Minor Note: Feel free to use the Tarscales in fanfics or make characters. I currently have no plans for fanfics, drawings or characters of this species so, uh, yeah, there all yours. Just make sure to notify me when using one! I am interested to see what you would do!
"Well {Insert Viking Swear Word}...." - Viking upon a Tarscalers absorbing his spear into its armor.
Tarscalers are a large brute Stoker class that are feared for their fearsome and quite sticky tar-related abilities.
Description[]
"A powerful, gruesome predator of the dark, Tarscales. Having an extra layer of armor made entirely out of tar and oil. Not even the sharpest spear can stab through its sticky coating. A few Tarscales could destroy an entire village by using their powerful oil beam that explodes just after it touches the air. Survivors are truly lucky to escape an attack from this dragon. Others are not so lucky and will fall to prey of its tar-like cocoons it uses to trap its victims before finishing them off with a killing blow. Tarscalers are merciless hunters willing to destroy and dominate everything in its path.
Trails of boiling tar and oozing oil is a sign that a Tarscaler is nearby. Upon seeing this its best you evacuate the island immediately as Tarscalers are unpredictable, even when it seems like the calmest time they can suddenly appear and ravage a village in seconds. Tarscalers make up an appetite of nearly all apex predators and dragons. Deadly Nadders make easy prey due Tarscalers being completely immune to their deadly spines. Deathgrippers and Cavern Crashers also make up a good meal, Cavern Crashers slime can be exploded by Tarscaler beams and Deathgrippers can get their fangs and tail stuck in the Tarscalers armor.
Under all of the sticky black armor of a Tarscale is a dragon made of beautiful scales and colors. Yet don't let their stunning beauty trick you. Tarscalers are one of the most brutal and savage of all Stoker Class dragons. And they should never be taken lightly. As their tar like armor and explosive beams earn them a right to be feared throughout the Archipelago."
-Book of Dragons (updated)
"Tarscalers, powerful merciless dragons that could snap a Vikings neck in half without trying. Creates a powerful and nearly impenetrable layer of tar armor to defend itself from anything foolish enough to dare try and attack it."
-Original Book of Dragons.
Appearance[]
Egg[]
Tarscaler eggs are mostly black/gold/copper/silver in between the color is a shade of green/purple/pink. These colors usually indicate the colors a Tarscaler will have upon hatching from its egg. The egg usually is smooth and somewhat slippery. The bottom of the egg in usually in a layer of thick oil and tar to keep dragons from taking the egg if it is found.
Dragonet to Adult[]
Baby Tarscalers do not have their layer of tar around them yet. They haven't learned yet how to control it. Dragonets has usually large wings which are useful when chased by predators. Dragonets resemble their adult version yet much smaller, with two stubs where its horns are supposed to be. By the end of winter Dragonets scales will begin to get flaky, and look rusty in dull. This is a sign of that its time to shed. It usually takes a few days but once its shedding is complete, the Tarscaler looks a lot more shinier and smoother then usual. At this point Tarscalers will migrate to the Oillands. A large mountain covered in tar and oil. Tarscalers will spend many years there. Rolling in the tar and oil to shape their armor. Sooner or later the dragonet will get large and its stubs will grow into horns. its tail will shape into more of a cup. At this point Tarscalers will learn how to keep tar on themselves and how to take it off without destroying it. After a few sheddings the dragonets will mature to adults, their horns extending to full height, their tail formed correctly, and metallic scales will get shinier. This is used to attract mates. They usually will gain one or more green/purple/pink stripes on the sides of their body, along with their wings becoming much more muscular. The wings somethings become slightly torn and ripped thanks to the armor but it is usually replaced with tar. The tips of the Tarscalers horns will usually glow the same color as its stipes when it is angered.
Females scales are usually less shinier then the males. The males horns and wings are also longer. Yet females have a larger tail's and have shinier and more metallic teeth.
Titanwing[]
Titanwing Tarscales are twice as massive as their younger form, they have better control over their tar armor and can use it as a weapon, being able to create tentacles out of it. Their scales are more vibrant and patterns can be shown. Their eyes are more visible from the tar and their nostrils can also be seen as well.
