that allow it to teleport and quickly deplete the life of any threat. Although gentle if approached cautiously, this dragon is truly a force to be reckoned with when it is provoked.

## Physical Appearance

### Egg

The Netherdrake's egg is a deep violet, oval shaped egg. The surface of the egg is covered in thick scales, and multiple crystals can be found protruding from the shell.

### Hatchling to Adult

The Netherdrake is a gargantuan beast that varies in colors, the more common ones being blue and purple. Between its scales, nether energy glows. An adult Netherdrake has six horns, three on each side of its head. Its eyes will glow the same color as the energy in its cracks. Netherdrakes also have a large tail spike and a line of spines along its back.

## Abilities

### Nether Bolts

Instead of normal fire, the Netherdrake spews forth bolts of pure nether energy, able to literally suck the life out of opponents. Although, this ability has the same properties as normal dragonfire (ie. able to set things on fire), it is composed of the energy of the Netherdrake's birthplace.

### Rift Storm

A Netherdrake's Rift Storm is an incredible phenomenon, as the dragon itself seems to defy the laws of physics and gains immense speed, teleporting forward and emerging from a rift to the nether, the surrounding area filled with raw nether energy, able to bleed away an enemy's health.

Many describe this ability to be visually similar to the eye of a hurricane, shrouded in blue and violet hues. In some cases, there may even be a few strikes of lightning.

### Strength and Combat

Due to their size, Netherdrakes have an incredible advantage in battle, as if one is going up against a small group of hunters, all it has to do is step on them or fire a nether bolt. It is also able to send enemies flying back with just a single flap of its wings, or crush a catapult with its jaws.

The Netherdrake also has "impenetrable scales," which people describe to be harder to break than a diamond.

### Endurance and Stamina

Netherdrakes can last for hours in battle if needed, as they usually receive little to no damage because of their armor and end up finishing the battle before it even starts with a single rift storm. However, if it is going up against a formidable force such as another Netherdrake, it is able to take and endure multiple attacks.

## Weaknesses

Because of its reputation for having seemingly unbreakable armor, there are two well-known weak spots: the eyes and the wings.

A projectile attack (such as a harpoon or ballista) to the eye will immediately kill it, and the same attacks to the wing membrane will render the dragon flightless, leaving it open and vulnerable to predators, enemies, and hunters.

## Personality and Behavior

   Like most Stoker Class dragons, the Netherdrake is fiercely territorial. It inhabits large open caves, where it is sufficiently large enough to incubate and raise their young. They will attack if disturbed, but they will not respond aggressively should they be approached by a human or another dragon (outside of their nests.)

Most of a Netherdrake's day is spent sleeping. They do not fly for fun as many other species due, presumably due to their large size and the effort and energy it takes to fly for lengthy periods of time. Despite their high endurance, a Netherdrake would rather save their energy for dire need or hunting, rather than wasting it on recreational flying.

## Training

Disarm yourself and offer it a large mammal kill, like a caribou or a bear. Anything smaller will not work.

The Netherdrake will take a moment to decide if you seem trustworthy or not. If it eats your offering, you have gained its trust. If it doesn’t, back away slowly and leave the dragon be. It will take months of work to create a bond with this species, and even some individuals may grow bored of you and decide you're its next dinner.

This is the only method that has worked, but since it was used by Maya Prasanna, who is a Pure Dragonborn, she may have gained the Netherdrake's trust easier due to her blood. A Netherdrake has never been tamed by a normal human.

## Trivia

* The size of the crystals on a Netherdrake's egg can tell you when its close to hatching!
* The Netherdrake's roar is the Reaper Leviathan's Roar from Subnautica.
* As of the end of Éternel, only 4 Netherdrakes remain, three in the wild, and one tamed by Maya.

## Image Sources

1. Delve Dragon by jameswolf on DeviantArt
2. Netherwing Eggs by DragonCid on DeviantArt