Impangele Hen
Both wild and domesticated, these are ideal poultry for those residing in northern Alkelbulan--so long as you don't mind the noise! Raucous, boisterous and full of character, these audacious hens hold their own even in the predator-strewn grasslands of Nyasi za Rangi and Kasar Wuta! Kept for their eggs and meat, they also clear ticks and other pests from fields and defend property as a natural alarm system. They are bold and defensive, often used as a symbol for motherhood, protection, cooperation and communication and are viewed as hardworking, resilient and productive! Within myth, many Alkelbulian cultures view these hens as tricksters who reward the hardworking and punish the malicious.
Omnivore | Prey | Tertiary Predator | Diurnal |
How the Impangele got its spots...
Some time ago, the Impangele was a a far more modest bird with plain black feathers. They lived in fear of elemental magic, having no protective kaithur of their own. One day, a flock of these hens grazed alongside a cow and her child. A lone lion set its eyes on the calf, its mother standing her ground and pointing her horns at the hungry lion. The Impangele were inspired by the mother's strength, kicking dust into the lion's eyes and raising their strident voices until the lion was forced to retreat. The cow offered to reward the Impangele for their help, the hens asking her to share her milk which protects her calf from the elemental dangers of their home. She wets her tail with this milk and flicks it onto the hens until all of their feathers are speckled! To this day, these spots protect the Impangele from the fires of Kasar Wuta, the smoldering heat of Gaarreen Ho'aa or the radiant poison of Shamsi!
First Ability
Sonildaz's VoiceThose with Sonildaz's Voice are able to increase the volume of their own voice or, with practice, other sounds. Their voices can become explosively loud and earsplitting. They can even imitate sounds that they've already heard.
Sonildaz's Push
Hens with Sonildaz's Push can generate a pulsing soundwave with themselves as the epicenter. The larger/louder the pulse, the more energy is eaten up, quickly running out.
Second Ability
Rithaldis' ShieldImmune to negative effects and/or damage from Rithaldis, natural or magical, including strong sunlight, solar plasma and ionizing radiation. Immune to all forms of radiant magic.
Flithmar's Shield
Immune to negative effects and/or damage from Flithmar, natural or magical, rendering them completly fireproof. Immune to all forms of flame magic too.
Emryl's Shield
Immune to all negative effects and/or damage from Emryl, natural or magical. They are entirely heatproof and immune to all heat magic.
Anatomy
Original Ancestor | Lifespan |
|---|---|
Numida melagris, Helmeted Guinea Fowl | 12-20 years |
Length | Weight |
21-23 in (53-58 cm) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
These birds have a large, plump body and a small, featherless head. They are easily recognizable between their black and white spotted plumage and a single keratinous horn. Their heads can be red, blue, white or some combination of these colors, usually distinct between flocks. Both males and females have red wattles but the males' are often bigger. Chicks are yellow and brown with feathered heads. In their magic form, their bald skin goes teal and their spots and legs glow in the color of their Shield manifestation, usually white or orange.
Ecology
Savannah | Shrubland | Semi-Desert |
Rural | Grassland | Gregarious |
Territorial | Dominance | Agonistic |
Flock
While most Impangele hens travel in groups of around 25, these flocks might burgeon up to 100 hens! Each flock has their own distinct pecking order, walking single file and imitating their leader. While impangele hen can fly, they actually prefer walking or running away. They may even stand their ground, puffing up and spreading their wings to seem larger while loosing dangerously loud cries! Flocks roost communally at night in the branches of trees. They usually fly in short and explosive bursts, gliding over longer distances, and can walk up to 10 km a day (6.2 miles).
Habitat
Impangele hen prefer warm, dry and open spaces with some scrub, shrubs and trees while avoiding dense forests, barren dunes and marshes. Favored habitats include savannahs, grasslands, scrublands, fields, oases and watering holes. Wild hens can be found throughout Alkelbulan except for Musi Kongo and the inner reaches of the Shamsi Desert. Domesticated, they are the poultry of choice in many Alkelbulian villages and oases but are less popular in urban settings thanks to their noisy habits. Overall, impangele hens are found in Shamsi Desert, Gaarreen Ho'aa, Kasar Wuta, Nyasi za Rangi, KwaZulu, Kemet, Birit Narim and Kna'an.
Life Cycle
Oviparous | Monogamous | Biparental |
Impangele hen will choose a single partner during incubation and chase away any competition. It isn't uncommon for males to fight at this time, sometimes even injuring each other. Mated pairs stay together unrelentingly for five weeks, totally inseparable! They preen each other, roost together and even when they become separated they call out to each other constantly. The male will protect his mate during incubation and then continue to protect her and the keets (chicks) until they are fully mature. Clutches contain 6-12 eggs, lain in a well hidden scrape, and the female will incubate them for 26-28 days. Keets are fledged at 4 weeks, are independant at 75 days and are fully mature in a year. The keets' wings grow rapidly, allowing them to roost in low branches of trees at barely a week old!
Diet
Granivore | Graminivore | Folivore |
Frugivore | Florivore | Insectivore |
Molluscivore | Mammalivore | Herpetovore |
These birds are distinctly omniverous, needing more protein than ordinary chickens. Wild or domesticated, they forage for plant matter during the day. They might also scratch at the ground to dig up bugs or roots. Outside of breeding season, they mostly eat plants but during breeding season, protein makes up 80% of their diet!
Predation
Impangele are wary and reactive, a plump and desirable prey in habitats with many predators. But these aren't meek birds, they are loud, boisterous and brave! They give loud and obnoxious cries when a predator is spotted, males giving a repetitive chek sound which speeds up in tempo and volume when invaders persist. Their alarm call is racous and rattling, sounding something like kek-kek-kek-kek-krrrrrr repeatedly. With each repetition, they get louder and louder until, using their kaithur, their call becomes earsplitting and physically palpable—felt in your bones! Even neighbors may become wary of needlessly setting of a flock of Impangele! Hens with Push manifestations are particularly dangerous, only getting involved in the most dire situations. Peculiarly, the whole flock might fight back amid this noisy afair, making them excellent guardians of property as they are very territorial and loyal. There are times when these reactions deter predators but otherwise they are quick to run and fly away. Potential predaters include leopards, servals, wildcats, dogs, eagles, Jah Eagle-Owl, wolves, al-Nil Crocodile and snakes. Humans also enjoy hunting wild Impangele as they are a clever and challenging game.
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