Abilities[]
Oil Beam[]
Tarscales can project a beam of hot oil from their mouths. This oil has been heated up from the Tarscaler and will create massive explosions upon being released from its body. This attack can trap creatures in it and cause it to take massive hit and possibly get killed from the explosion. Tarscalers however are immune to the explosion and will shake it off if they take a hit. Sometimes the oil can kill a creature before it explodes because of its heat (a smoking 600F). The Oil Beam yet is a weakness towards Tarscalers (See Weaknesses) and they usually avoid using it unless they are sure its and accurate shot.
Tar Armor[]
A Tarscales main line of defense is its tar armor. This armor wraps around the entire Tarscalers body leaving no parts exposed except for the nose and eyes. This layer is super thick and nearly impossible to break through unless the Tarscaler wants to. It has been known for Vikings to stab the Tarscale with a sharp spear or shoot arrows at its head. But as soon as they get stuck in the armor. It instantly will get crush under the force of its armor. The Tar Armor allows Tarscalers to have immunity to explosions, fires, dragon roots, alpha calls (The tar keeps them from being able to hear). The Tar armor also gives Tarscalers more strength. Allowing it to reach a larger size and cause more destruction, it's mainly been known to body slam its opponents so they get stuck in its armor, before it covers them in is explosive oil beam. TitanWings Tarscalers have the ability to grab targets in Tar like tentacles from its body that it controls and flinging them or dropping them over a cliff. Thanks to the tar armor Tarscalers can stick to the walls and ceiling's and hang upside down like a bat (see Tar Tail). Multiple bones can sometimes be seen in the Tarscales armor from victims that got caught in its armor.
Tar Armor allows Tarscalers to hunt creatures with sharp parts (Example: A Razorwhip) without taking and damage. This is why they mainly hunt Sharp Class dragons
Tar Tail[]
Tarscalers have the ability to fling tar at their opponents. This attack helps prevent prey from escaping and allowing the Tarscaler to finish it off. Like Night furies and Light Furies Tarscalers can hang on the ceiling with the help of their tail. A special organ in the tail that develops in Tarscalers juvenile stages allows them to create their own sticky liquid so they never run out of ammo to chuck from their tails. The tail also allows Tarscalers to create a trail of oil and then make a trail of explosions with its oil beam. This attack it quite destructive and is commonly used during a Tarscales rampage.
Strength[]
Tarscalers wouldn't be feared if they were powerful. Even without a Tarscalers armor it is still a challenging opponent. Its impossible to take on a Tarscaler one on one. They can kill a single Viking or dragon in minutes. Tarscalers prefer to agitate their prey into attacking it them ambushing. First they find a certain prey like a Nadder. Then attacking it airborne, purposely missing to make the target think its a weak fighter. Then it settles on the ground and begins to attack the prey. Sharp Class dragons may use their sharp end to stab it, but end up getting stuck in it. This allows the Tarscaler to get a free blow in and kill it. For smaller prey Tarscalers are a lot more brutal, they will pounce on the prey, likely crushing it, then pick it up and smash in into the ground several times before raking it across the ground and throwing it into a nearby tree or wall, proceeding until the creature is dead. Tarscalers don't have memorable attack set, their moves are unpredictable and you can almost never tell what its going to do. Tarscalers are known to carry large dragons with one claw after killing them.
Defense[]
Tarscalers with their armor are are immune to almost everything, impaling, fire, ice, explosions, and gas. Without their armor though their scales are harder to puncture but they take a lot more injuries.
Poison[]
The oil Tarscalers have on their tail and in their beam can be fatal if one breathes it in too much. Of course the oil can be stopped if put out quickly enough.
Pack Communication[]
Tarscalers travel in groups of 1-5, they usually work alone but are know to work in packs. Tarscalers are known to communicate through their horns, which can glow in different ways. They can also speak in multiple gestures to speaks with their packmates. Juvenile and Baby Tarscalers cannot use horn flashes yet adults with fully grown horns can. Their are so many phrases new are still being discovered yet here are a few:
Top of horn flashes once-"Over Here."
Top of horn flashes twice- "Follow Me."
Top of horn flashes three times- "Yes."
