Tag: grimdark fantasy art

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THE SERPENT‑ASCENDED: DRAGONS OF THE AUSTRALIAN REALMS

This weeks post is for one of my personal favourites, the…

RED‑BELLIED EMBER DRAKE

A shiny black dragon with a bright red underbelly, sitting in a steaming river.

Draco porphyriacus ignis — “The Riverfire Serpent”

Origin

From the Red‑Bellied Black Snake, these drakes became semi‑aquatic fire‑aligned predators.

Physiology

  • Glossy obsidian scales
  • Underside glows ember‑red when agitated
  • Steam‑venting gills
  • Paddle‑like tail

Behaviour

  • Ambushes from riverbeds
  • Uses heat to boil water around prey
  • Highly protective of nesting sites

Habitat

Rivers, swamps, billabongs

Abilities

  • Steamfire Breath: Superheated vapour blast
  • Boiling Aura: Raises water temperature around it
  • Ember Flash: Blinding red flare from belly plates

Weaknesses

Vulnerable when fully dried out

Cultural Lore Said to be the guardian of sacred waterholes.

The below image illustrates the Draco porphyriacus ignis in a state of ‘Ember Flash’:

A black dragon engulfed in flame as its ember‑glow ignites the billabong in molten fury.

If you’re interested in seeing more of my creature posts, you can find them in my Bestiary.

Happy Reading!

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. His titles are also available in libraries.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.

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THE SERPENT‑ASCENDED: DRAGONS OF THE AUSTRALIAN REALMS

Hello Readers,

Welcome back to my Australian dragon series. This week’s post brings you the…

INLAND TAIPAN DREAD WYRM

A large ash-grey dragon, spewing its yellowish toxin breath over the outback desert's rocky surface.

Draco microlepidotus mortis — “The Pale Doom”

Origin

The Fierce Snake’s venomous potency drove an evolutionary path toward a mythic apex predator.

Physiology

  • Bone‑white or ash‑grey scales
  • Heavy, plated skull with multiple horns
  • Venom sacs evolved into pressurised toxin jets
  • Wings with cracked‑earth patterning

Behaviour

  • Solitary, contemplative, almost ritualistic
  • Burrows deep beneath desert stone
  • Emerges only during heatwaves or omens

Habitat

Deep desert, badlands, scorched mesas

Abilities

  • Toxin Jet Breath: Melts armour and stone
  • Burrow Surge: Erupts from beneath prey
  • Solar Overcharge: Absorbs heat to amplify power

Weaknesses

Cold renders it sluggish; nocturnal activity limited

Cultural Lore Said to be born from the first lightning strike that ever hit the desert.

The below image illustrates the Draco microlepidotus mortis performing a solar overcharge:

A fiery dragon; the wyrm’s scales glow like molten glass, its wings crackle with lightning fissures, and its breath becomes a torrent of solar fire that turns the desert into rivers of lava.

If you’re interested in seeing more of my creature posts, you can find them in my Bestiary.

Happy Reading!

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. His titles are also available in libraries.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.