Pegasi

Üllemic: Wömoq' /wœːmɔqʼ/

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Pegasii are winged herbivores native to the Maralon Steppe, Fúmsis Savanna and Qug Mountains of eastern and central Jælondis, and one of several creatures inhabiting Borgalor that has a mix of mammalian and avian features. In older sources especially, the name Jælondic Pegasus is sometimes used to differentiate it from the Lúrkic Pegasus or equine hippalektryon found on the continent of Lúrk, though the two species are only distantly related despite similar appearances.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Pegasi resemble our world's kulan with wings and tail not unlike those of a king vulture, and has a feathered mane. Their hooves are able to store and release lightning magic to singe or throw enemies off-balance, either by kicking them or stomping the ground to cause a shock wave, then using the cover of resulting dust cloud to fly off to safety.

Behaviour

Pegasi on the steppe and savanna often live in mixed herds of Unicorns and mundane wild horses, where they often take turns flying around the area to keep an eye out for predators, similarly to the ones in the mountains but with herds of wild llamas and other herbivores.
Their natural predators in the lowlands is the plains gryphon, and Wyverns in the mountains, as both are able to chase the animals through the air. Large birds of prey sometimes hunt foals as well.

Cultural Significance

The animal is among the most sacred ones in many highland dwarven cultures, and almost as revered by the Humans of Maralon and Fúmsis, second only to the unicorn. To the T'üllmans and other cultures of the southern Qug Mountains, the pegasus is particularly associated with the healing goddess Pfe Hap, and the soul is often depicted as a white pegasus with flaming wings on its way to the afterlife, with different obstacles on its path compared to wyverns. In Orgoll, the royal throne is flanked by statues of a pegasus and an unicorn, symbolizing their power over both dwarven and human subjects, respectively.
While pegasii are a protected species in many countries, bones and feathers gathered from ones that died of natural causes are traditionally used to make various talismans, and a sacred drum made from pegasus hide is one of the paraphernalia used by the rulers of Eimpfiq'elía when invoking the goddess Itú.

Origin/Ancestry

Central and western Jælondis

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Pegasi are white with black legs, hooves and neck, and a black head with markings in different shades of brown and grey. The plumage too is black and white.