Sand Drakes

The Sand Drake is a winged creature that lives in arid or semi-arid locales and roosts in lowland lairs that are little more than sheltered nests. They frequent the skies of Harad, but a few live on the drier parts of plains between the Ered Ormal and the mountains of the East. The Haradrim call them the "Zimaj." and fear these small Drakes more than any other desert denizen.

The Sand Drakes of Harad roost deep in the sandy wilds of the Dune Sea, although they hunt along trade routes and nearoases and other civilized areas. They are solitary creatures and fight one another almost as readily as they battle Desert Eagles (Orao). Their homes are usually a simple burrow in the loose sand. After digging in in the early evening, they return to the surface with first light. On occasion, though, a Sand Drake will establish a more permanent lair among the stones of a scattered desert ruin.

Sand Drakes resemble the Winged-drakes that terrorize other regions of Middle-earth. However, they are much smaller and swifterand share many characteristics with the larger birds of prey. Their teeth and claws are unusually sharp and disproportionately large, given their size, so they create quite a danger despite their inability to wield spells or breath fire. Sand Drakes have one undeniable weakness, however: they are hardly more intelligent than the snakes and lizards that share their land. These creatures live by their appetites and instincts alone.

Like true Were-worms, though, Sand-drakes can magically alter their shape. They can nestle atop or beside a natural feature or some dead prey and take on the characteristics of the object they touch. In this, they function more like Chameleons than true Were-worms. since the latter consciously change their form. Insatiably hungry, they are the most active of all terrestrial Drakes.Once on the attack, a Sand Drake will viciously and tenaciously pursue its prey until either the foe or the Dragon is cloud or incapable of further combat. They attack from the air, using their powerful jaws and the talons of their muscular hind legs. Their speed and agility is such that even one Sand Drake is enough to cause great damage to a poorly guarded caravan.