Statistics and genetic info: count how many tame ones are/were ever alive, list their typical lifespans, growth rates, number of eggs per breeding, list exactly which natural colours/marks they can be found in.

As of today, 156 Cyerces are alive and living among domestic flocks in Imistor. A total of 157 citizens have ever been recorded. They are the Xth most popular breed.

History

Unlike some other breeds, the Cyerce did not arise in the wilds of the Underworld. It is believed to have been created by ancient biomages of [XXXXX] people, in the [XXXX] era. This seafaring empire was responsible for importing and developing most of early Imistor’s fish, crustacean and seaweed stock. Superb fisherfolk, they farmed and populated wherever they sailed their elegant ships, setting out from their capital, [XXXX], and controlling most of the seas, rivers and lakes of Imistor, comprising a third of its total area, in their heyday.

Exact records of the breed's history have not been found, but it's clear they were inspired by, or directly given DNA from, the sea slugs that were once abundant in the oceans of the Underworld. While the range of colours and markings has widened over time, historical art and texts always depicted them in the colours of cyerce nigricans, a black and orange sea slug. The dragons were possibly bred and reared in deep lakes and small inland seas, trained for hunting and fishing purposes, or for defence against rival ships. The infant dragons are weak and extremely vulnerable to predation, meaning that it is likely that the species was never able to survive without human protection from its beginnings. It is possible that captive bred adults were released in the far oceans to build a wild stock, but modern survivals are too close to shorelines and human habitation for this to have been a success. Archaeological evidence shows them mainly in and around human settlements of the period.

The [XXXX] civilisation was gradually wiped out between [XXXX and XXXX] centuries, by aggressive [XXXX] tribes from the East, and their practice of dragon cultivation was lost. No civilisation since has shown interest in keeping Cyerces, and the breed has become obscure, hiding in a few large bodies of water. In more recent times, masters have taken note of their good qualities and some have been domesticated again.

Anatomy

Superbly adapted to their underwater habitat, the breed is visually similar to the Underworld sea slug; its cheeks, crest, back and knees are all covered in structures like blooming flower petals. These fake cerata are actually a kind of modified feather, with fleshy, floppy shafts and two sets of fronds which cover it, sticking smoothly together and meeting at the rims to form an arrowhead edge. The morbidly curious have tried peeling back these 'feathers', but have found that, although the dragon feels no pain, the wound bleeds freely from a multitude of tiny veins visible in the translucent flesh. The neck, sides and outer legs are covered in small ridges that resemble scales, but these are soft, fleshy and occasionally translucent, and offer no shield-like protection to the body as dragon scales usually do.

The blood contains strong toxins, which are absorbed from creatures in the dragon’s diet – the more jellyfish that are consumed, the stronger the toxins become. Many would-be predators die from trying to attack or ingest individuals of this breed. The bodily fluids can also damage eyes and skin upon contact, causing burning pain and temporary paralysis.

A pair of sharp tusks erupt from the upper jaw, curving outwards, and the inner mouth contains rows of tiny teeth and a tongue that can’t extend outside the mouth. The lumpy snout is unusual in that it lacks nostrils; the Cyerce instead has gills set between the neck cerata. These close tightly while the dragon is on land, and the beast breathes with its lungs through the mouth.

A prominent pair of horns erupt from behind the pointed ears, with more on the tail. These are hard, bony protuberances, and are not tentacles as are found in the sea slug. They do contain nerves and blood vessels, and if they are broken or shattered this can cause serious trauma to the animal.

The small eyes are adapted to see underwater, with a translucent protective third eyelid to protect from particulates. For this reason the beast does not need to blink underwater, but needs to on land as the eyes dry out quickly. Bright light hurts the eyes, so they are kept closed on sunny days, the dragon keeping its head low as its brow ridges protect the eyes beneath.

Reproduction

Like its Glaucus cousin, the Cyerce dragon is an hermaphrodite. Each individual possesses both sex organs, and although they will try to mate with another dragon where possible, they are capable of impregnating themselves and laying eggs, which will likely be clones. This ability has helped wild populations maintain their numbers through the last millennium of sea wars, but lack of diversity is an issue in some regions; masters shouldn't be surprised if a wild-caught dragon has poor fitness due to inbreeding. Out-crossing them with unrelated individuals will remedy this in following generations.

In the wild, eggs are abandoned once laid, usually hidden in rocks, caves or in holes in coral reefs. After nine weeks, the infant dragons drift out and begin feeding immediately, on sea mosses and seaweed. With only a small mouth and single pair of barely-developed front limbs, they lack mobility or strength, and are extremely vulnerable. Strong currents can easily trap them and beat them against rocks, so the parents must choose calm, sheltered areas with abundant food.

The young are noted for the peculiar unevenness of their growth and development. The neck enlarges and strengthens first, followed by arm buds growing bony fingers and fronds. While the forebody is quite well formed by adolescence, the hind legs are still small and weak, and the tail is still a nub buried among the rump’s cerata. They can swim in a way similar to dolphins and mermen, but masters should not expect them to run or even walk very far. By adolescence they are already very powerful swimmers.

