Editing Wyverns

'''Wyverns''' are a race of monsters/beings of Innworld that look similar to dragons but are smaller and often around as intelligent as monsters. They are often referenced as being one of the most dangerous singular beasts of Izril.

== Appearance, Powers and Abilities ==
Wyverns come in "variants", which indicates that there are several subspecies in different sizes and with varying abilities.<ref name="6.16"/> The ''white wyvern'' lives in the mountains, loves the cold, and is a major danger in winter.<ref name="2.17"/> This variant is also known as Frost Wyverns, and they possess frost breath.

A ''purple wyvern'' that Ryoka encountered near the bloodfields in winter had dark purple scales, was three times larger than her, but had no claws to speak of. It was vulnerable to freezing. She had no idea how it would be able to lift off or reach its flight height.<ref name="6.23f">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/24/2-23/ Chapter 2.23] and [https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/26/2-24/ Chapter 2.24]</ref>

Some wyverns are able to breathe fire.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2016/08/20/1-07/ Chapter 1.07]</ref><ref name="3.42">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/26/3-42/ Chapter 3.42]</ref><ref name="6.16">[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/05/14/6-16/ Chapter 6.16]</ref> There are also Lightning Wyverns,<ref name=":4">{{VERef|10.14}}</ref> Acid Wyverns,<ref name=":5" /> and Darkness Wyverns whose breath attack saps life from the target. There are Wyvern variants on [[Baleros]] that can camouflage themselves.<ref name=":2" />

Wyverns are capable of pooling their breath attacks into one. They can also do this with [[Oldblood Drakes|Oldblood Drake]] riders, even if they have different elements.<ref name=":2">[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/01/29/7-03/ Chapter 7.03]</ref>

While wyverns might not have ''claws'' (see above), the Wyvern ''tooth'' was mentioned in an epithet.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/02/15/1-01-h/ Chapter 1.01 H]</ref>

Wyverns are known to hunt at night, which might indicate night vision or some kind of radar sense.<ref name="3.42"/>

Wyverns has magical glands, dubbed 'riser sacs' by [[Fightipilota|Fightypilota]], that inflate to let them rise and descend. If they are damaged, a Wyvern cannot fly correctly.<ref name=":5" />

=== Wyvern Skin ===
Wyverns apparently have an extremely tough skin which is very often referred to when comparing combat abilities: [[Grimalkin]] compares [[Pisces]]' rapier unfavorably to the skin several times<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/07/16/6-31/ Chapter 6.31] and [https://wanderinginn.com/2019/08/20/6-39/ Chapter 6.39]</ref> and boasts that him training [[Moore]] would enable the half-giant mage to rip out a Wyvern's heart.<ref name ="6.32"/>. [[Lorent]] praises his blades as capable of slicing through it.<ref name="6.09" /> [[Snapjaw]] prized her teeth of capable to get through steel, enchanted armor and ''even'' wyvern hide when she failed to injure [[Zel Shivertail]].<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/29/4-48/ Chapter 4.48]</ref> A good [Lancer] can kill wyverns with a precise strike.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/16/4-46/ Chapter 4.46]</ref> The weighted blade in Yvlon's possession is able to cut cleanly through a wyvern's hide with the right slicing angle, according to [[Hedault]].<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/09/3-36/ Chapter 3.36]</ref>

=== Wyvern Lords/Kings ===
Similar to Griffins, Wyverns possessing exceptional power and intelligence comparable to [[Dragons]] may appear. They may come about when a Wyvern feeds on a highly magical food source for a decade,<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/03/01/9-38-tv-pt-1/ Chapter 9.38 TV (Pt. 1)]</ref> and as their magic grows, so does their mind.<ref>{{VERef|Goblin Days (Pt. 7) – No Answers and Answers}}</ref> These Wyverns are leaders of their kind and called Wyvern Lords or Kings. The [[Frost Wyvern Lord]] who attacked Pallass is an example of a Wyvern Lord.

