crysalla abilities

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While young Crysalla are highly vulnerable, adult Crysalla are formidable beasts. They primarily hunt their prey via ambush and delivering a killing bite.

DEFENSES

Crysalla will open their eyes when hunting and fighting. Crysalla excel in aerial combat, although they can be just as dangerous on the ground. However, Crysalla are large, and need room to maneuver in either form.

Tight spaces and large projectile weapons, such as spears or scorpion bolts, are their weakness. Flaming arrows may be effective as well, unless the Crysalla possesses the Fireproof Scales mutation.

• Bite

  • Crysalla beaks can exert 5,000-10,000 pounds PSI of bite force. Biting is the primary attack of Crysalla. A good bite can shatter crystals, break through armored scales, and crunch bone.

• Claws

  • Crysalla claws are extremely sharp and strong, and can tear scales from the flesh.

• Horns

  • A Crysalla may ram an opponent with their horns.

• Dermal growths

  • A Crysalla may have thick, armored scales, osteoderms, scutes, or sharp spines that protect its body, or be used in attacks, such as a thagomizer.

• Magical ability

  • A Crysalla may use any of the four magic types in combat.

INJURY

Wounds

When a Crysalla is wounded, their blood possesses the ability to naturally crystallize when exposed to the nitrogen in the atmosphere. It is a very important adaptation to prevent major blood loss!

• Crystallized blood can be scraped off the wound once the tissue is sealed. The wound can heal naturally or be sped up using specialized magic.
• Blood crystals are tiny and shine in the light. They’re often used in various potions for their magical properties.
  • Hemophilia is a hereditary genetic disorder in which the blood cells lack the genetic material to naturally crystallize. It poses the threat of any minor wound causing large amounts of blood loss.
  • Geode is a hereditary genetic disorder in which all of the living tissue around the wound will crystallize, rendering it unable to heal completely. Crystallized tissue is permanent.

• Iron naturally negates magic. Wounds caused by iron weapons can prevent the body from naturally healing or the blood in immediate contact from immediately crystallizing.
• Iron will burn the skin of a Crysalla over prolonged contact, and the immediate blood will not crystallize, and the wound will not heal. A Crysalla bound in iron shackles cannot heal themself or use their magic, and any wounds acquired may be dangerous.
• Scars will slowly fade after each shed, however, burn scars, including those left by iron exposure, are permanent.

Regeneration

Crysalla possess the ability to regenerate severed limbs very slowly over the course of several sheds. This takes many years, and while a single limb lost may not affect a Crysalla’s movement in their quadrupedal form much, it may hinder their life in bipedal form considerably, and they’ll have to rely on prosthesis as they wait. 

Cauterizing the wound will burn the nerves, and the limb will not be able to regenerate. These amputees are permanent.

• Crysalla prosthesis are hand-crafted and enchanted to shift with the Crysalla, the same way one enchants their Primary Clothing. Prosthesis crafting is a highly specialized skill; requiring an advanced knowledge of metallurgy, engineering, and magic. As the limb regrows, multiple changes of prosthesis may be needed. Because of this, fully functional prosthesis and regular changing may be extremely expensive, and a poorer Crysalla may have to rely on whatever they can craft themselves, or go without.
• Prosthetic wings are the most difficult to obtain of all prosthesis. These must require a dedicated prosthesis crafter; and are a combination of metal to mimic the arm and digits and enchanted fabric to mimic the wing membrane. Most Crysalla who have lost a wing will be unable to get their hands on one, and will simply remain earthbound until their wing grows back. Due to their size, this can take an extraordinary long time.

Sometimes, a regenerated limb may not grow back correctly. This can be random, but nutritional deficiencies may make malformities more likely. Malformed limbs will likely not hinder a Crysalla’s daily life much in their quadrupedal form, other than lessened strength and agility, but if a hind leg is regrown incorrectly, the Crysalla may have difficulty walking in their bipedal form, and may rely on the use of a cane or crutches. A malformed hand or arm may have severely decreased motor skills. A malformed wing poses the worst risk; becoming flightless.

