Spear-nosed guer

Spear-nosed guer are long, thin Drakes that live in shallow water or deep mud. Physically, they resemble alligators in almost all respects, such that it is easy to mistake the two, at a distance. A spear-nosed guer's upper jaw terminates in a sharp, bony horn that extends up to three feet in front of its snout, making up about one third the guer's length.

Spear-nosed guer are capable of remaining submerged for hours at a time, a quality they use to hunt prey without exposing themselves to larger predators. They burrow into mud or lie in wait just below the surface of the water, detecting the approach of prey by vibrations. The spear-nosed guer rises swiftly, striking with its horn and quite often impaling the target. If the prey survives, the spear-nosed guer thrusts deeper until it can bite the target with its jagged teeth.

Spear-nosed guer are cold-blooded carnivores that lay their eggs in mud in the early spring. These eggs hatch at the height of summer. Spear-nosed guer exhibit little intelligence, but there are too many accounts of these guer cooperating with other Drakes to dismiss their sentience entirely.

(Introduction contributed by Nightfire Tradition)

Tactics

When Mar tell stories about guer, these are usually the guer they describe. Spear-nosed guer aren't especially bright, as Drakes go, but they are common in and near the Fens of Reur and nearly always manage to strike with the advantage of surprise.

Aside from their horns and semi-sentient intelligence, spear-nosed guer really aren't any more dangerous than large alligators. They have thick hides, but a well-aimed sword or spear can still penetrate this defense. Magocrats are largely responsible for the fearsome reputation these guer have among Mar, because magic is not nearly as effective at detecting a submerged spear-nosed guer. A wizard is no less likely to fall prey to one of these guer than a mundane.

Spear-nosed guer seldom form lasting communities, but they have been known to hire on as mercenaries for other Drakes. In these alliances, the guer lie side-by-side in the mud, facing the enemy. The friendly Drakes retreat from the battle, leading the opposing army to the line of spear-nosed guer, who rise up suddenly to form a bony spear hedge. While this tactic is often effective against those who do not expect it, it really represents the limits of spear-nosed guer involvement in large skirmishes. Spear-nosed guer simply do not move overland quickly enough to make them an effective assault force. Rumors of companies of spear-nosed guer patroling the waters of the Lapis Amnis and killing those who try to cross are difficult to believe, as these are lazy Drakes that seldom remain active for more than a couple hours a day and prefer to move as little as possible.

(Tactics contributed by Weard Girdag Langat)

Copyright 2005-2007 Eric Zawadzki and Matthew Schick. All Rights Reserved.
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