The freshwater rivers and streams of Teriss play home and hunting ground to many creatures, but one of the more vicious and surly denizens is the semi-crocodilian species known as the River Hydra, more colloquially as the Bonechewer.

These robust reptiles can measure nearly eighteen feet in length, and are an example of rapid regenerative cellular structures as seen in several of the other reptile species of Teriss. Found all over the world, these creatures and their cousins are known collectively as Hydras due to their affinity for watery environments. The Bonechewer in particular favors cold, shallow streams and rock-bottomed rivers, where they burrow and form nests.

Each Bonechewer starts life with a single head, but through injury almost invariably end up with between two and three before the end of their two century lifespan. Though their cells regenerate quickly they do not extend their lifespan, serving only to heal them from catastrophic and even fatal wounds.

Bonechewers are known as such because of their habit of collecting skulls, long bones and spinal columns from their own kills and from dead creatures they find on the shore or floating down stream. They fill their nests with them, gnawing and chewing the bones on a near constant basis to hone their perpetually growing teeth. The only times when they aren't chewing on a bone are during a hunt, when asleep, or if ill.

The creatures have a remarkably powerful, paddle-like tail that allows them to propel themselves bodily from the water, pushing off of the river bed much like a catapult lobbing a stone. Their main hunting method is to wait for prey to come to drink, and once the prey is close enough to the water they launch themselves into the unsuspecting victim with enough force to daze and overpower the creature. Once a victim is held in the grip of one or more sets of River Hydra jaws, it's all over.

Though relatively intelligent, they are found to make somewhat poor pets and hunting partners due to their habit of simply eating anything they hunt. They are also very large, and are known to be stubborn and moody. The creatures are also quite lethargic out of the water, preferring to swim or float over walking when possible. This is likely due to their considerable bone density and musculature adding a great deal of weight to their body.

Most often employed as guard animals in moats, small bodies of water or near bandit docks, the creatures have earned something of an ugly reputation as cruel and stupid. Truth be told, they're as innocent of their reputation as any predator can be, and are completely normal and necessary parts of any river ecosystem.

Art by  Lustbubbles