• The Crysalla may risk the chance of medical amputation, in the hope of the limb regrowing correctly the second time, or choose to live with the deformity.
• Sometimes, when a tail regenerates, it can display the Polycaudal mutation, in the form of a Split or additional tail entirely.
• The most common regeneration problem is a kinked tail. This may display one or multiple vertebrae at the wrong angle, making a permanent kink or zigzag pattern. Kinked tails are considered unattractive; but don’t impede a Crysalla’s life.
• A Crysalla with a malformed limb joint may use an enchanted brace that will strengthen the limb, such as a knee or arm or wing brace. 
• Remember, when using a cane, the user walks with the cane on the opposite side of the injured limb! Walking with the cane on the wrong side can cause further injury!

Other Defects

Sometimes, a Crysalla may hatch with a congenital deformity, or acquire one in their lifetime.

Congenital conditions:

• Brittle Bone Disease

  • Congenital disorder in which the bones do not possess their high mineral content. With their hollow air sacs; they become incredibly fragile, and can be broken by even minor falls or injuries. The bone may heal incorrectly, resulting in a deformed limb, and amputation and regeneration is often the only recourse. Spinal injuries may prove especially fatal, unless they occur on the tail.

• Congenital Amputation

  • When a Crysalla is born missing one or multiple limbs. This can result in missing an arm, leg, or wing. These are different from the Tailless, Wingless, Two Eyes, and Eyeless mutations, as all of those conditions are hereditary genetic conditions with a problematic gene.

Acquired conditions:

• Metabolic Bone Disease, caused by a lack of UV light, can cause the bones to become malformed without being previously amputated and regrown at all. The effects of this disease vary by severity; depending on how long the Crysalla doesn’t receive any UV light. It is most common in the poles; especially the southern one.
• Paralysis is a condition in which the spinal cord is damaged. Depending on the location and severity, it can be temporary, long term, or entirely permanent. A Crysalla with paralyzed hind legs will also lose the use of their tail.

Other Mobility Aids:

While prosthesis may prove useful to a Crysalla missing one or a few limbs, Crysalla have developed wheelchairs for those who have paralysis or lost both hind legs. Wheelchairs do not shift with the Crysalla; so they will have to use two.

• Bipedal Wheelchairs are sat in. They are made of wood and metal. They have an open lower back to allow for the tail and digitigrade leg rests. They can be maneuvered by moving the wheels.
• Hind Quadrupedal Wheelchairs are worn; attached by a harness that straps around the chest and forelimbs to allow for movement of the wings, with two wooden and metal attachments for wheels that fit outside of the hind legs. They are used for Crysalla who are missing or otherwise lost the use of their hind legs, but can still walk with their forelimbs.
• Dual Quadrupedal Wheelchairs are also worn in the same fashion, only they have four wheels for Crysalla who are quadriplegic. They can be maneuvered via “walking” with the wings. Vroom, vroom!

Crysalla without forelimbs or use of them, but retain the use of their wings and hind legs don’t require any wheelchair assistance in their quadrupedal form. In this case, the Crysalla will merely walk on their wing palms! Crysalla wings are already built for walking, they’ll get around just fine! 

Crysalla who rely on quadrupedal wheelchairs typically develop extremely muscular wings, due to flying with the extra weight.

Unfortunately, there is no quadrupedal mobility aid for Crysalla with neck-down paralysis; the loss of arm, leg, tail, and wing movement. These Crysalla are often culled by doctors due to their deemed poor quality of life (yikes!). However, those in much kinder hands may use bipedal wheelchairs, pushed by a companion or caretaker! They may also be pulled along in wagons in their quadrupedal form by a companion or caretaker! These Crysalla just need some love and a helping hand.