Undertide Dragons

Obtained: Arlo's Ancient Artifacts Rarity: Common Ancient Breeding Cooldown: 20 days Diet: Seafood, Plants Genes: Undertide Genes

Overview
The Undertide species originates from the Deep: a span of abyssal ocean outside of most acknowledged elemental territories. Access to the Deep can be gained by traversing the Leviathan Trench and following its southwestern exit.


Physical Attributes
Undertides are a large species of serpentine dragon. They sport a long, sinuous body and a pair of massive wings that can propel them as easily through the water as through the air. These dragons are highly adapted to rapid pressure changes, and can tolerate the crushing pressure of the abyssal depths and the thin air of the stratosphere. Undertides have expressive, venomous frilled spines along their face and along their body. These dragons are capable of extracting oxygen from both water and air, and were the Tidelord's first attempt to create dragons to expand his territory.


Social
After the birth of the Guardian species, the Undertide dragons abandoned the Tidelord, exiling themselves to the deepest reaches of the wild ocean. While the Guardians performed admirably in air, sea, and land, they were unable to easily withstand the pressures of the abyssal ocean, which lead to the Undertides patrolling and protecting this biome exclusively in their exile.

When these leviathans arrived in the abyssal ocean they found that they were not alone. They formed an immediate bond with an isolated deep-sea subspecies of Maren who welcomed them into their schools with open arms. Undertides regard abyssal Maren as their kin and equals. Together they built a thriving underwater city they called the Deep. These dragons form expansive family units together with their Maren companions, collectively protecting and raising their young together.


Lairs
The Deep is a city created by Maren and Undertide in concert. An Undertide lair in the Deep need not be complicated. A space large enough to accommodate several wyrms nested together and a structure that they can anchor themselves to is all that is required.

However, abyssal Maren had more elaborate ideas for their city and the homes within it to better accommodate their collective needs. They drafted the help of their leviathan companions and together built an impressive array of spiral buildings with passages wide enough to allow passage of Maren and dragon alike. In the bases of these conical homes there is usually an expansive space to allow the Undertide dragons to nest together, with ample nooks and crannies to anchor to. The further up the spiral one travels, the more specialized and smaller the rooms, allowing the Maren the comforts of smaller spaces of their own.

Undertides who venture out of the depths and onto the surface will create burrows in muddy banks if left to their own devices. When offered an established space large enough, they will lair in almost any premade structure provided it is filled with the vibrations and echoes of fellow dragons. When they need rest they will seek the companionship of others and attempt to slumber in a tangle with the rest of their clan.


Tactics
Undertide dragons are slow to act on their anger, and will try to negotiate and accommodate rather than engage in combat. If pushed to violence, their spines and muscular bodies can envenom and constrict. Their bite is tenacious, and they can drag their opponents to crushing depths or dizzying heights.

Though Undertides are a formidable opponent in air and sea, they are ungainly and encumbered on land. A grounded Undertide is a vulnerable one.