Wyvern Kings and Queens are able to shapeshift.<ref name=":3">[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/07/12/9-06/ Chapter 9.06]</ref> At least one Wyvern King wore a crown.<ref name=":0">[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/04/26/8-82-pt-2/ Chapter 8.82 pt. 2]</ref> Multiple Wyvern Kings were present in a gathering of [[Wyrms]] and Dragons,<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/04/26/8-82-pt-3/ Chapter 8.82 pt. 3]</ref> one was a Dragonlord,<ref name=":3" /> and [[Teriarch]] considered Wyverns "one of [his] kind."<ref name=":0" /> Teriarch would've hesitated to fight an old Wyvern King in the skies.<ref name=":1">[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/04/26/8-82-pt-1/ Chapter 8.82 pt. 1]</ref>

== Habitat ==
Wyverns roost in the [[High Passes]]<ref name="6.16"/>, but also in rocky areas further south like in the area of the hobgoblin [[Rockbreakers Tribe]].<ref name="Chapter 5.55 G"/> The Walled Cities of [[Manus]] and [[Salazsar]] are also in areas where Wyverns are common. Frost Wyverns prefer colder temperatures.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/01/26/7-02/ Chapter 7.02]</ref>

This means that the danger of encountering larger wyverns in the wild is very real in Southern [[Izril]], and it concerns most lone travelers.<ref name="2.17"/><ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/01/26/interlude-krshia/ Interlude Krshia]</ref> Whether this means that Wyverns only live in Southern Izril, or just the most dangerous (and most commonly known) subspecies, is yet unclear.<ref name="Interlude Bird"/> Wyverns also exist in [[Baleros]].

Wyverns were, once, more common in Northern Izril. As they are natural rivals of [[Griffins]], that originally [[Terandria]]n species of flying eagle-lions has slowly become more common in the north and pushed into the wyvern habitats there.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ The Wandering Inn Glossary]</ref>

A group of several wyverns is known as a ''migration'', which indicates that they are usually stationary and single predators.<ref name ="6.32">[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/07/20/6-32/ Chapter 6.32]</ref> A more specific term is ''clutch'' or ''weyr'', the last term specifically used for Wyverns. A weyr may swell to include hundreds of individual wyverns under leadership of one particularly strong lead wyvern.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/01/19/7-00/ Chapter 7.00]</ref>

== Hunting Behavior ==
Wyverns are hunting from high overhead.<ref name="2.17">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/25/2-17/ Chapter 2.17]</ref> When people describe them as fast hunters,<ref name="3.42"/> they refer to their ability to ''dive'' incredibly fast,<ref name="2.17"/> and probably not to their normal flight speed.<ref name="2.17"/> This allows them to abduct their prey in a matter of seconds.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/06/09/2-28/ Chapter 2.28]</ref>

Wyverns rarely stop hunting their prey. Unless the hunted manages to get tree cover, the beasts swoop down on them.<ref name="3.42"/><ref name="6.16"/> Even when forced to the ground, they chase their prey further, although not at great speed.<ref name="6.23f"/> This indicates that Wyverns are not able to take flight at will, but need specific conditions to rise in the air.

There are records of Wyverns causing volcanic eruptions and launching attacks in the ash clouds.<ref name=":2" />

Wyverns dislike eating bugs or bug-like creatures such as [[Antinium]].<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/01/22/7-01/ Chapter 7.01]</ref>

== Threat Assessment ==
While everyone agrees that Wyverns are "death in the air", those in the know don't consider wyverns as the ''most'' dangerous aerial monsters of Izril, which would be the [[Vaas Beils]]. Wyverns, in the contrary, are apparently easier to spot from far away, so that preparations can be made against them. [[Bevussa]] also considers Starlings as extremely dangerous, when the little birds appear as a swarm.<ref name="Interlude Bird">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/12/30/interlude-bird/ Interlude - Bird]</ref>

Since there weren't many other food sources, the [[Rockbreaker Tribe]] goblins hunted wyverns for food, by throwing rocks at them. Later, [[Eater of Spears]] witnessed that throwing dead wyvern heads at the Drakes of a small town proved to scare those Drakes enough to evacuate.<ref name="Chapter 5.55 G">[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/01/29/5-55-g/ Chapter 5.55 G]</ref> The [[Redfang]] tribe also successfully fought Wyverns in the [[High Passes]].<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/09/27/3-17-t/ Chapter 3.17 T]</ref>

Forests can be deadly to wyverns as the canopies could shred their wings if they landed fast or hard enough. In fact, Wyverns sometimes died to Griffins, who loved to bait them into dives that crashed them into the trees, leaving them easy prey from above.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2021/10/03/8-46-g/ Chapter 8.46 G]</ref>

Groups of eagles are able to take on a wyvern in aerial battle,<ref name="Interlude Bird">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/12/30/interlude-bird/ Interlude - Bird]</ref> which is an argument against their ability to maneuver<ref name="Interlude Bird"/> during aerial fights.

