Tale Of Dragons: Acid Spitter (Patreon)

A land-dwelling drake, Acid Spitters were rightly named for their unsavory ability to project acid from their bile glands out to a distance of 40 Tailongs. Acid Spitters are traditionally covered in thick dark green scales and take great pride in their bright orange frills that ornate their body and appendages. Their scales regenerate at an extraordinary rate when damaged, giving them an impressive immunity to acid and decay that would cripple most dragonkin. Powerful legs and a lightweight body give these drakes a distinct advantage on the ground, making their speed in open terrain unmatched.Covering their mouths with a layer of their potent acid bile, the Decaying Bite of an Acid Spitter can eat through even the strongest dragon scales, leaving their quarry completely defenseless and drained of energy.An Acid Spitter’s acidic bile is thought to help them in more ways than one. The bile is often ingested and used to denature the deadly toxins produced by Red Capped Mushrooms. While a stable diet in the Time of Peace, Spitters of the Current Age have used this ability to hunt and consume Biolumins, a harmless but toxic dragonkin found in the cave systems of the Forgotten Forest. Carnivorous in nature, any grounded dragon is fair game to a hungry Acid Spitter.Spitter nests are constructed of stones found at the bottom of lakes and rivers in the Forgotten Forest. They will then take mouthfuls of mud to soften the middle, molding it carefully into shape with their powerful forelimbs. One of the more prolific dragonkin, a Acid Spitter Drakna will lay five eggs per nesting cycle. The egg’s shell mimics the Spitter’s dark green scales. Hatchling Acid Spitters are referred to as Pups. While most hatchlings are at a disadvantage due to their immature wing musculature, Spitters Pups can take advantage of their kind’s powerful legs as soon as they leave the egg. They are believed to be the fastest of all dragonkind hatchlings.Acid Spitters play a crucial role in modern clan structures for food scouting, hunting, and territorial combat. Their speed and uncanny ability to disappear into the forest foliage make Spitters excellent scouts. They have often been known to stalk beyond the edges of rival clan territories to gain vulnerable information on their enemies. During fierce clan battles, Spitters wait in the underbrush for a tired or injured rival dragonkin to seek refuge within the trees. This mistake has led many to their demise as the Spitter’s speed and Decaying Bite prevent the rival from ever taking to the air again. Nothing is more important to a Spitter than its clan. Known for their extreme loyalty, many Spitters will give up their lives to protect their clan territory. However, that loyalty is limited to their kin and no other. They are known to deceive orphaned hatchlings and dragonkin if it is to their benefit.