Pet Tamer's Handbook
Viper

Slippery and slithery, vipers are among the smallest pets aislings can own. Once tamed, vipers enjoy wrapping themselves around their owner’s body for support and heat. They become very attached to their owners, and will not acknowledge another aisling ((they cannot be transferred)). Vipers can be found in three locations – the Enchanted Garden of East Woodlands, the Wasteland of East Woodlands, and Mehadi Swamp.
The colors, diets, and temperaments vary slightly from each location.
Mehadi Swamp
The vipers you will find in Mehadi Swamp are the most aggressive and active. The swamp offers them a plethora of food and shelter. This results in larger vipers with dark green scales. Their rich diet includes frogs, eggs, fish, birds, and occasionally some rats and bugs. Because of their aggressiveness, caution is advised when attempting to tame this species of vipers.
The lure-and-trap method is the most efficient and safest way to catch them. To catch a viper from Mehadi Swamp, lay a basket on its side near to a bush with some form of bait (fish from the nearby stream work well). Once a viper has slid into your trap quickly close the basket with the top. It is also recommended that you wrap a sheet around the basket for extra protection, or at least add something to latch the lid to the basket.
Attempting to scare the viper into your trap is not suggested because the viper will likely turn on you. Watch out for the viper's fangs, and be aware that this species has enough strength to cut off circulation if wound too tight around a limb. Of the three, this one tends to be the most difficult to catch as well as to tame.
Enchanted Garden
The vipers found in the Enchanted Garden of East Woodlands are the best choice for tamers. Their environment provides them with ample food and shelter. This species of viper’s diet consists mainly bugs and occasional small reptiles and mammals, such as mice. These vipers are often bright green in color. Vipers found here are non-aggressive and are not typically afraid of aislings.
A number of tactics can be used to capture a viper from the Enchanted Gardens. Because of their ductile nature, tamers have been known to use a stick or branch to gently re-orientate the viper so that its head is away from you, but within grasping range. Once in range, slowly reach out and grab the viper behind the head with one hand so that it cannot bite you, while you still hold it drooped over the stick or branch.
Wasteland
The barren landscape provided by the Wasteland makes for a malnourished, semi-aggressive viper. Vipers will be difficult to catch in the wastelands because they will seek shelter within small crevasses within rock piles. Their skin can be anywhere from a bright green to a light brown which allows them to hide all the better. Luring the viper out with bait is the safest method to catching this species of viper.
It is highly un-recommended to reach in any cracks or crevasses looking for them, because they will become aggressive if you initiate contact. Although they are not known to host any venom dangerous to aislings, their bite is deep in proportion to their size. Once they have been lured out, try distracting them with a push of stick in the opposite direction of your own body.
Either lure the viper into a basket or onto a sheet to pick it up, or grab use another stick to pin the viper down behind the head. Once pinned, snake your arm around its body to keep it from thrashing out (pun not intended). Slide your arm up until you can grab ahold of its head, right behind its jaw. At this point you can release the stick and the viper should calm down enough for you to continue to hold it, or transfer it into a basket.
Other Methods of Obtaining a Viper
Vipers lay many eggs throughout their lifetime (usually 4-16 at a time), so breeding them is popular. Once laid, vipers will abandon their eggs in bushes and plants. The eggs are very fragile and must be kept warm. They should be kept in a dark area, away from potential predators. It is possible to collect eggs from one of the three places mentioned above and incubate them until birth. Baby vipers should be fed only small insects and frozen baby mice. Freezing the food will preserve its nutrients while minimizing any injury it might inflict on the viper.
For those who are not interested in catching, taming, breeding, or hatching a Viper, but still wish to own one, they can be purchased from mundane breeders ((200 Kruna in the Item Shop)).
Caring For Your Viper
Like any reptile, vipers are cold blooded; they need to be kept in warm. They also prefer dark and damp places. If you plan to take a viper with you, wear loose-fitting clothing that allows the viper space to comfortably curl in a pocket or roll.
Only allow a viper to wrap itself around your body if you have hand raised it. Otherwise, the viper could coil too tightly, causing damage to your body and possibly risking your life. It is also popular to have viper’s glands and fangs removed to prevent you or another person from being hurt. Should you choose to remove them, please ensure you alter their diet accordingly.
Vipers prefer eating small mammals, such as mice. Most vipers will refuse to eat anything that is not alive, so owners and tamers will need to take this into serious inconsideration before choosing to own a viper. This requirement means that the owner would need to have an on-hand supply of live food to feed to his or her viper.
Vipers are great escape artists, so always secure the container you are keeping yours in while unattended.
Other Facts
Young vipers may shed their skin multiple times throughout the year, while older vipers will only molt once or twice each year.
Vipers are notorious for sneaking up on aislings training in the swamp and sometimes killing them while they are unaware. In some cases, this is known to happen in the Wasteland and Enchanted Garden when they are hit with a stray spell or skill.
Untameable Vipers
Vipers are widely spread creatures and can be found in many different locations. The vipers found in Shinewood Forest, Deadwood Forest and Oren Island Jungle are often venomous, making them untameable.
Aislings should never attempt to tame the vipers found in Medusa's summoning room within Nobis. Although they are related to all the other species these vipers are regarded as spiritual creatures, said to contain fragments of Medusa’s soul.
Taming Your Viper
Taming a viper is a matter of familiarity. The best approach is to handle the viper frequently, but for short periods of time. Before handling it, however, make sure that it has been fed it it’s content and is drowsey. This will allow you to get close without rousing the viper's aggression.
Always position yourself so that you can jump back from harm’s way should the viper become aggressive. Begin by handling them from behind, keeping the head the furthest away from you.
