Description: Sho'Vothic is neither a particularly striking nor imposing example of the Taninim, despite their airs and affectations. Their outer scales are indeed a brilliant emerald hue, and the ridge of razor sharp spines along their back gleams almost golden as it catches the light. Yet somehow they don't invoke the splendor that comes so naturally to so many of their kind. They are, if anything, a little short and a little squat. Their thick neck and large horned head might look impressive on a larger specimen, but as they are smaller than most hounds, it just makes them look somewhat ungainly. They compensate for it in the ways that they can, the four gleaming golden runes burning from the middle of their chest is certainly impressive, but nothing can hide the fundamental truth of their form.

They almost always adorned in an extremely complicated wrap of gossamer blue silk, carefully wrapped about their torso so as to be held securely in place by the ridge of spikes along their back. The intricate wrappings appear almost like a harness or barding, and into this weave, a dastardly complex pattern of golden runes and sigils has been embossed. To those with the eyes for such things, the wrapping radiates a strong aura of transmutation magic.

Biography: Sho'Vothic was one of the first of the clutch to be born, larger and stronger than almost all of their siblings. Too young to know better, they took to bullying their clutchmates. Their rein near the top was, however, short lived. For while they were large, they barely grew compared to their hatchmates, and within a few weeks almost all of them had outpaced the Imperious Green. Thus they rapidly found themselves at the bottom of the food chain, the runt of the litter. Bullied by righteously vengeful Tinanim, they took refuge with Elegant Tooth as often as they could.

Elegant Tooth was shockingly gentle with the Devourer, taking their young charge out into the woods on a number of occasions. They taught them woodslore, a surprise from a Tinanim born of Magma and rage, and Sho'Vothic took to the lessons. Away from the pressure of the nest, Sho'Vothic was a fierce personality, but contained by their Warden. This continued for many years, until finally the Art awoke within Sho'Vothic's blood. The realization was a moment of triumph for the young Tinanim, who had long feared that their life was to have been one of vassaldom and servitude. They indulged in studying the aspects of their blood, devouring the power like one long starved. It was then that they took their name, Devours Knowledge, and dedicated themselves to exploring all there was to learn of magic. They took to heading out into the woods themselves, trusting upon their arcane abilities and their acidic breath to keep themselves safe.

It was upon one of these forays that they observed the Duel. Though the identities of the combatants remain a mystery to them, they will forever remember the faces and forms of the two combatants. An Elf and a Human, born aloft by their power, battling with sorcery high above the forest floor where Sho'Vothic bent and strained to try and get a better look. It seemed almost insulting that these two mortals were gifted the sky that was denied to Sho'Vothic, but as the battle continued the young Tinanim could not deny the arcane mastery of the two Mages. They controlled forces that Sho'Vothic had never even seen, hurling energies at one another in a seemingly endless torrent. Yet even from where they watched, it was clear that one outmatched the other. Every spell the Elf wove, the Human seemed to have a counter weaving. Bit by bit, the Human chipped away at their opponent's arcane defenses, until at last with a screaming mote of fire they sent them hurtling towards the ground. The fallen Elf smashed through the trees less than thirty paces from where Sho'Vothic crouched, smoking and still, and the Tinanim hid low as the Human descended to ensure that they had finished the job. To their dying day, Sho'Vothic will remember the contempt with which the Human uttered a single word.

"Sorcerers."

It was almost enough of an insult for the Tinanim to attack then and there, for any pride they held in themselves was wrapped in that word, but wisdom cautioned their temper. They had just seen this Human Mage annihilate what had evidently been a Sorcerer of almost indescribably power. They knew that, Tinanim or no, they lacked the age and power to destroy the one before them. Instead, they crouched and watched as the victor riffled through the dead Sorcerer's belongings, tossing aside what they didn't want and keeping the rest, before disappearing in a glimmer of Art. Sho'Vothic waited for many hours before approaching, riffling through what remained. The Mage, a Wizard they had supposed, and taken much. Yet they had left something behind, a beautiful silk robe of gossamer blue silk. The magic contained within was much too complicated for Sho'Vothic to fully grasp, but as the days passed, they began to piece together the principals. This was magic to overcome the power of the blood, magic to grant a Sorcerer the breadth of a Wizard's command of the full mysteries of the arcane, without diluting their own raw strength.

Their mind afire with ideas, Sho'Vothic returned to the nest. They knew they would need years of study and a hoard of their own before they could complete this great work, but now they had a burning desire to see it through.