Abstract Description
There are numerous species of bats spread across the Aelyrian Empire yet few are as quite as unique or dangerous as the Desmodus, or as old. Known by many as the "Giant Vampire Bat," the Desmodus are a rather large and unique species that have inspired many dark legends of bloodsucking monsters haunting the countryside throughout the ages. There is some reason to fear these creatures as they are sometimes found in the company of the dark and mysterious, Vysstichi and are bred by the dark elves for a handful of purposes. Ancient and thought to be one of the last remaining progenitors of the modern bat, the Desmodus is an animal both frightening and awe-inspiring at once.
Physical Appearance/Anatomy
The Desmodus differ from every other species of bat due mainly in size. The average adult Desmodus has a wingspan of 16 to 18 feet and weighs around 300lbs. The Desmodus has a short, conical muzzle and has naked pads with U-shaped grooves at the tip. It has been observed that the bat is especially attracted to sleeping prey leading to the belief that perhaps the sounds made by the regular breathing of sleep are something they pick up on easily. They also have specialized infrared sensors on their nose which aids them in locating an area on their prey where the blood flows close to the skin. They have small ears and a short tail membrane. Their front teeth are specialized for cutting and their back teeth are much smaller than in other bats. Their digestive systems are also specialized for their liquid diet. The saliva of the Desmodus contains a substance, draculin, which prevents the victim's blood from clotting. They, therefore, lap blood rather than suck it.
The Desmodus have no tails and their upper parts are dark gray to black with a paler underside. They have pointed ears, a larger thumb and 20 teeth. The Desmodus have no tails and their upper parts are dark gray to black with a paler underside. They have pointed ears, a larger thumb and 20 teeth. Their thumbs are tipped with razor-sharp talons that they use to hold on to their prey while feeding. Their feet also are tipped with similar talons which allow them to anchor themselves to the crevices of stone and other other irregular surfaces.
Climate/Terrain
Desmodus tend to live as solitary creatures in almost completely dark places, such as large cave complexes and vast underground caverns. Sometimes a mated pair and a single youngling can be found if there is a large enough food supply in the area. They often roost with the other much smaller species of bat. Although found almost exclusively in warm climates they prefer and are at their greatest health in the cool, moist environment provided by their underground roosts.
Organization and Lifecycle
They will almost always have only one offspring per breeding season. When the mating season arrives, the male Desmodus seek out caves large enough to house one of their size and look for females to breed with. This process may take quite some time as the wild Desmodus population is not expansive. When the male does manage to find a female, they often display their most vicious pose complete with hissing and screeching in order to impress their would-be mate. If the female is convinced, the two will mate. Otherwise the female moves to find another roost; ignoring the male.
The Desmodus need blood at least once every few brightenings to survive. If they can't get blood, and there is another Desmodus present or closeby, they'll approach the other whilst roosting, asking for a blood 'transfusion'. The blood is exchanged mouth-to-mouth in a motion that looks very much like kissing. Desmodus can live up to nine eras in the wild and up to 19 in captivity. They reach sexual maturity between 10 and 12 months of age. Gestation lasts almost a full era. The mother gives birth to a single baby which nurses milk for the first four months of life before moving on to regurgitated blood. After roughly six months of age, they forage for blood themselves.
Average Young - 2' long, 1.5' wide, 6' wingspan, 5 lbs.
Average Adolescent - 4' long, 2.5' wide, 12' wingspan, 40 lbs.
Average Adult Male - 6' long, 3.5' wide, 17' wingspan, 300 lbs.
All Desmodus are capable of carrying half their bodyweight.
(Females are about 20% smaller than males at all ages)
Diet
Desmodus hunt only when it is fully dark and do so in near total silence. They feed mostly on the blood of mammals, rather large ones, usually horses, cattle and other large livestock being the most common target. Those living further from civilization will feed on any creature large enough to support its thirst; often following entire herds. These particular Desmodus become rather protective of their herd and fend off any other of their species who may threaten it. They also have been known to attack hunters of various species in order to keep the herd to themselves. Once the Desmodus locates a host, usually a sleeping mammal, they land and approach it on the ground. They are very agile and in addition to walking, run at speeds of up to 6 feet per second. They locate a suitable place to bite using their infrared sensors.
If there is fur on the skin, the Desmodus uses its canine and cheek teeth like a a pair of shears to clip away the hairs. Their razor-sharp upper incisor teeth then make a 1 inch long and .5 inch deep cut. The upper incisors lack enamel, making it easier to keep them razor sharp. Their saliva is a key element in feeding from the wound. While grooves on the underside of the tongue draw blood toward the mouth, the saliva has several ingredients that prolong bleeding.
A typical adult male Desmodus weighs 300 pounds yet will consume around 3 gallons of blood per feeding (Roughly 1 gallon for every 100 lbs that the Desmodus weighs). This amount demands that the Desmodus either kill a single host or feed from many to survive. This feeding pattern adds another degree of complexity to its anatomy. They feed entirely on blood. Ordinarily this volume of food would make flight after a feeding session impossible. However, the Desmodus has an amazing ability to rapidly process and digest the blood.
The digestive system of the Demodus is rather unique. Within two minutes of beginning to feed, they begin to expel highly dilute urine. While shedding the digested fluids makes taking off from the ground easier, they still have added almost 20-30% of its body weight in blood. To take off from the ground they must generate extra lift which it does by crouching and flinging itself in the air. Typically within two candlemarks of setting out, the Desmodus returns to its roost and settles down to spend the rest of the night digesting its blood meal. However, when it is resting, a new problem is faced. The large blood intake creates excess waste and must also be disposed of. Thus the smell around a Demodus lair is extremely pungent due to the concentrated waste that is created.
