A wyvern or fire drake (Art by OPUS ARTZ)
A wyvern, also known as a drake, is a legendary draconid with a reptilian body consisting of two legs (sometimes none), and a barbed tail. A sea-dwelling variant, dubbed the sea-wyvern, has a fish tail in place of a barbed dragon's tail. They are usually regarded as lesser dragons
Description[]
The wyvern is usually considered to have two legs, whereas the dragon may have either four or none. The wyvern is regarded, moreover, as the distant, lesser cousin to the dragon, similar to a dog being the distant cousin to the wolf. Wyverns tend to be smaller, weaker, not as intelligent, and ultimately inferior to the much more ferocious and powerful dragon.
While a dragon almost always has the ability to breathe fire (though other types of breath such as lightning have been seen as well), a wyvern will usually be unable to breathe fire. Those that can breathe fire are sometimes termed "fire drakes" and are still considered a lesser form. A wyvern will typically be unable to speak, while a dragon often does have that ability.
Overview[]
Ordinary folk often mistake wyverns for dragons, and the concept for the wyvern emerged from the human fear of reptiles. Hunters, however, immediately recognize these flying lizards, which tread upon the ground on two heavily-muscled legs. They also know that when fighting this beast, they must avoid the venomous stinger at the end of its tail and its jaws that bristle with deadly teeth.
Wyverns spend their time hunting livestock and as such are usually spotted near human settlements. Unlike dragons, wyverns do not actively attack humans when encroaching upon their village as they are mainly focused towards the sheep but will viciously attack anyone foolish enough to trespass on their territory or hunting grounds, including other draconids. Despite their ferocity, wyverns are a part of the natural order in the ecosystem like many other animals and are even prized by Druids who are capable of taming these beasts.
