Deadfire (ID: 4AeY)

Grouping: Reptilian, Aquatic

The Matmadyur Heimsins, known in short as the Matmadyur, is a spectacularly rare serpentine beast that lives primarily in deep ocean trenches. The species spends adolescence in shallower, coastal waters, preying on smaller fish and aquatic mammals; however, when they reach maturity, they begin moving into deeper water. Eventually its prey of choice shifts from coastal fare to much larger oceanic animals, including whales and smaller specimens of its own species. The Matmadyur is known to grow to great size as they grow older, and an upper limit has not been discovered. A mature adult can reach such great lengths that it becomes difficult to tell which way the coiling body is going, as its fins can easily bend in either direction; only its ventral scales are reliable for telling the beast's orientation.

Matmadyur are hostile and aggressive to smaller creatures, which they see as food. In the face of larger adversaries, the serpent will often hiss and bite but ultimately flee if the enemy is not deterred; this includes very young specimens reacting to researchers. The intelligence of the creature is unknown; they can be trained to perform basic tricks, but are ornery and stubborn—often refusing to perform tasks which they have exhibited the capacity to do before. Captive serpents certainly do display recognition and even preference of their handlers, as well as associations between good behavior and extra food, but it is unclear if they are only as intelligent as a dog or much cleverer—perhaps even sapient—than we currently can confirm.

Artwork: Keileon