Gorynych

Few outside the dark environs of the dungeon are aware that the warlocks of that realm hold a magic tournament every fifth year. The best and brightest warlocks and overlords compete, demonstrating their prowess in the four elemental schools of magic, their abilities to develop new potions and to create new creatures to serve the dungeon hierarchy. In each category, only one contestant is awarded the coveted Pendant of the Black Dragon--a badge of both prestige and power within the warlock world.

One of the most renowned warlocks of this (or any) age, Alamar, was the recipient of five such pendants--one each for earth, air, water and fire magic expertise, and one more for his Potion of Paralyzation, which he had distilled from the venom of a scorpicore. Yet, the sixth and final Pendant of the Black Dragon, for the best new creature, eluded him for many years.

One year, his carefully bred mushroom-detecting troglodytes were beaten by Agar's de-odorized harpies, while at the next contest, his porcupine/medusa mix took second to Gunnar's manure-free manticores. So it went--always his creatures were widely applauded but never quite good enough for the coveted pendant.

Finally, Alamar determined to expand his horizons--to blend non-native dungeon creatures to create something truly unique. He traveled far, through the lands of the elves, where he dabbled briefly with a dwarf/harpy mix (too heavy to fly), and the lands of the barbarians where he had a brief success with crossing evil eyes and cyclops until the other cyclops destroyed his prototype as an abomination (Ugh! Many eyes! Ugh!), before finally reaching the sulfurous swamps of the beastmasters. There he captured a young hydra before returning to his dungeon lair to begin preparations. A grand design--the speed of a dragon, with the many heads of the hydra. Multiple breathe attacks, and the ability to fly--truly a beast to strike fear in the heart of the stoutest kanniggit.

Unfortunately for Alamar, crossbreeding dragons and hydras proved to be much more difficult than he had imagined. His first attempt burned itself to death when one head tried to talk to another, while his second smashed to the ground when it was unable to fly and attack at the same time. The contest loomed and Alamar finally settled on a compromise: the gorynych—a multi-headed beast that attacked without retaliation, yet could fly and moved at least a little faster than a chaos hydra. Alas, his run of bad luck continued--the gorynych was showcased the same year that Jeddite developed his self-veiling medusas, and once again the Pendant he so coveted was denied to Alamar. Out of frustration and spite, Alamar released his prototype gorynyches into the wild, to snack on the unsuspecting and those who are foolish enough to attempt to wrap their tongues around the beasts' wholly unpronounceable name.