Salamanders

Sometimes called Beithir, Behirs, or Lindwurms, Salamanders are serpentine, wingless Dragonkin, with twelve short legs. They can be found all across Exorsia, primarily in mountainous areas, but they can also be found in large caverns and caves, particularly in the Underdark . 

Salamanders are solitary creatures and extremely territorial, even to their own kin, outside of matting. Salamanders have been well recorded hunting and killing people, sometimes even swallowing them whole. Salamanders also have a distinct hatred for True Dragons, and they have been recorded on many occasions going out of their way to attack and harass Dragons, even at risk to themselves.

Salamanders resemble a terrifying mix between a centipede and a crocodile. They grow to their full size, about the size of an adult Dragon, in approximately 10 years, shedding their scales, like a Reptile, as they grow. The older the Salamander, the larger they are.

Salamanders have long, smooth bodies, with deep blue scales that crackle with electricity. They also possess a deadly lighting breath, similar to that of Storm Dragons. A Salamander can slither across the ground like a serpent, or it can walk on its twelve clawed legs. These legs make Salamanders adept climbers, allowing them to quickly traverse deep pits, high caves in cliff walls, caverns and narrow, twisting tunnels, where they like to make their lairs.

While not as intelligent as True Dragons or people, Salamanders do seem to be smarter than most other Dragonkin, and have been known to speak Draconic, though they aren’t much of conversationalists. 

Due to the Salamanders lighting based abilities and serpentine bodies they are believed to be related to Storm Dragons‌. The first record of Salamanders dates back to the Silver Age. The most popular story of their origin states that Salamanders were created from a union between a Storm Dragon and the Goddess Echidna‌. Other stories suggest that Salamanders were created by Giants in order to fight against Dragons, and another suggests that Salamanders were created by the Dark God Apophis from the decapitated corpses of snakes. Their true origin is unclear.