ECOLOGY

Environment temperate plains
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure double standard

Psiwyrms are aggressive (and usually evil) dragons that possess powerful psionic abilities. They are found in lightly forested areas and spend most of their days soaring high above their territory, rarely landing or touching the ground. Psiwyrms are carnivores and enjoy a diet of fresh meat. They have ferocious appetites and feed on cattle, livestock, and herd animals. Most of the time, the dragon simply swoops down, grabs its target, and flies back to its lair to dine or feed the young.

Psiwyrms mate twice per year; once in the summer and once in the winter. The female lays a clutch of 1d4 eggs which hatch 10 months later. Young psiwyrms resemble dark grayish-purple lizards and are wingless until they are about 2 months old. Young do not gain their breath weapon or psi-like abilities until they are about 5 or 6 months old.

Psiwyrms are 15 feet long with long, sleek, muscular bodies. Their scales are a rich purple color, growing darker on the dragon's underside and its clawed feet. A psiwyrm's mouth is filled with sharpened fangs and two large downward curving horns protrude from its angular head. The psiwyrm's eyes are glossy black. A fin of scintillating shades of purple runs the length of its body, starting near the base of its skull and tapering as it nears the tail. The tail is long and sinuous and has a curved barb on the end. (The psiwyrm doesn't use this barb to attack with, but it does aid the dragon in intimidating its foes).

Psiwyrms generally confront their foes head on rather than rely on ambush tactics. Once engaged in battle, it uses its breath weapon to stun opponents, and then swoops in to pick them up with its claws, carry them off, and drop them from dizzying heights.

Psiwyrms use their psi-like abilities in battle, sprinkling combat liberally with them in conjunction with their claws and bite. Foes that refuse to back down or retreat are usually slain.