Grootslang

  As dragonkind spread their wings across Equilibrium, even the mystic lands of Aetheria were not left untouched by their influence. The grootslang is but one result of draconid spread across the dark continent, however unique in its terrifying technique.   To non-natives of Aetheria, it may seem like a strange subspecies of elephants. To the Zarkanians, they have a proverb -- “Beware the lonely liar in the shrubs.”   Within the Zarkanii branch of the Hunter’s Guild, there are countless books on observations that rule the grootslang into an evolutionary offspring of the drake. Furthermore, the drakes of Aetheria branched out into several new families of draconids, including the poisonous glassback basilisk.   The grootslang is, by several pieces of evidence, believed to originate as a hybrid between the drake and the basilisk. Retaining the stout and gargantuan form of the prior, while repurposing the colours and poison within the latter. Instead of visibility and toxins, the grootslang used the evolutionary traits of the basilisk to facilitate mastery in the art of mimicry.     Grootslangs have around the same size and weight as a bull elephant, regardless of gender. Within their bodies, however, nothing is alike the mammals they mimic.   Their muscle fibres are woven with a higher density and covered not in skin, but in thin soft scales. They have two stomachs, one to collect nutrients from dissolved prey, and a smaller to break apart poisons from the animals they eat.   Yet the clearest piece of evidence towards their drake ancestry, goes to a temperature regulating organ close to their heart. By drawing heat into the organ, it cools the insides of the creature down while pressing the warmth outside. The results are burning hot scales while the flesh of the grootslang is deceptively cold. Which is perfect for a coldblooded creature.   As for the venom recycled in their second stomach, the grootslang’s head may look like an elephant's, but the ears are actually a mouth that snaps shut like a venus flytrap, and their trunk is a massive tongue which curls in the opposite direction to that of a human. This liar’s snout has several small fangs on its back, like that of a lion. Except these fangs produce a paralysing toxin soothe their victims to unconsciousness, while the saliva disintegrates prey into a sludge that they then drink through their nose.     For a massive creature, the grootslang is absurdly clever in mimicry -- a tactic generally reserved for lesser critters or insectoids. Within its perpetually opened maw, their eyes are actually saliva glands that start spurting the viscous liquid as soon as the victim stops struggling. Their nostrils are also their actual throats, with the trunk side of their tongue having the same gray hide as the rest of the body, though with a lack of scales.   The big differences between grootslang and ordinary elephants are their feet and tails. While the webbed and five-talons-toed feet of the draconid is a dead giveaway to the average Aetheria native, most animals do not possess mortal logic. Even among mortals, the neutral relations between Zarkania and the Sylvharii Emerald Colonies were established as elven hunters sought out the Zarkanii in desperation, to locate their missing kin. To which the stories of mostly peaceful giants had led to countless of grootslang victims.   Their tall and thick tails are also completely unnatural for an elephant, and more closely resemble that of a glassback basilisk. Due to the large body of the creature, the tail may not be as obvious a warning sign as their claws.   This is a creature where even the two tusks are actually perfectly elephant-alike teeth.