Middle of horn flashes once-"Stay."
Middle of horn flashes twice- "Stop."
Middle of horn flashes three times- "I'm hungry/thirsty!)
Bottom of horn flashes once- "I like it."
Bottom of horn flashes twice-"I hate it."
Bottom of horn flashes three times-"No."
Flashes all parts of horns once- "Shut up!"
Flashes all parts twice-"I'm going to sleep."
Flashes all parts three times-"I like you."
Lowers head and flashes once: "Sorry."
Senses[]
Tarscalers senses are both good and bad:
Smell-Tarscalers are good smellers and can smell prey from a mile away, yet younger Tarscalers can smell better, as tar isn't closing up their snouts.
Sight- Tarscalers can't see as well as the younger versions, the tar usually ends up blinding them.
Touch-Tarscalers have a great sense of feeling, and can sense what they are touching by touching the object with their horns or head.
Hearing-Tarscalers cannot hear anything, tar armor keeps then from being able to hear, yet juveniles and babies can hear perfectly.
Taste- Due to having a somewhat bad nose, Tarscalers can't taste as much, they can taste it a bit but not that much (however they can taste the rich meat of a Nadder).
Immunity[]
Tarscalers can survive in their tar armor for years without taking it off. They are immune to overheating. They also cannot be poisoned by their own oil.
Weaknesses[]
Tarscalers may seem like invincible dragons but they have a large variety of weaknesses.
Oil[]
Tarscalers oil can exploded by other dragons flames. They also can get killed by it. If fired into its mouth correctly, the oil in Tarscalers body can explode and gruesomely destroy it from the inside.
Water[]
Tarscalers have a massive dislike of water if they are in their Tar suits as it washes off the armor.
No Armor[]
Tarscalers have weak scales under their armor. Without it they are pretty easily beaten and can get brutal injuries. Upon losing its armor it can take a few years plus and entire migration just for it to regain its armor.
Eels[]
Tarscalers like most dragons despise eels. Yet for some reason even getting one in its mouth will cause some sort of malfunction in the Tarscalers body that gives is paralysis and eventually kills it. Eels are practically poison to Tarscalers.
Loss of Horns[]
Breaking a Tarscalers horns disables its communication abilities, making the pack confused on what they are supposed to do and eventually causing them to seprate.
Lack of Senses[]
Tarscalers cannot hear and can barely see or smell, making it easy to ambush them and take them by surprise.
Weight[]
Tarscales Tar Armor makes them slower flyers so they can't catch up to most prey if it is flying too fast. It also takes a lot of energy to fight in its tar suit.
Head And Neck The armor around Tarscales head and neck don't have much tar armor on them, so its more vulnerable to attacks there.
Behavior[]
Tarscalers prefer to be left alone and only like the company of others of its kind. They hate being with other dragons and will fight if they get within its territory. Despite seeming like a vicious dragon Juveniles and dragonets are actually quite playful, in the Tarlands they are known to roll over and constantly play in the tar. Young Adults are even shown having fights similar to Snowball fights except with tar. Adults are also known to be quite passive towards their young. TitanWing Tarscalers are actually more evil and chaotic. Happily enjoying violence and destruction if not trained. Tarscalers trained properly are fiercely loyal and protective towards their trainer and literally will hurt themselves upon doing something bad. They obey practically everything their owner says. A Tarscaler raised from a baby or Juvenile is a true bond.
Lifestyle[]
Tarscalers start out their life hatching from a single clutch. The egg usually indicates what color they will be. They are practically helpless, with no armor, or horns for talking. The egg is likely attached to prey trapped in tar for an easy meal. Yet they are fast fliers and can escape predators easily. They are usually protected and taught by their mother and father. During the end of winter, the Tarscaler dragonet will shed and gain shinier scales. At this point it, its parents, and other Tarscalers will migrate to a mountain covered in tar and oil. This is where the dragonet will gain their Tar like armor and learn how to control it. This process will take until the baby reaches full adulthood. The adult will separate from its parents and shed for one last time. This time the male's scales become shinier and both genders grow larger and get horns. Short after the young-adults will stay at the mountain for mating. Females usually pick the most protective, kind, and pretty males. Upon finding a mate, both will go to an area of their choice to have an egg. Some Tarscalers will join up with friends of theirs after the migration to start a pack. When Tarscalers mate they usually mate for life staying together until the very end. When one of the mates dies the only will usually die right after heartbreak. Sometimes Tarscalers will give their eggs to a different male and female who are willing to raise a second one.
