Drakons

Drakons are a small draconic species which appear more similar to feathered serpents than dragons, though they have bat wings instead of feathered wings. Typically anywhere between 1 and 4 feet long, their wings are rather large for their body as they lack the ability to jump from the ground thanks to having no legs. Instead, to get into the air, they must climb a tree and propel themselves off, hence the need for a strong lift. They have the ability to release clouds of toxic fumes from their mouths, which makes them deadly to the unaware or unprepared. However, with strong winds of the presence of a mage, they are rendered pretty harmless to any serious adventurer or soldier due to their small size.

Drakons are hunted primarily for their sacs, of which they have two. The buoyancy sack hold air and helps to regulate the rise and fall of the drakon when combined with their wings, while the poison sac mixes air from the buoyancy sac with venom which the drakon naturally produces. Full poison sacs are valuable as when opened they can mimic the effect of a drakon's breath, while the poison fumes themselves may be useful for varying magical spells. The sacs, when emptied, make excellent water pouches, though in smaller drakons they are usually too small for this purpose. Like their breath, drakon blood is venomous and is also used in some spells. This poisonous blood makes the meat both difficult and difficult to prepare, and typically the carcass is left to rot because drakon meat doesn't even taste good. However, some cultures are known to see eating a drakon as a test of willpower or manliness, despite its bitter taste and danger, where it serves as more of a symbol than a meal.

Drakons are found across northern Telgren and Ærellion, although they are more common on Telgren because of the expansive Ærellic steppe. They have a fairly narrow latitudinal range on these continents, as they do not like regions with extremely high altitude or snow, and have mostly been driven out of more temperate regions. They are a nuisance to hunters and wildlife alike in the regions they inhabit, and considered a pest, with locals usually resorting to paying adventurers to clear out drakon nests.