#tfm

"It's always been us "

Name: Aarkar/Eldrakyn

Classification: Hybrids | Draconic Half-Bloods / Category: Draco-Trollus

Origin: Unknown

Current Status: Untraceable / Hidden

Danger: Extreme

Aarkars are neither trolls nor dragons. They are what happens when two species that should never have mixed do so anyway. (Not in the way you think. We don't even know how it happened. Perhaps divine intervention?)

The Aarkars are unnatural hybrids, a mix between Gumm-Gumms and dragons—ancient, intelligent, primal creatures.

I have never seen one alive. Everything I recount here comes from what I have read, observed, and pieced together. But there is solid evidence that they have already walked this world.

There are as many types of Aarkars as there are types of trolls and dragons.

Their appearance varies enormously, but they all share certain common traits: a massive body structure, often quadrupedal or semi-quadrupedal; heavy bones, a blend of trollish stone and draconic skeleton; fangs and claws made for tearing; a bestial posture; and remnants of wings, horns, or bony plates depending on their draconic ancestry (although the vast majority of them did not have wings).

The skull that Gol and I found leaves no doubt. The structure is hybrid. It clearly displays elements of Crimson Goregutter, mixed with a trollish base.

By observing the nearby bones, I was able to create a fairly accurate representation, as you can see.

The Aarkars are strictly carnivores. They hunt. They stalk. They devour. They are also man-eating beasts.

Ancient texts are clear on this point. Some accounts mention that in times of famine, they may consume fruits or vegetables. But this doesn't truly nourish them. They cannot survive long that way. Their bodies crave flesh. Blood.

It would be wrong, and dangerous, to consider the Aarkars as mere beasts. Yes, many of them are described as savage, violent, and driven by instinct.

But they are also as intelligent as a dragon mixed with a Gumm-Gumm. This means: territorial recognition, hierarchy, sometimes even social organization... They understand more than one might think.

The Aarkars disappeared along with the dragons. Or rather, they are surely hidden in the same place. The Hidden World is not only home to dragons. It is home to what the world could no longer accept.

Today, it is impossible to find an Aarkar, just as it is difficult to find a dragon. All the information I present here comes from very ancient texts, fragments of troll chronicles, personal excavations, and a fossilized skull forgotten in some ruins...

One detail obsesses me. The Killahead Bridge isn't just any structure. It's linked to an ancient civilization... a civilization directly connected to the Aarkars.

Gol once managed to steal a fetch. (I didn't ask him how. I prefer not to know.) Thanks to it, we were able to observe certain areas of the Darklands from a distance. And guess what we saw?

Gigantic bones. Collapsed structures. Remains too large for ordinary trolls. Too organized for beasts. Everything suggests that an entire civilization, now vanished, once inhabited these now inhospitable lands.

IL how i made him a creature. (close up of said creature below.)

KWHEEL

The Kwheel is a Tracker-class dragon. It has a massive body covered in thick, dark, stony-plated scales, as well as two rows of long, icy spines running along its back to the tip of its tail. Its lighter, relatively flexible belly allows it to fold completely in on itself despite its heavy appearance. Its eyes are perfectly adapted to environments with low visibility, including the dark caves where it lives for most of the year.

The Kwheel has a broad, stocky head equipped with powerful jaws capable of crushing ice, bone, or even certain types of brittle rock. Its teeth are short but extremely strong. Its thick legs, ending in large claws, allow it to dig through frozen ground or climb rough terrain despite its considerable weight. Its body is perfectly adapted to cold climates and long periods of hibernation.

Despite their small size, its wings allow it to fly, but only over very short distances. They are mainly used to gain momentum before each roll.

The spines on its back continue to grow throughout its life. They are naturally trimmed during its powerful charges, so that they don't become too long and therefore debilitating. These growths have a structure similar to crystal and seem to naturally retain cold.

Firepower

The Kwheel is one of the few dragons to share the ability to project powerful jets of explosive liquid nitrogen that can reach temperatures close to -196°C with the Groncicle. However, it rarely uses this ability, primarily employing it to reinforce its rolling charges or seal the entrances to the caves where it hibernates.

By biting the tip of its tail, the Kwheel folds its body in on itself to form a wheel covered in icy spines. In this position, it can hurtle down slopes or charge at high speed, destroying everything in its path. The rocky plates on its back protect the most vulnerable parts of its body, while its spines can lacerate or impale anything they strike.

Acute senses

The Kwheel possesses exceptionally keen senses of smell, taste, and hearing. Like many Tracker-class dragons, it can follow a trail for miles, seemingly unaffected by inclement weather. Its sense of smell also allows it to identify creatures or humans it has encountered years before. Some claim that a tamed Kwheel can find its master anywhere.

Behavior

The Kwheel is a surprisingly sociable dragon. It is not uncommon to see several individuals sharing the same territory or cave during the winter. The young also stay with their parents for a long time before becoming independent.

Towards humans, its behavior depends entirely on how it has been treated. A wild individual remains extremely wary and can become very aggressive if it feels threatened. However, once it trusts someone, the Kwheel becomes particularly affectionate and protective.

He can also be very resentful...

Despite its massive appearance, the Kwheel is capable of surprisingly silent movement. It primarily hunts fish but also enjoys small land animals, including poultry.

The Kwheel hibernates for nearly half the year in deep caves located in cold or mountainous regions. During this period, its heart rate slows considerably and its body conserves enough energy to survive for several months without eating.

Weaknesses

Its heavy body makes it less agile than many other dragons when it cannot use its rolling ability. On flat or muddy terrain, it becomes much slower and more vulnerable.