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Description

Cauldron Wyrm, "Sky Whale"
Massive, whale-like predators

Physique
Cauldron Wyrms are one of the only known Wyrms to reach a mass rivaling that of draconids, and the largest flying creature found above the Lower Zone. Females are notably larger than males, reaching up to 56 feet in length compared to their 40 foot long counterparts along with having a more muscular composition.

Like all Wyrms, their body plan consists of a large head attached to a worm-like abdomen lacking legs. Their only limbs are those that comprise their large fin-like wings, which is largest at the front shoulder and gradually decreases in size towards their tail before branching out into a split fin, giving them a ray-like silhouette. At the ends of the limbs comprising these kite-like wings are large curved claws; these claws are muscular enough to support the creature's weight when they land on the ground, though they rarely do so, and spend as much as 90% of their observable life being airborne. When grounded, their movement is clunky and they must move slowly while undulating weight between their numerous limbs in a centipede-like manner (though at a much slower pace).

Unlike most creatures on Scourge, they are almost entirely lacking scales or armor and are instead covered in downy plumage that is pitch black in color and covered in a light layer of black oily film. This makes them the largest known creature of Scourge and the only super predator (save for the physical manifestation of the Scourgian diety) not covered in scales or armor. Their head is rather large and wide with very small, thin teeth that seem to have been obsoleted by the creature's whale-like lifestyle. Like all Wyrms, they have large shelled eyes that appear insect-like; their pupils cannot move, and they likely see the world in a panoramic view. This eye plan unusual for a predator, but their panoramic vision likely allows them to keep track of a scattering swarm they are pursuing.

Dotted along their chest and ribcage are red-dispersal orifices glowing brightly with fluctuating Red Energy. These orifices likely function the same way they do in smaller Wyrm species by using polarized red energy to create circulation that allows them to gather more energy from the air and disperse expended energy from their bodies, like gills inhaling and exhaling radiation. They are heavily dependent on having robust stores of Red Energy in order to function, and are more reliant on it than any other creature in the Middle Zone. It is undoubtedly what allows such large and bizarrely-shaped creatures to fly and stay airborne for so long.

Distribution
They spend the majority of their lives in the Temple Region, and even remain in the region during its annual rise and fall between the Middle and Lower zones. While in the Lower Zone they commit to an annual migration either to or from the Lower Sea Deposits, travelling their one year to breed and travelling home the next year with their young.

Diet and Feeding Behavior
While in the Middle Zone, they feed almost exclusively off of Hive Dragons and Red Crystals. Like how whales feed off colonies of krill, these "Sky Whales" will fly through swarms of Hive Dragons with an open mouth; a single creature may completely decimate an entire flock in a single feeding, though they rarely manage to catch all members of it. Besides Hive Dragons, they will often fly through clouds of crystal shards to feed on the red-dense moisture and floating crystals. They are incredibly reliant on Red Energy in order to function and frequently have to seek out crystals to maintain this energy; despite spending much of their lives in the Middle Zone, they maintain a level of Red Energy within themselves that rivals permanent residents of the Lower Zone.

Their diet in the Lower Zones is unknown, but is likely similar. Though it is not proven, we suspect they must have a sensory organ of some sort in order to detect prey in the incredibly dark atmosphere of the Lower Zones. They likely feed off of less crystals while in the denser atmosphere.

Due to their diet of small creatures they are remarkably tolerant of human beings, who they see as neither prey nor threat. They are nonchalant in our presence and have never displayed aggression towards a person.

Lifecycle
Cauldron Wyrms live exclusively solitary and matriarchal lifestyles. Females, who tend to be much larger than males, will aggressively hold food-rich territories that they protect from other females. These territories are designated by emitting deep bellows, the volume of which is adjusted depending on her proximity to the territory's center so that its echoes only reach those dangerously close to her territory. Aggressive encounters typically consist of both females emitting such deep bellows; they will first attempt to display prowess and size to each other in a battle of bluffs, and resort to violence should neither party surrender.

Males are far too small to possibly challenge their female counterparts and live mostly nomadic lives, vying for the approval of the local matriarch so that she might tolerate his presence in her land. A lone migratory male will cautiously approach a female in the air while calling out song-like coos; he will remain at a cautious distance behind her, testing her response to his presence, and while he may easily be chased away at the slightest aggression he will make repeated attempts to earn her favor. Once he is certain that the local matriarch is comfortable with his presence, he will make himself home as a permanent resident in her land; he will choose a den site of his own to sleep, and will hunt food for himself. He may occasionally revisit the local matriarch to coo to her momentarily, reminding her of his existence as a familiar presence and reaffirming his residence. This relationship is entirely respectful of the matriarch as a superior force, and a male will never act aggressive to a female who could easily kill him; he exists only with her permission. A single female may have as many as 5 males sharing her territory, though the numbers are usually 2-3; they may have scuffles and territorial fights of their own, though a confrontation in the presence of the matriarch risks annoying her and getting them both banished.

Cauldron Wyrms will remain with the Temple Regions year-round, even when it sinks down to the Lower Zone. They are one of the few creatures we have ever seen with the ability to live for extended periods of time in different zones; the amount of red energy they rely on to live implies that they are comfortable members of the Lower Zone, and their presence in the Middle Zone is only borrowed time relying on stored energy. As we are unable to study them in detail within the dark atmosphere of the Lower Zone, we know little of their lifestyles during that time of the year.

