Tremorback Devil

## Physiology

A bulky, mammalian quadruped, the Tremorback Devil is a creature around the size of a wild boar that is most notable for their prominent shell armors, a conglomerate of dermal plates and calcified, hardened, sediment minerals which grows on their backs. Akin to larger, nastier versions of common badland armadillos, Tremorback Devils have grown to be very stocky, with larger front legs and armed with a sharp, impressive set of talons, used for both climbing and gouging, while their hind legs are shorter and more rigid, specialized to movement and mobility. A devil's arm permutations also mean that it is more typically heavier in the front, and as such its plate carapace widens to accommodate its forward limbs comfortably. A devil's carapace permutation and spinal structure allow it to curl itself up into a tight ball, typically during their juvenile or young adult years, when their frames are more malleable. The thickness of their carapace can withstand great and violent impacts, while still being smooth enough to allow them to roll and tumble around on rough terrain.​

Life in the badlands is not an easy life, however, and though Tremorback Devils could be considered the apex lifeform, they are certainly not completely perfect. While most adaptations a devil makes is behavioral, there are certain changes extra changes to its physicality to aid it in surviving in the wastes. For instance, the portions of a devil that are not protected by its shell are covered in a scarce coat of fur strands. As all of it's sweat glands are also located in these areas, these strands of fur are almost always wet and matted. Additionally, the devil's teeth are flat, akin to a human's, with the exception of it's fangs. These teeth are designed for chewing flesh, rather than tearing into it, and while the creature's bite is still harmful, savaging prey with it's teeth is not typically a primary attack. The devil's body is comprised mainly out of muscle, mainly to assist it in scaling treacherous cliffs, canyons and hoodoos.​

## Mutation

While actual mutations among Tremorback Devils are rare, and occurrences of mutation are hardly beneficial to the mutated individuals, there is still a great deal of variation among the species. A devil forms it's shell during it's youth and juvenile years by allowing sediment and mineral deposits to calcify within its bone plates, resulting in shells of unique composition and structure for every individual devil.​

## Sexual Dimorphism

During conception, the male sperm of a Tremorback Devil is far more potent than female sperm, and as such the ratio of male to female devils is drastically skewed in favor of the males. Furthermore, despite being born with varying reproductive parts, a female devil isn't distinguished from its male counterparts until it reaches birthing age during its adulthood. Hormonal changes that result in pheromone excretions notify surrounding males that the female is around and fertile, which in turn attracts more males that compete for the right to breed. As a result of these hormonal changes, however, an adult female's shell typically becomes far more brittle than their male counterparts, resulting in identified females possessing shells of equal thickness to juveniles, rather than full fledged adults.​

## Climate

Being a warm-blooded mammal that lacks the thick fur and fat needed to thrive in cold climes, Tremorback Devils reside entirely in warm southern areas of the world. They do not seem to mind weather conditions, being perfectly comfortable in conditions of heavy rain and drought-like heat, though water is typically scarce in the habitats they reside in. It should be noted that thunder and loud noises of the sort will aggravate a devil, however, and these creatures seem to be more anxious in the rare cases they are exposed to either.​

## Habitat

Due to the nature of its unique physiology, Tremorback Devils are commonly found where there is an abundance of sedimentary mineral reserves that they are able to develop into their shells. Places with an abundance of these reserves, such as in desert canyons and badlands are ideal places for them to make their homes. Adult devils are even sometimes spotted wandering grasslands and savannas, though they do not linger long in these areas.​

Juvenile devils will reside on the tops of cliffs, plateaus and sometimes hoodoos with their pack, while adults prefer to have their feet on stable ground, closer to water and food sources. Elder devils require some permanency in their lives, and will occupy or create caverns and hollows to reside in.​

An important note should be made to say that Tremorback Devils are very rarely seen in newly-made mountains that have not been subject to erosion. Due to the lack of mineral sediment in these areas, it is difficult for a devil to form their shells from the rigid mineral deposits.​

