Jalas

Mörkelic: Jala /jaːla/

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Jalas¹ is a general term for two species of small, flightless birds native to the northern parts of the Plain of Kings in eastern Dragonía, namely reed jalas² and ruddy jalas³. They share some similarities to both Randanas and Zölans, being wingless, with long legs and neck.

Reed Jalas

Reed jalas are smaller, shyer and more gracile than the ruddy ones, sporting a far more muted plumage than the latter, specifically alternating brown and green bands to camouflage against the reeds along riverbanks. Wild ones spend most of their time in that habitat, while those near settlements often wander around arpól- and öndal fields to eat insects. Doing so keeps certain pests from ruining the harvest, so the local Mörkels leave the birds alone, and eating one even during famines is widely considered taboo.

Ruddy Jalas

Ruddy jalas are often found in open fields near lakes and rivers on the Plain of Kings, easily identified by their striking red plumage, not unlike that of Rekan Birds. They have high fertility rate due to being prey animals for wild Erlen Lizards, Meðas, Förns and early Mörkels with few defenses except running away, with chicks being able to fend for themselves in less than a month after hatching and reaching adulthood a couple of months later.
Their diet it overall more varied than that of reed jalas, consisting primarily of insects, spiders, snails and seeds.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Ruddy jalas were first domesticated in Eila'togía, the first Mörkel monarchy, during the early third century a.Dr and following the kingdom's collapse spread from the central Plain of Kings as Mörkels established new settlements further east towards the Narra'tonei Sea. They are tended to and used similarly to our world's chickens, raised primarily for their eggs and meat, and the plumage is preferred for adorning one's hair, clothing and jewelry instead of rekan feathers in certain southern Mörkel countries, particularly Aralrar, due to rekan birds being associated with Þrihaks and by extension barbarity.

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¹Original icelandic: jölur, singular: jala.
²Original icelandic: sefjölur, singular: sefjala.
³Original icelandic: roðajölur, singular: roðajala.

Reed jala by Lappalingur

Origin/Ancestry

Plain of Kings