---
Species/world c me
i also do comms. plz
7/26/2017 (scheduled submission)

Related:

Description

Cauldron Wyrm, "Sky Whale"
Massive, whale-like predators

Physique
Cauldron Wyrms are one of the only known Wyrms to reach a mass rivaling that of draconids, and the largest flying creature found above the Lower Zone. Females are notably larger than males, reaching up to 56 feet in length compared to their 40 foot long counterparts along with having a more muscular composition.

Like all Wyrms, their body plan consists of a large head attached to a worm-like abdomen lacking legs. Their only limbs are those that comprise their large fin-like wings, which is largest at the front shoulder and gradually decreases in size towards their tail before branching out into a split fin, giving them a ray-like silhouette. At the ends of the limbs comprising these kite-like wings are large curved claws; these claws are muscular enough to support the creature's weight when they land on the ground, though they rarely do so, and spend as much as 90% of their observable life being airborne. When grounded, their movement is clunky and they must move slowly while undulating weight between their numerous limbs in a centipede-like manner (though at a much slower pace).

Unlike most creatures on Scourge, they are almost entirely lacking scales or armor and are instead covered in downy plumage that is pitch black in color and covered in a light layer of black oily film. This makes them the largest known creature of Scourge and the only super predator (save for the physical manifestation of the Scourgian diety) not covered in scales or armor. Their head is rather large and wide with very small, thin teeth that seem to have been obsoleted by the creature's whale-like lifestyle. Like all Wyrms, they have large shelled eyes that appear insect-like; their pupils cannot move, and they likely see the world in a panoramic view. This eye plan unusual for a predator, but their panoramic vision likely allows them to keep track of a scattering swarm they are pursuing.

Dotted along their chest and ribcage are red-dispersal orifices glowing brightly with fluctuating Red Energy. These orifices likely function the same way they do in smaller Wyrm species by using polarized red energy to create circulation that allows them to gather more energy from the air and disperse expended energy from their bodies, like gills inhaling and exhaling radiation. They are heavily dependent on having robust stores of Red Energy in order to function, and are more reliant on it than any other creature in the Middle Zone. It is undoubtedly what allows such large and bizarrely-shaped creatures to fly and stay airborne for so long.

Distribution
They spend the majority of their lives in the Temple Region, and even remain in the region during its annual rise and fall between the Middle and Lower zones. While in the Lower Zone they commit to an annual migration either to or from the Lower Sea Deposits, travelling their one year to breed and travelling home the next year with their young.

Diet and Feeding Behavior
While in the Middle Zone, they feed almost exclusively off of Hive Dragons and Red Crystals. Like how whales feed off colonies of krill, these "Sky Whales" will fly through swarms of Hive Dragons with an open mouth; a single creature may completely decimate an entire flock in a single feeding, though they rarely manage to catch all members of it. Besides Hive Dragons, they will often fly through clouds of crystal shards to feed on the red-dense moisture and floating crystals. They are incredibly reliant on Red Energy in order to function and frequently have to seek out crystals to maintain this energy; despite spending much of their lives in the Middle Zone, they maintain a level of Red Energy within themselves that rivals permanent residents of the Lower Zone.

Their diet in the Lower Zones is unknown, but is likely similar. Though it is not proven, we suspect they must have a sensory organ of some sort in order to detect prey in the incredibly dark atmosphere of the Lower Zones. They likely feed off of less crystals while in the denser atmosphere.

Due to their diet of small creatures they are remarkably tolerant of human beings, who they see as neither prey nor threat. They are nonchalant in our presence and have never displayed aggression towards a person.

Lifecycle
Cauldron Wyrms live exclusively solitary and matriarchal lifestyles. Females, who tend to be much larger than males, will aggressively hold food-rich territories that they protect from other females. These territories are designated by emitting deep bellows, the volume of which is adjusted depending on her proximity to the territory's center so that its echoes only reach those dangerously close to her territory. Aggressive encounters typically consist of both females emitting such deep bellows; they will first attempt to display prowess and size to each other in a battle of bluffs, and resort to violence should neither party surrender.

Males are far too small to possibly challenge their female counterparts and live mostly nomadic lives, vying for the approval of the local matriarch so that she might tolerate his presence in her land. A lone migratory male will cautiously approach a female in the air while calling out song-like coos; he will remain at a cautious distance behind her, testing her response to his presence, and while he may easily be chased away at the slightest aggression he will make repeated attempts to earn her favor. Once he is certain that the local matriarch is comfortable with his presence, he will make himself home as a permanent resident in her land; he will choose a den site of his own to sleep, and will hunt food for himself. He may occasionally revisit the local matriarch to coo to her momentarily, reminding her of his existence as a familiar presence and reaffirming his residence. This relationship is entirely respectful of the matriarch as a superior force, and a male will never act aggressive to a female who could easily kill him; he exists only with her permission. A single female may have as many as 5 males sharing her territory, though the numbers are usually 2-3; they may have scuffles and territorial fights of their own, though a confrontation in the presence of the matriarch risks annoying her and getting them both banished.

Cauldron Wyrms will remain with the Temple Regions year-round, even when it sinks down to the Lower Zone. They are one of the few creatures we have ever seen with the ability to live for extended periods of time in different zones; the amount of red energy they rely on to live implies that they are comfortable members of the Lower Zone, and their presence in the Middle Zone is only borrowed time relying on stored energy. As we are unable to study them in detail within the dark atmosphere of the Lower Zone, we know little of their lifestyles during that time of the year.

---
Species/world c me
i also do comms. plz
7/26/2017 (scheduled submission)

Related: