Sauren

Sauren are a varied species of reptilian creatures native to the humid and dense jungles of Saurion. Some are large, and some are small - all adapted to the harsh jungle environment. Not many have stepped foot in the vastness of Saurion, as it is almost impossible to survive. It is said, once you step foot in the jungle, the trees have already long decided your fate. Lack of exploration leads us to believe that there could be tens of thousands of different species roaming the land, however the only ones known to us are ones used in War by The Maru. Here are the few we know of:

 Quetzar  - Four winged titan of the skies, Quetzar can be used in battle and for carrying precious cargo, e.g. Leaders, Gold, Gems and so on. In the War of Saurion in the First Age, the Maru strapped catapults and ballistas to hundreds and it was said by General Lizraku, that what he witnessed was 'Hell raining down upon the enemy'.

Despite their size, Quetzar are a fairly weak species, and their feet are specially adapted to landing (Bear in mind these are an enormous and very heavy creature) not for scratching and picking up people. And their beaks are made for snatching sloths and monkeys - or fruit - off of tree branches, not for biting and pecking the enemy.

 Rajara  - The fastest of the winged Sauren, Rajaras are used in battle by the Maru to chase after enemy troops such as dragons and eagles. They mainly feed upon birds and insects such as dragonflies and millipedes, but they can consume other Saurens flesh if necessary.

Rajaras mouths have extremely powerful and flexible hinges, so we recommend you don't tamper or annoy them, as few seconds later, your hand could be gone. This happens very often to Rajara keepers, so if you see a Maru with a missing hand, you know why. In the wild, they are of no danger to you, unless you somehow block their flight path. Their extremely streamlined bodies and muscular wings allow them to travel at several hundred miles an hour, so if you were to get in the way of one, you would be no more than human marmalade.

They are a very intelligent species, which allows them to have a high level of concentration, so when they choose to pursue something, whether it be anything from a dragonfly, to an enemy falcon, they will not stop until their target is down, or in the case of the dragonfly - in their mouths.

 Mawruk  - Known as the ‘Jungle Terror’, Mawruk are a large species of carnivore, and in Maruan, their name means 'Four-Jaw'. This is because their mouth can split into four parts, enabling more space for food. They are extremely fast and agile, and are said to have the power of one-hundred men. Mawruk have several thousand teeth, all as sharp as the finest of elven blades, and this is why Maru use them so often. There are stories of large-scale hunts for these beasts, in which the Maru scouts, on flying mounts, could distract the animal, tempting it away from its nest, just so, shortly after, the rest of the hunters would steal several eggs.

The only way to tame a Mawruk it to have it grow up with you. A trainer is assigned to every individual Mawruk, and this trainer will raise and protect this Mawruk until it becomes ready for war. Mawruk rarely die in war, which is extremely lucky for the trainers, which, reather obviously, will have accumulated strong bonds with their animal. The Maru have a high respect for nature, so from every nest they take no more than half of the eggs, which on average is roughly 2.

In battle, the Maru additionally fortify their Mawruk by fitting heavy-duty golden armour, fully equipped with platform saddles, that can carry up to five. When seen like this, the Mawruk are a force to be reckoned with. But even without armour these are one of the most dangerous species to ever walk Saurion, so if you see one, we highly recommend that you run.