Training[]
"Tarscalers are Tarscalers. They are heartless and savage monsters. It's impossible and foolish to try to train one!"
"It's possible if you know how it's feeling."
Tarscales are hard to train. Near to impossible probably. They are aggressive and can kill you if they want to. Mistrustful of anything but Tarscaler and rarely gain trust. It's best to raise a Tarscale from an egg so it is more used to you. Yet eggs are heavily guarded by the parents, hard to get out of its sticky tar nest, and usually is hanging in the air. So it's likely you will die trying to get one. The other way is finding one like you. Believe it or not, Tarscales are like humans. They have their likes and dislikes. A personality and many more. Tarscales can understand human language but not speak it. Tarscales seem to be interested in creatures who are experiencing the same things it has. If both a human and a Tarscale had their home destroyed, they could possibly bond. The first thing you should do is watch the Tarscale from afar. It's better to expect how they act and what they do before coming up to one. The second thing to do is announce yourself to the Tarscalers, few predators announce them self in the wild and instead ambush the Tarscale. Try not to bring any weapons or flammable torches. Make yourself as vulnerable as possible. This will show Tarscales you are not wanting to fight. Talk to it from afar, it will likely listen. It will take a long while, years possibly. Yet sooner or later the Tarscale will trust you as a friend.
Another way to gain one's trust is to protect it from harm. Act like packmate towards it. Never turn your back on it, share, warn it, and defend it. Overtime the Tarscale will treat you and your friends as packmates. Returning the offer by obeying you and sharing its kills with you.
Tarscales prefer to be alone sometimes so give it privacy now and then. They also enjoy having fun breaking and destroying things like rocks and trees so take them out to a secluded place often so they can have a little fun. The more closer to a Tarscale you become, the more you will realize that Tarscales are not evil creatures, they are just the same as other creatures, a creature that just wants to defend itself and have a nice life. Having a Tarscale as a friend is an unbreakable and invincible bond.
Appearances[]
Tarscales haven't made an appearance yet in any stories but the skull of one makes an appearance in Flashstings story.
Trivia[]
- Tarscales were created when I was thinking of what would be a unique dragon species that has something no other species had? The image of a dragon similar to the villain Venom popped into mind and the Tarscale was born. I at first imagined it as a dragon with a long cloak for wings that used it to cover is prey in tar. But the more I thought about it the more I thought it would be a much more interesting dragon to create if it had an entire layer made entirely out of tar. A Tarscales body shape actually took somewhat of a form from a monster in a game called Gore Magala. I imagined Gore Magala and what it would look like if covered in a black layer of tar. I loved the idea so much!
- I took the Tarscales training method from a story I read about how people with autism can relate to horses. At first, I had no clue on how to train a dragon that wants to snap your neck as soon as it sees you. But once I remembered that story I found that it would be a great idea that you could train a Tarscale by finding one that you have so much in common with. For people, we usually become friends with someone who is similar to us. So thanks to that story I found a way to train this awesome dragon!
- I originally thought that Tarscales armor should be acidic and melt anything that gets caught in it. but what fun would that be? The saddle melting as soon as it put on? So I changed the armor to tar, then realized yet again that the saddle and rider would just get stuck. So I figured that I'd allow the Tarscaler to be able to control where it tar goes, so it can allow its tar armor to not be in some parts of the body so the rider can safely climb onto the saddle without harm.
- The scales on Tarscalers can switch between letting tar and oil stick to it or slide off it. This ability is super weak as a baby but grows much stronger the older it gets.
- Tarscalers were planned to have no eyes but I thought it just gave you the creepy vibe than the powerful vibe I was going for. So I decided that it just has weak eyesight.
- Tarscales natural enemies are Echoers which they will brutally attack on sight, the reason why is currently unknown.
Gallery[]
