Sentry Lizard

Valen landed softly on his toes, glancing around to make sure nobody had heard him. His friend in the Lamplighters had let him know when the villa would be vacant — the family was up at the lake for the next fortnight. He padded around the house: there was still a guard on duty in the main home, but the sahra kept some jewelry in the cottage by the pool. More than enough to be worth his time . . . 

Valen was halfway around the pool when he spotted it: a black, undulating motion in the pool. He barely came around in time to see the short, clawed feet pull the lizard’s face over the edge of the pool, tongue flicking out between opposing raws of serrated teeth. He stepped back, debating whether to reach for his dirk or try to outrun the beast.

The sentry lizard is an enormous beast, with the largest ranging up to 10' in length, or somewhat longer for the aquatic species. They’re often kept as guard animals, becoming acclimated to their adopted family but hostile toward unknown intruders. They’re never fully domesticated, though, and must be kept restrained when unfamiliar guests are around. The sea sentries of Kilpo Bay have a moderately more amicable relationship with the Mahksi; the two will often work together to repel hunter sharks, sawnoses, and other large predators that enter the bay. A keen sense of smell helps sentries search out hidden threats.

Wild sentry lizards can individually threaten an adult human, and some species hunt in packs that can threaten even a well-armed group of travellers. While they will eat an omnivorous diet under duress, they are preferential carnivores and will seek out everything from grubs and insects to eggs, fish (even primarily terrestrial sentries are excellent swimmers), birds, lizards, and mammals. Cannibalism is unusual but not unknown. They employ active hunting tactics, reminiscent of wolves or hyenas. A few species have a venomous bite.

Although sexual reproduction is the norm, there are documented cases of spontaneous fertility among sentries. Of particular interest, the heart of the sentry is much larger than in other lizards, resembling that of a mammal.

The majority of sentry lizards favor tropical zones, and range from almost black through various shades of green and yellow. Sea sentries often have a grey-blue ventral surface to match a dark green dorsal side. Their hide is often used to make boots and belts. Patterns vary, with striped and mottled species dominating. A notable exception is the ice sentry found in polar climes, which is particularly prized for the iridescent, almost silver sheen of its grey-white skin.