Zmey Gorynych is a brutish dragon easily recognized by its three heads. While neither as powerful nor as intelligent as a true dragon, Zmey Gorynych is nevertheless a dangerous threat to communities nestled in the foothills.

Multi-headed Menace. Zmey Gorynych resembles a strange hybrid of a wyvern and a hydra, having a similar body structure to the former and the multiple heads of the latter. While Zmey Gorynych does not possess a wyvern’s poisonous stinger or a hydra’s ability to regrow severed heads, it does possess a unique quality: the ability to breathe fire. This peculiar combination of traits has led some naturalists to speculate that Zmey Gorynych was bred into existence through intentional crossbreeding or sorcery.

Mountain Dwellers. Zmey Gorynych makes its lair in mountainside caves that give it a commanding view of the surrounding landscape. It prefers to lair within a few miles of a humanoid settlement, as their livestock—and the humanoids themselves—provide the dragon with a steady supply of food.
Zmey Gorynych's preferred terrain often brings it into conflict with copper dragons and red dragons. Zmey Gorynych seldom backs down when challenged by true dragons unless it becomes clear that they have no hope of victory. They will often bully and torment younger dragons, a torment that these dragons are all too eager to repay once they come of age.

Gluttonous Predators. Zmey Gorynych cares little for accumulating wealth or influence, and focus most of their efforts on filling their bellies. He will eat almost any living creature, though he has a preference for cattle and humanoids, and will gorge themselves until he is so bloated that they can barely move. Such a fattened Zmey will retreat to the safety of its lair and spend weeks digesting its meal in a kind of torpor, and any foe who happens upon Zmey Gorynych while it is in this state will find it all but defenseless.