Nyaides River Serpent

Here's your Virgins info spiel!

The Nyaides (Nuh-eye-aides) River Serpent, or Nyaides River Dragon. Occasionally referred to as a Nyadr (Nuh-yah-durr), the Nyaides River Serpent is named for the river it originates from. Despite it's name, it is not a serpent at all, having four fully functional legs which it can use to maneuver on land. However, while swimming it's movements much resemble those of an enormous serpent thus it's name.

It is estimated that only a small handful of adult Nyadrs actually live in the Nyaides River. They are most commonly found deep in the Western seas coming inland only once a year during mating season to lay their eggs.

Their fangs can secrete venom which they use to fight off predators or hunt for prey.

During mating season, males will crawl out of the river and fight each other along the banks in hopes to impress one of the watching females with their battle prowess, many a male has been killed during these battle displays. Nyadrs will only take one mate each season. The female will approach the male whom impressed her most during battle and the two will pick a spot on the river beach where they will dig a large hole. Once dug the female will lay her eggs (often up to 1000 of them) in the hole and the male will fertilize them before they bury the eggs and return to the sea.

Though each clutch of eggs can range in the thousands, very seldom to all of these egg hatch. In bigger cities, such as the capitol Archen Reol, Nyadr eggs are purchased and eaten as caviar. Suppliers will build homes near the riverbanks of prime mating territory. Once the season is over and the Nyadrs return to sea, they will go along the beach digging up clutches of eggs. There are also many natural predators who do this and due to their ability to sniff out the clutches, some of the smarter suppliers train these predators to locate the eggs for them. Luckily for the Nyadr, these caviar suppliers are smart enough not to dig up all they find, and will often pretend there are less available just to increase the price and thus their payment.

The eggs that do manage to hatch will be tested as they will have to crawl their way out of the sand and out to the water much like sea turtles. Some species of avian predators enjoy swiping a few slower hatchlings as a quick snack. With the combination of egg harvesting, predators, and the need for strength to even make it to the water, at this point only about half of the eggs have made it to childhood.

As soon as they enter the river, the hatchlings will swim along the river making their homes in the branch streams and creeks more often then the main flow. This is once more due to predators. Though much faster in the water, these young Nyadrs are still easy prey for larger fish and aquatic life. Occasionally a fisherman will catch one on his hook as well. In this case the young Nyadr is used as bate to reel in a much bigger catch. Because they make such good bate for larger river fish, the braver fisherman will search small creeks and streams in search of these young serpents. If you are searching for hatchlings you must have ample protective gear. For despite their small size, young Naydrs have as much of a venomous bite as adults, and just like snakes, they are unable to control how much venom they inject with one bite.

It takes anywhere from two to five years for a Nyadr to become large enough to venture into the sea. By that time, the clutch that started close to the thousands has been dwindled down below one hundred. But even adult Nyadrs never really run out of predators. There are many bigger fish in the sea who will swallow whatever they happen to find, and sailors can also be a problem. A passing ship low on supplies will quickly harpoon themselves a passing Nyadr. Not only is their meat edible (though not the best tasting, much resembling catfish) but their scales and bones can also be sold at market meaning more money for supplies or whatever else they may fancy.

As for the Nyadrs who remain in the rivers as adults, there are far less predators able to eat the fully grown dragonoid, and they easily lay claim to an area. Unlike Nyadrs in the sea, those inland will get quite defensive when too many others of their kind enter their claimed territory outside of mating season. It is speculated that this is due to having less water then at sea.

Nyadrs can also be used by sentient races for many purposes. A Dyrovian (The Fish people from the Lake City, Dyrovia) can wrangle a passing Nyadr and use as a mount when their typical mount of choice is not available. Nyadrs can swim faster underwater and move faster on land then Dyrovians can, thus making them good for that purpose. Some humans will lure out and capture adult Nyadrs for entertainment purposes, such as a zoo or circus. However, they cannot be tamed once adults and will escape at the first opportunity, or attempt to attack their wrangler. Ropes and mules are required to have one around for use.

Despite their home, only the hatchlings have gills which are temporary and will be unusable as they reach adulthood. This is what makes them such easy prey, they are loners and must come up to the surface to breathe.

Well wouldn't you like a nice ole Nyadr~!

Dyrovians, Nyadrs, Virgins, ALL THIS STUFF (c) me~ ^^