An On-Going Report of the Dragon on the Island of Elysium, Topwarp

Courtesy of Dr. Phineas Haephestus Montgomery III, Chief Researcher, Royal Bio-Artifice Centre

Introduction

Going by the name of Valkanyr, this beast seems to be at the top of Elysium's still-small Monster population.

Biology

Valkanyr appears to be a dragon-of-legend, replete with vast bat-like wings and the ability to breathe fire. Measurements based on sightings indicate him to be approximately 60 hands high and well over 100 hands long. His hide is a curious mixture of red-brown leathery skin and brass-like scales. The scales are placed in areas where protection would be needed should he be engaged in hostilities, causing some here at RBAC to wonder if he is some sort of leftover from a wargame rather than a being engineered to help administer the Monsters' apparent purpose on Elysium. They point to the presence of his spiny crest and spiked tail as further proof, but this scientist remains unconvinced.

Habitat

The dragon has been sighted all across Elysium, with the majority of the sightings occuring on the eastern half of the island. No actual lair has been located although much of that part of the island's interior is rugged mountain and treacherous jungle, precluding a full grid search. Curiously, there have been no reports as yet of Valkanyr sightings outside Elysium. This may indicate some sort of as-yet-unknown barrier at work.

Abilities and Mannerisms

Observations of Valkanyr hunting for food show him to be a rather adept flier, quick and agile despite his bulk. He has also managed to surprise more than one expeditionary party while on the ground, getting very close before they realized he was there. How he is able to prowl like that through the forest has yet to be determined. His observed strength seems appropriate for a beast as large as he.

Very few actual interactions with the dragon have been reported, but those reports describe him as very polite despite his apparent activities on the island. He has been known to speak in verse and reply to questions with cryptic answers. He speaks in a brogue, an accent not often heard in Victorian circles, which only feeds the speculation regarding his origins.