Carnosaur

The jungles of Lustria are filled with a cacophony of sounds, but all come to a dead silence when the bellowing roar of a Carnosaur reverberates through the land. Not even the dense undergrowth can drown out that roar, which can be heard for many miles. It is a sound that sends shivers of fear through even the most hulking of behemoths, for it can mean only one thing — a Carnosaur is on the prowl.

Carnosaurs are enormous predators that stalk the darkness of the primordial jungles, the ultimate hunters of Lustria. They are powerfully built, with long, muscular hind limbs and a heavy tail that is used for balance. Upon scenting prey, or catching sight of even the least movement, the Carnosaur propels itself with enormous strides, moving with a surprising speed for so large a beast. Their shortened forelimbs and sharp claws are ideal for locking hold of prey, allowing the Carnosaur to better line up its most destructive attack; Carnosaurs have massive jaws, their gaping mouths filled with dagger-like death. Their bite can hack through huge chunks of flesh on larger prey, and by twisting its thick, serpentine neck, a Carnosaur can simply rip its quarry apart. Having tasted blood, a Carnosaur is at its most deadly, for it enters a state of savage fury — biting and tearing at any living creature, sometimes slaughtering its gory way through entire herds of giant sauropods without pause.

In the danger-filled lands of the lost continent, there are a few beasts larger in size than the Carnosaur, but none of them are as aggressive or so dominant a predator. No creature, big or small, is safe from its relentless attack. The Carnosaur is undeterred by the thickest hides or the toughest bony plates; they are one of the few natural predators of the mighty Stegadons. Protective spines, lethal venom or razor-edged sabre-fangs — they matter not to the Carnosaur. A fight between the larger beasts of the jungle is a titanic sight, a resounding battle that often leaves even the victor badly mauled. Almost always, the beast that rises from the circle of smashed trees and trampled undergrowth is the Carnosaur - it rears back, shakes the gore from itself and roars its triumph to the heavens above.

Carnosaur eggs are highly coveted by the Lizardmen and countless Skink hunters brave the wilds seeking to find them. It is a dangerous task and many Skinks die in the attempt, squashed underfoot or swallowed whole, but such treasures are highly valued. On rare occasions, a precious egg is snatched by the Skinks and returned to the temple-cities to be incubated. There, the eggs are closely cared for by attentive Skinks, who continue to nurture the young hatchling even though they are soon dwarfed by the growing beast. Even newborns are capable of biting a Skink in two, and few of the trainers survive long enough to see the fruits of their labours. Eventually, however, the Carnosaur is trained to accept a rider and take direction.

With a Saurus Oldblood or Scar-Veteran on its back, a Carnosaur is able to wade through enemy battle lines; a death-dealing colossus that can shatter an army’s resolve to fight in a few bloody moments. It takes much strength and skill to keep such a wilful beast under control, yet even that semblance of mastery is shed in the heat of battle as soon as the Carnosaur tastes blood. When the vicious killing fury is upon a Carnosaur, it is likely to revert to instinct — the apex predator of a deadly land, charging and devouring any creature in its sight that so much as moves.