Coquatrix
“Sometimes you just want to draw medieval crocodiles” © @rattyarts, accessed at their tumblr here
[Medieval crocodiles are weird. No real model for them existed by the time of the bestiaries, so each individual illustrator basically had fair game to do whatever they wanted. The Medieval Bestiary website has a great gallery of the variations here, along with their many names. I wonder if this name in particular is the origin of the cockatrice through linguistic drift--to a classification system where reptiles, serpents and dragons were loosely interchangeable, calling a crocodile “the king of serpents” makes sense. And people who were understanding less and less Latin, and not seeing any crocodiles, might start to think of a “coquatrix“ as being something like a cockerel.]
Coquatrix CR 10 NE Dragon This heavy-set, scaled creature has a head like that of an immense rat, a long thick tail, and curled plates running along its back.
Coquatrixes are sometimes called crocodile dragons, for they combine features of both species, and many others besides. A coquatrix often has strange mammalian characteristics such as a fleshy snout or ears, and no two of the creatures looks quite the same. All of them are subtle ambush predators, though, that use their intellect in order to better hunt their prey. They prefer sentient beings as food, as they enjoy the feeling of power this gives them, and often hunt lesser dragons such as drakes and wyverns that share their habitat.
A coquatrix typically strikes from ambush, attacking creatures that come to drink or cross from a body of water. It grabs and devours a single target and then retreats. They can cry supernatural tears that are infused with grief, and use this ability to stop creatures from pursuing them or attempting to rescue a grabbed foe. Coquatrixes collect treasure, preferentially hoarding small and shiny objects such as coins and gems in their gut. These they use as ballast as much as anything, periodically regurgitating them to make way for new treasures or simply to admire their shine and polish.
A coquatrix can be negotiated with, especially if they are well fed, but they are deceitful and hypocritical creatures. They often know quite a bit about the rivers, lakes and marshes they call home, but weave together lies and truth in a confusing mixture. Most coquatrixes view true dragons with a mix of respect and envy, and enjoy one-upping such creatures if they can by eating their eggs or raiding from their hoards. Such actions are incredibly risky, and the coquatrix often attempts to deflect blame from its actions towards local adventurers.
A coquatrix grows to thirty feet long and can weigh as much as two tons.
