Blue Sting, subspecies of the Zaryl of Avasir

element: earth
length: up to 2m
habitat: grassland, scrubland and forests near rivers, lakes and the like, mild climates preferred
physical characteristics: pentagonal formed shield with three horns at each "corner", four eyes; scaled face, shield and belly; barbels; long, snake-like and feathered body; feather frill and ridge; main colours are different hues of blue and teal together with some white.

Zaryl belong to the same family as the Eryl.
In contrast to the friendly and playful Eryl their poisonous relatives tend to a solitary life and a more aggressive behaviour.

The colourful subspecies use their feather frills, ridge and shields for communication. The Blue Sting can change the colour of its shield as any other Zaryl can – normally it’s coloured in light blue or teal tones, the stripes hardly show.
If the Blue Sting feels angered or threatened the colours of the shield brighten up and the darker stripes on it show clearly. The Blue Sting will hiss a warning, and if this doesn’t lead to the retreat of the troublemaker, he takes on the posture shown above.
It’s a typical Zaryl threat: the bright shield colours, a spreaded frill, arched back, raised ridge and tail are the last warning you will get from the Blue Sting or any other Zaryl.
One should better move and get away – or the Blue Sting will spit poison or attack with its tail.

The poison of the Blue Sting is the weakest of all of the Zaryl subspecies – nevertheless, it will blind any human or bigger predators if the eyes get in contact with it. The injected poison won't kill bigger animals, but leads to painful muscle cramps, breathing difficulties or paralyses for hours.

Blue Stings are a lazy lot and claim a very small territory for themselves; so it's possible to find many Blue Stings around the same lake. As long as they don't have to see (or worse, meet!) each other, they tolerate the presence of other Blue Stings nearby.
They normally steal something like a small cave from another animal and defend the surrounding area against any possible threat.
Food is welcome, for sure.

Because a Blue Sting's always looking for the most convenient way of life they can easily be tamed just by offering them food regularly and lure them into a new, cosy life.


Diet
Blue Stings prey upon every small animal that can be found around rivers and lakes. They have also developed a special taste for fish and the eggs of small reptiles or waterfowl.