::''Speculation: From the story so far, it can be concluded that Wyverns are aerial hunters and most effective when they surprise their prey on featureless ground.''
::''Strategies against them probably fall into different categories: Running fast and in quick maneuvers so they miss the prey on their dive; or having some cover so that they can't abduct the prey. Once the wyvern is forced to the ground, it is susceptible against all damage that can pierce into its skin or is big enough to deal bludgeoning damage. Another strategy would be to fight the wyvern in the air where it is possible to outmaneuver it.''

== Wyvern products ==
Wyvern meat is expensive, but [[Magnolia]] can't stand the taste of it. She admits, however, that it is supposedly healthy.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2016/11/06/1-03-r/ Chapter 1.03 R]</ref> The meat is also considered an ingredient in magical cooking.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/08/17/6-38/ Chapter 6.38]</ref>

Wyvern meat is available in Pallass at the warehouse of [[Melinni]]<ref name="6.09"/> or at the restaurant "Wyvern Steakhouse".<ref name ="6.32"/> According to local chef [[Lasica]], when prepared by her, it’s "very good fried thin and crispy".<ref name="6.09">[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/04/20/6-09/ Chapter 6.09]</ref>

Wyvern hide makes for very durable items. A specialty shop in Liscor sells (in the upper price range) wyvern-hide balls that are laminated to be smooth and frictionless in play.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/12/11/5-45/ Chapter 5.45]</ref> Wyvern leather can be used to make clothes similar to denim.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/07/30/interlude-mundanity-and-memorials/ Interlude - Mundanities and Memorials]</ref> Frost Wyvern leather, his treated by great [Tanners] like those of the [[Soliest Yerr tribe]], will have [Lesser Frost Resistance].<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/06/27/9-49/ Chapter 9.49]</ref> Lightning Wyvern leather mitigates static electricity.<ref name=":4" />

The [[Flooded Waters Tribe]] used the hide, sinew, and bones of Wyverns to craft crossbow-ballistas dubbed Thunderbows and Roarwings.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/03/15/7-12-g/ Chapter 7.12 G]</ref>

== Named Wyverns ==

* Coldcream - Frost (Handler: Chickenruler)<ref name=":5">{{VERef|Goblin Days (Pt.2) – The Pilot and the Knight}}</ref>
* Gravjaw - Common Fire (''Deceased'', Rider: [[Asiv]])
* Icecube - Frost  (Rider: [[Snapjaw]])
*Jekle - Frost<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/10/11/7-51/ Chapter 7.51]</ref>
* Snowscale - Frost (''Deceased'', Rider: [[Fightipilota]])
* Toffy - Darkness (Rider: [[Hiclaw]])

== Trivia ==
* In one of his yearly games, [[Niers Astoragon]] unleashed one or multple wyverns on the participants.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/06/08/6-23-d/ Chapter 6.13 D]</ref><ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/06/01/5-21-d/ Chapter 6.21 D]</ref>
* [[Reiss]] and [[Garen]] met and bonded when they encountered a baby wyvern hunting Reiss.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/12/29/5-50-g/ Chapter 5.50 G]</ref>
* Similarly, [[Ilvriss Gemscale|Ilvriss]] met [[Periss]] after she distinguished herself by killing a wyvern.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/05/17/4-36-o/ Chapter 4.36 O]</ref>
* Magnolia Reinhart's pink carriage is able to withstand a wyvern attack without damage.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/04/07/4-26-m/ Chapter 4.26 M]</ref>
* Despite how animalistic Wyverns are, Wyvern Kings are fully sentient people. Their souls reside in [[Kasignel]] alongside [[Dragons]] and [[Wyrms]].<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/04/26/8-82-pt-2/ Chapter 8.82 pt.2]</ref>
* Frost-type Draconids are among the most feared air-fighters for their capability to freeze wings, leaving opponents unable to fly.<ref name=":1" />
* Wyvern-class shields are huge tower shields braced by multiple people, meant to defend against powerful monsters.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/11/22/9-66/ Chapter 9.66]</ref>

== References ==
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[[Category:Monsters]]
[[Category:Food]]
[[Category:Wyverns|*]]
[[Category:Mounts]]