Fiction:The Firmament/Shadow Wyrm

"There is no greater beast of war than a dragon, though they are by far the most difficult to break. It's all good, though; a true beastmaster enjoys the challenge for dominating a monster who can end their lives in an instant."

- Laurcur Veranis, Mirsan noble

Shadow wyrms are a feared species of true dragon who are among the most destructive and dangerous of their kind. They are among the greatest weapons of the nation of Mirseleth.

Biology
Shadow wyrms are powerfully-built, quadrupedal dragons sporting glowing red eyes, black scales and a gray underbelly. Their underbites are noticeably larger than those of other wyrms, and their crowns are adorned with a pair of massive horns which curve forward. Their backs are filled with spikes and their immense tails end in three separate tips. Shadow wyrms are born as large as a fully-grown grizzly bear and reach almost thirty meters in length over their lives, making them among the largest of all Great True Wyrms.

Ecology
Shadow wyrms have been seen across most of Telamon, but they are specifically native to the continent of Eusheth, where they make their lairs in the mountains of the region and enjoy cold climates. Through the ages, many of their kind have been captured, enslaved and bred by the dark elves to serve as beasts of war, with the dragons used by the elves generally being smaller in size than their wild counterparts.

Society
Shadow wyrms are exceptionally aggressive creatures and do not tolerate other creatures, even others of their own kind, except during their very brief mating season. The monsters are extremely domineering to their environment and will often kill wildlife for its own sake, as they revel in violence and asserting dominance over other lifeforms.

Abilities
Shadow wyrms are savage monsters in combat, and their cruel disposition ensures they will always attempt to tear their enemies to pieces should they be provoked. Their breath weapon is a powerful beam of concentrated darkness which weakens foes and reduces them into dry, shivered husks. Shadow wyrms also use their three-tipped tails to deliver very painful lashes, as the strikes are akin to a true whip - albeit significantly larger.