Wild adults are almost entirely solitary of habit. They come together in the deep seas only to mate, and there is no social hierarchy or even courtship ritual. The adult Cyerce is overcome by a desire to acquire genetic material and if more than one pair find themselves in the same patch of ocean, a frenzy of mating results, lasting up to a full day as individuals exchange gametes. These can be stored in the body for a very long time, and each participant can swim in a different direction and hide eggs over a long period of time in a variety of places, a good survival strategy for a breed that is predated on heavily while in egg and larval stage.

The almost mechanical, obsessive breeding and egg-laying of the wild Cyerce enables it to spread its eggs over a wide swathe of ocean, in sufficient numbers to allow a remnant to survive to adulthood. However, domestic beasts feel secure in the knowledge that their eggs will be well cared for, and so feel no need for excessive breeding. They may be overcome by a bout of aggression when in season, but strict training should overcome this.

Sustenance

A wild Cyerce is naturally meek and shies away from any moving thing that's not small compared to its size. Essentially they are feeders, not hunters. Their diet is versatile, featuring a vast range of small fish, crustaceans and seaweeds; their tusks and awkward jaw shape prevent this breed from opening mouth wide and swallowing anything large. Domestic beasts are commonly fed larger fish such as salmon and trout, and are able to digest the flesh of other creatures, but still rely on their masters to cut it up and hand-feed pieces to them.

Along with Glaucus dragons, Cyerce are also notable for eating jellyfish – the deadlier the better, and their wild lives often depend on it. The stinging nematocysts are absorbed into the dragon's own bloodstream and add toxicity in the event of damage to the cerata, which shroud most of the body. Masters who intend for their dragons to engage in combat, or are anxious about potential attack, may feed their Cyerce a diet consisting almost entirely of jellyfish. While the dragons will also be perfectly healthy – and far easier to handle – without any jellyfish, Cyerce gullets are generally considered a useful dumping ground for the annoying creatures, cleaning the seas for other swimmers.

The sensitive horns on head and tail are often used to carefully touch surfaces, aiding navigation through dark tunnels or when swimming around structures. Older Cyerce with longer points will start dragging them along the sandy seafloor or overturning rocks, hoping to uncover food.

Except in breeding time, only if very bold, threatened or desperate will the breed actively seek to attack other creatures. Tusks and horns can gore deeply, and mature hands and feet are able to grip tightly, digging in their sharp claws. The beasts are aware of their stinging power and will often deliberately twist or curl their bodies so that their opponent gets a face full of cerata – one bitten in half can release enough toxin so as to rapidly nauseate, stun or even kill. There have even been observed cases of wild dragons tearing off their own cerata or scratching their delicate sides open, releasing blood into the water, or if on land, proceeding to wrestle and rub bodily fluids into their enemy’s face.

This breed can eat the following foods:

Domestic

If one feels the need to acquire some of this breed, wild Cyerce should be caught as early as possible. Prospective masters may be able to purchase eggs directly from expert divers, who extract them from their hiding places in the far ocean and place them directly into home tank systems. If no eggs are available, explorers are sometimes able to trap hatchlings in bowl-shaped tanks, ensuring that the creatures are not jostled. Transporting them under cloth and with a small food supply is necessary, as they must be kept from overheating and starving. Teleportation from their place of capture to their new home is ideal, as long journeys are detrimental to these delicate creatures’ health. They can then be put into nursery tanks within minutes.

Capturing well-developed juveniles, adolescents or adults is well-nigh impossible – as doing it without causing major injury to either party is exceedingly difficult, and so is strongly discouraged; some provinces even prosecute divers who admit to trying. Released toxins in the water can endanger other life in the vicinity, and the last thing any area needs is a more stressed and potentially aggressive population of Cyerce. Domestic and feral populations have already been established for several centuries, so impatient masters are advised to start there.

While wild Cyerce spend most of their lives in the oceans, the breed is capable of living on land, beyond the initial egg and hatchling stages which require water due to an underdeveloped respiratory system. Masters usually provide a private pool or lake anyway, and allow them to forage for their own food; apart from this being more natural, it is thought that water is healthier for these dragons’ development, and swimming is certainly the most elegant way for them to get around. For this breed, running on dry land takes a lot of practice and is exhausting at first, though mature adults can become adept at it, almost rivalling other dragon breeds in their climbing and trekking ability.

Unless fed a wholly jellyfish-free diet, Cyerces cannot be touched or handled without protective clothing. If kept on a home island, they need separate shelters with wide passages so that they will not scrape against walls or passers-by. Any signs of sickness or injury must be dealt with immediately, for other mythics or residents could become seriously ill if they come into contact with the breed’s bodily fluids.

This breed is most popular for maritime roles like fishing, escorting ships, and clearing bodies of water of unwanted jellyfish or debris. They cannot be ridden or wear tight harnesses around the body at all, due to their delicate fleshy cerata, and the fact that their false scales will tear open with any friction. However, cords can be tied to horns or tusks, and used to help lead the dragon from a boat deck – or they can pull a small boat with their powerful necks, if swimming on the surface.

With consent, samples of their toxic blood can be collected and used in poison research.

The fact that Cyerces can freely breed with other mythics of either sex, and even reproduce alone, adds utility for masters who focus on bloodlines and inheritance. They are also considered attractive by some, just for their vividly patterned cerata or magnificent horns, and are bred simply for their beauty.

Ability

load of html about battle moves, breed stats etc

Features

Three random Cyerces:

name Sir Ladylike, aid 19name Eaglestrike, aid 116name Fusewise, aid 113

Cyerce dragon

Statistics