Creature of Chaos: Hydras

These creatures come in three specific types but all are extremely dangerous. While each has adapted to its own way of life, the one feature that they have in common is their multiple heads.

Hydrae have been known to have as few as two and as many as twelve heads, each connected to their body by long, snake-like necks. Each head operates separately from the others and all are able to attack simultaneously, whether at the same target or at anything else within range.

During combat, it is not unknown for one or more heads to be severed from the creature's main body. However, while this obviously causes some distress, providing other heads remain connected this monster won't slow down. In fact, it simply appears to increase the hydra's resolve to put an end to its tormenter.

The most common form of these creatures are large and have a strong, dragon-like body with four legs and a long powerful tail. Unlike dragons, however, these hydrae do not possess wings. They prefer to inhabit inland waters, especially swamps, but generally only threaten those who encroach on their territory.

The largest example of these creatures is the sea hydra. These monsters have adapted to water and, as a result, possess fins instead of legs. Apart from this, they are very similar to their land-based cousins.

Preferring to inhabit the southern seas, where the water is warmest, sea hydrae have made shipping along certain routes in these waters an extremely dangerous business.

Quite what it is that caused these attacks to begin in the first place still remains something of a mystery. However, it appears now that sea hydrae have acquired a taste for sailors, despite their being rather tough and sinewy. Research is underway to either make sailors less palatable, in order to gradually convince hydrae to search for food elsewhere, or to develop some sort of toxin that is safe for the ships crew to ingest but that will adversely affect the monster once the sailors have been consumed. This second option is the primary goal as it should greatly reduce numbers of sea hydrae along the more lucrative shipping routes.

The last of these creatures is extremely rare or, at least, so the number of reported sightings would suggest. This may be partly to do with the manner in which these monsters attack. Flying hydrae have huge bat-like wings which enable them to swoop out of the sky and carry away several victims at once.

Usually a flying hydra will only attack groups containing up to as many creatures as it can carry. The result being that nothing gets left behind. Sometimes, if the monster miscalculates or a potential victim gets lucky, individuals can get left behind. Unfortunately, attacks tend to be so swift and unexpected that there is very little that anyone left behind can do other than watch (as their companions are carried away) before going to report the bad news.

Having several mouths allows the flying hydra to begin consuming its catch even before it has found a place to land.

Link to source site:
<http://www.nascr.net/~jcburd/cofc_hydra.htm>