## Migration

Tremorback Devils do not display cohesive migration tendencies, and there are few changes in weather or season that would spur a mass movement of the creatures. Juvenile packs have typically been seen traversing the badlands, however, and male adults are often want to leave their place of origin once they have adopted a baby to raise. It would require a radical change in climate to cause a mass exodus of these beasts, which would undoubtedly also result in their extinction.​

## Diet

As they are rather large creatures for the environments they thrive in, a Tremorback Devil devours whatever it can find in the wasteland. Surviving off a protein rich diet, and little else, a devil will devour mites, ambush snakes, lizards and buzzards, and even scavenge meat from already slain creatures. This diet, paired alongside a sluggish metabolism allows them to build muscle without asking too much of their bodies.​

### Hunting

Hunting methods for a devil varies drastically based on the type of prey it hunts, along with the conditions the devil finds itself in. In general, Tremorback Devils of all ages will linger beside the dwellings of reptiles and insects, plaguing the creatures for weeks on end. They've also taken to scaling up to the perches of desert fowl, masquerading as stones before devouring them and their eggs.​

With the influx of migrants from the Northern Kingdoms, the devils have developed radically new methods of hunting these interlopers. Juvenile and adult devils, typically as part of a pack, will scale upwards to elevated positions and hurl themselves down towards their targets, hoping to crush them with their hard, heavy bodies. Should they fail, devils attack mainly with their forearms, savaging their victims. Even armored soldiers must exercise caution when up against one of these creatures, as they will attempt to pry their claws in between the plates, to damage the vulnerable flesh beneath.​

​Though devils aren't actually entirely sure how to deal with chainmail. That invention frustrates them to no end.​

## Behavior

Beginning with juveniles, who have recently split from their fathers, Tremorback Devils develop a great desire to conglomerate into packs of anywhere from a half of a dozen to a dozen of the creatures. This is mainly so each juvenile is able to protect each other while their shells are still forming and their frames are still small. As their shells heal faster, and are more malleable at this stage, juvenile devils have a habit of flinging themselves off of canyons and cliffsides, as a means of transportation and method of hunting larger game.​

As they develop into mature adults, the tendency to hurl themselves off of long dives drastically decreases, as their shells become more brittle (though they are apt to still do it on occasions). It's at this stage that female devils divert from males. Packs without females will often disband, while packs containing females will attract wandering males, and form into large herds. As the first babies are born, they are taken by males from the herd, who then set off to father these children in solitude.​

If a devil manages to make it into the elder stage, they lose their desire to breed and develop what seems to be a very cynical view on the world. These elders will hollow out mountains and caves, subjugating and dominating younger, wandering adults and juvenile packs to make them hunt for the elders. Elder devils then proceed to live in these caves until they expire.​

## Aging

Tremorback Devils develop rather quickly during infancy, growing into children in a single month's time, which is when they are taken to be raised by their fathers. Infant devils are small, lacking formed shells, around the same size as infant pigs. Children are anywhere between 30-40 centimeters long, and typically have leathery, armadillo-like shells, which are only beginning to collect mineral deposits on them.​

A devil is considered juvenile at anywhere from one to two years old, and spans anywhere from 70 centimeters to a meter long, having fair deposits of calcified sediment on their shells. Due to their desire to form into packs, general restlessness and still identifiable shells, these are also the most common devils encountered and reported. Devils remain in the juvenile phase of their lives for anywhere from the next 8 to 12 years.​

At the ages of 10-15, a Tremorback Devil is considered a fully fledged adult. These devils feature prominent plates of stony shell armor, and large, typically solitary creatures after fatherhood. Despite their maturity, however, Tremorback Devils do not actually stop growing, and their metabolisms slowly begin to accelerate at this stage of their life. This proves to be far more of a curse than a blessing for the devils, however, as the scarcity of food in the badlands often means that without assistance most male adults expire of starvation before 30.