Combat
The Desmodus are not overly aggressive in the wild. If they are awakened from their daytime sleep, they appear groggy and sluggish although if they feel threatened, this state fades quickly and they will become quite aggressive; baring their teeth and emitting a hissing screech. They are a creature that is aware of their great size and they have few if any natural predators. When provoked into combat, a Desmodus will usually take to the air if possible and use a combination of its size, teeth and claws to scratch and bite its opponent. Though possessing a moderate amount of strength for restraining their prey while feeding, the Desmodus are otherwise fragile and do not engage in prolonged, close-quarter combat. Their strikes from the air are more for discouraging and driving away threats.
Special Abilities
The Desmodus do not possess any unnatural abilities although their natural abilities are quite impressive.
Like other bats, the Desmodus emits a sound frequency, inaudible to most other creatures, that bounce off nearby objects and creatures. This ability enables it to discern objects and creatures within 120 feet.
In addition, the Desmodus also has specialized sensors in on its muzzle that allows it to detect places on the body of their prey where the blood is closest and in the greatest quantity. Also, their saliva contains a powerful chemical, draculin, that aids them in feeding as it prevents wounds from clotting or healing quickly. Those bitten by a Desmodus will find the wounds healing almost half as fast as normal.
Resistances
The Desmodus do not have inherent resistances or immunities although certain types of Arcana have specialized effects against them. Any Arcana that would eliminate sound has proven to effectively negate their ability to navigate and it has been theorized that the elimination of sound somehow forces them to rely on their weak vision which is little more than 10 feet.
Other
The Desmodus, living in underground caverns and cave complexes, have inevitably come in contact with many other underground lifeforms. One in particular, the Vysstichi, have found a few uses for the Desmodus and thus the great bat can be found in servitude to the dark elves.
The Vysstichi have, over many eras, mastered the breeding of the Desmodus for uses both as a unique form of livestock as well as a mount. As a form of livestock, the Vysstichi harvest the waste produced by the Desmodus, guano, and use it as a powerful fertilizer. Breeding Desmodus for such a purpose is quite simple and requires no real training. The Vysstichi merely provide their "herd" with a ready supply of blood in the form of other forms of livestock.
Although not considered traditional mounts, the Desmodus take on a similar role for the dark elves. Vysstichi who train the Desmodus for riding, sometimes use a combination of Arcana and traditional training methods, the latter being most common, to make them more receptive to riders.
Young Desmodus are captured shortly after they separate from their mothers. This is to ensure the strength and health of the creature. The Desmodus are then kept away from others of their kind with the only contact with other life being the creatures they feed upon as well as the handler. The trainer tries to create a bond with the Desmodus by making it clear that they are the one who brings the creature food; the handler being sure to always have an adequate supply ready else become prey themselves. The blood that the Desmodus is given is mixed with a dye extracted from various types of moss that is found beneath the surface. This dye is harmless to the Desmodus but has the interesting side-effect of giving a soft iridescence to the coloring of their wing membranes. The colors vary on the trainer and noble house that owns the Demodus and can range anywhere from red or blue to a purple.
It may take many months of this for the Desmodus to understand that the handler is friendly and also the source of food. Gradually the Desmodus allows the handler to get closer and closer to it until after almost 6 months on average, the Desmodus will allow the handler to touch it without being afraid. Another 2 months are needed and the Desmodus will allow the handler to climb atop it. 2 months later, the handler is able to ride the Desmodus.
Desmodus trained in captivity are usually, on average, 25% larger and stronger than those found in the wild. They are also less aggressive and will not voluntarily wander far from their handlers.
The Desmodus Rider/Handler always weighs less than half the body weight of the Desmodus. This allows for a small amount of gear and weaponry to be carried in flight. Armor is almost never an option for the rider or the Desmodus nor is a saddle of any type. A specially designed, lightweight harness allows the rider to secure their footing and guide the Desmodus in flight. Experienced riders and mounts may also work simply through hand gestures and specific touches and pressure.
The typical Desmodus Rider starts their career already possessing some form of riding skill involving other types of mounts. Desmodus riders dress in a lightweight black outfit that includes gloves, shirt, pants, boots and belt. Their weapons consist of usually a shortsword and a specially designed lightweight lance.
Desmodus riders perform primarily as scouts and assassins. These specially trained individuals and their bats, fly out into the darkening and perform missions that require silence and speed, both of which the Desmodus themselves excel in. As the Vysstichi are primarily subterranean dwellers, the Desmodus riders are relatively few in number and highly specialized.
Some noble houses of Vysstichi engage in sporting events involving the Desmodus. These events take place usually in large underground caverns, most often a central gathering area for the dark elves as most of their complexes are too small for the Demodus to move much in. Events range from displays of aerial acrobatic feats to specialized jousting events. Such jousting events however are rare and are usually used to solve disputes between Houses. These jousting events are almost always deadly to one or both of the rider and mount. As the mount is an easy target, the killing of one in combat accounts for less than if the rider is killed. Of course if the mount is killed, the rider falls to their death yet the death blow was not dealt directly by the opponent. Either way one rider is left dead and the dispute is ended. The noble houses that support these events usually breed a handful of Desmodus and keep a group of skilled handler/trainers on staff.
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