[ART CREDIT]
- THE NATHAIR -
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"The Nathair is a snake native to the island of Veil Isle, or New Riseport, off of the coast of Sanardu. The snake has lived there and evolved naturally into its present form since a time before Alterans came to the continent. It is unknown how long they live for, or how large they can become."
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H A B I T A T
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They live primarily at the base of trees or on the edge of lakes, basking in what warmth there is to bask in. They are capable of holding their breath for a surprising length of time and so can frequently be found swimming or lounging in water like our real world caiman. They are also good climbers, and can be found in trees - virtually anywhere that food may be found in the jungle, essentially.
They do not live outside of hot and humid environments. They are cold blooded, and the size of their body prevents them from being able to live somewhere that can’t support the temperature they must operate at. Whilst mainly found on the isle of New Riseport, they can be found rarely in other similarly hot, humid locations.
P H Y S I O L O G Y
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The Nathair can grow to upwards of thirty meters in length, with a proportionate diameter as well. Their eyes and noses are on top of their heads, with two pairs of prominent fangs which can range in size from one to six inches in length (or more, depending on its size). The Nathair has unusually tough scales, roughly equivalent to copper in durability (though more brittle, inflexible as they are). The scales are remarkably iridescent colours, glinting strangely in the light of torches or the sun, but outside of that context in the dim jungle they blend in surprisingly well with trees and leaves.
The Nathair is capable of moving at terrifying speed in water, and moving quite fast on land as well. It is faster than a man swimming in water, and could keep pace with someone at a jog on flat terrain.
Females grow larger than males, by a relatively significant margin, though they look very similar in shade and colour and it can be hard to tell them apart. Juveniles have a more distinguishable pattern of black blotches against greener skin, almost akin to the pattern of a leopard, which fades over time as they darken in colour with age.
The eyes of this snake are golden in colour, shining brilliantly in the light of the sun, and the scales of the snake are much larger than normal, appearing almost more as armor than skin.
Lifespan;
The Nathair has not been seen enough to know how old they can become, some suggest at least one hundred years whilst others propose they simply don’t stop growing over time. They breed only once every two to three years, producing 20-30 live young at a time. From the moment they are born, they instinctively know how to hunt, and move off into the world without relying on their mother.
Juveniles find it harder to survive for the first five years of their life, and so tend to stay up in the treetops relying on their greener skin and dark blotches that imitate the shadows of leaves, picking off small lizards or birds and whatever they may find. It is only in their later stages of life they come down to the jungle floor to hunt, when they are big enough to survive there.
B E H A V I O U R
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The snake spends about two thirds of its entire life span just lounging around and digesting. It digests phenomenally slowly compared even to other snakes. As a result, it comes off as being relatively lazy, and does not openly attack or give chase unless it is provoked (or hungry). They are not territorial creatures either, but do tend to give way to the larger of the two and find a better basking spot elsewhere, though juveniles must remain at a distance less they be considered an easy meal.
It is also primarily a nocturnal feeder, much preferring to spend the daylight hours in the warmth of the sun.
Hunting and Diet;
The Nathair hunts anything which it can fit inside its mouth, which can open wide enough for larger prey. When they are juveniles, this can mean small things like eggs, birds, and small fish. As they grow larger, such small morsels don’t suffice anymore, and they begin to eat larger things - up to and including people.
Typically it will lie in wait until something moves past, lunge at it with its fangs to latch on, and then hold it still through sheer mass as its body coils around and constricts it until it dies. It can also be seen actively chasing down animals which can’t swim well in the water, or wounded animals on land, for the same effect. After it has eaten, it does not need to do so again for weeks or months at a time depending on the size of the meal, doing nothing but basking in the sun unless threatened. When an adult, the snake is so humongous that virtually nothing on the island can threaten it, however.
A B I L I T I E S
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There are several things of note the Nathair has that aid its survival in its long lifespan;
[Large Fangs] The fangs of a Nathair can grow to be six inches in length or more, and as a result even without venom their bite is incredibly dangerous. They have great strength in their bite, and can pierce through leather and sometimes get partly through chain in the same way daggers would manage it.
[Crushing Strength] It is a constrictor, and therefore capable of killing prey effectively with the strength it holds once coiled around it. They are large enough that this strength can break bones, but that is the least of your concerns should you be ensnared by one, as it cuts off circulation and oxygen too.
W E A K N E S S E S
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Whilst it has little to fear once it is large enough, the young ones have various natural predators, from large birds to other snakes.
Y I E L D S
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Gives the usual, meat, bone, skin, fangs, but here's some in detail;
[Scales] Nathair scales are equivalent to copper in strength, and so their skins can provide some degree of protection, if not just look unique.
[Fangs] The fangs are the equivalent to a dagger of iron, but they are curved and not reliable to be used as one. They remain sharp, however.
[Skin] They shed their skin like any other snake, which can be found left about their habitat on a rare occasion.
Original Writeup: blargtheawesome
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