Fiction:The Firmament/Steelrust Wyrm

"This is the domain of the metallic herald of the storm. Avoid at all costs."

- Warning left near a steelrust wyrm's lair

Steelrust wyrms are a species of true dragon with power over the winds and scales made of solid steel.

Biology
Steelrust wyrms are quadrupedal Great True Wyrms whose most famed characteristic are their silver-coloured scales, which are made of steel. Their heads are adorned with three lairs of small, straight horns and their wings are very large, with webbing that expands all the way down to their tails. Unlike other dragons, steelrust wyrms must shed the entirely of their metallic shells as they grow in size; these scales rust over time, and the dragon breaks free of them, revealing a new soft layer of scales which harden over the course of days. The average adult steelrust wyrm is almost thirty meters long from head to the tip of its tail, and due to their metallic hide, they are the heaviest of all dragons in terms of sheer mass.

Ecology
Steelrust wyrms live in high altitudes, usually at the peaks of mountains, where they make their lairs. The World's Pinnacle Mountains of Khargramnir, as well as the mountain ranges of Grungirnur and the Giantsteppe are known territories inhabited by steelrust wyrms.

Society
Among the most haughty of dragons, steelrust wyrms are capricious creatures who are not fond of sharing their land with others, save for those who pledge their allegiance to them or are members of their family. Because of this, they are among the true dragons who most often gain followings of loyal kobolds, using them to assert their dominance and mark their territories.

Abilities
Steelrust wyrms are formidable creatures in combat, as their steel scales are extremely difficult to penetrate; usually, only creatures of comparable size and strength such as other true dragons can truly prove a danger to a steelrust wyrm. The species' breath weapon takes the shape of a powerful blast of wind which can send humanoids flying away, or break their bones from the sheer force of the attack. As their scales grow rusted, the dragon becomes more vulnerable to damage until it molts, but consequently becomes more enraged as the rust causes it increasing discomfort.

Notable steelrust wyrms

 * Kusharath - The Rusted Tyrant of Khargramnir