Great Silver-Beaked Owl

So many new journal entries were written that day. Even I, as mystical as I am, stood in awe of their contents: a true hero, standing tall at her victorious return, a great silver-beaked owl perched atop her horns. Wisest and most powerful of all birds, I knew on that day that this was a magnificent story in the making. Indeed, those owls soon became the symbol of all great heroes. In fact, if one looks carefully at the writings of a great one, they might notice the owl symbol that I have taken the liberty of sketching in the corner of their paper. It may drain my essence, but I cannot allow such heroes to go unrecognized by one so arcane as I.

There has never been a time in history where great silver-beaked owls have not been treated with respect. Huge, powerful, and mystical creatures, they are often included in legends and tales and songs of great heroes. Their image is the epitome of greatness and wisdom. Even in the period where they were widely hunted, their pursuers acknowledged their power and grace and treated them with respect even with death. Now, one is simply taken in awe when they see an owl for themselves, and perhaps will follow them to see if they shed a feather or two.

History

The great silver-beaked owl has often been referred to as the ruler of birdkind. As a result of their immense size, these birds have almost no fear. They are wary around dragons, but are not afraid to approach humans. Not only respected for their great power, they are also viewed as symbols of the wise, knowledgeable, and curious, and they live up to it. Records describe that when Skydweller settlements were just beginning to grow, the owls could often be seen in the background, intently studying the people of villages, towns, and cities - especially that of Mendoza, which posed much less of a threat to the owls due to the fact that it was dragonless. A few carved statues of the magnificent birds have even been recovered.
Eventually, people began to realize just how valuable the feathers of these owls were. Not only are they extremely soft and make exceptional quills, they can bestow increased strength, sharp wits and cunning, and even a partial invisibility, making the bearer of a feather all that harder to notice. The greater the quantity of feathers, the more power they bestowed. Articles of clothing made from feather tufts became increasingly popular. Although the owls, possessing all these powers inherently, were difficult to hunt, they were no match for dragons, and were very nearly hunted to extinction.
Eventually, people began to realize the consequences their actions could have. Conservation efforts were put in place, and, rather than hunt the owls, scientists began to study them. Thus, they discovered the great amount of feather shedding the owls did, and harvesting became favorable over hunting.

Creatures of Legend

Great silver-beaked owls are quite popular in stories, tales, and songs. These include the popular tales of:

• A flock of owls who accompany the Riders as they aid travelers or deliver gifts during the Yule season.


• A dragon-sized silver-beaked owl who willingly donated many of his feathers. He was so powerful that the feathers were able to weave themselves into a cloak that was worn by Nickolas Wood, rogue who was the subject of many popular stories. His exploits became popular in several published anthologies, ranging from simple heists stealing from enemy lords to overthrowing corrupt governments.


• The parliament of owls tasked with guarding the Splendorhoard


• The owls tamed and ridden by the first charters on the fated Alasia expedition, when Bonds became separated after a terrible storm.


• The golden beaked owlet adopted by popular character Kara Greyweave on her adventures to the west. The owlet went on to gift her something even more valuable than a silver-beaked owl feather - the fabled healing song of the owls, which is rumored to have remarkable healing powers. The character, whose infected wing the song helped heal, became able to fly at fantastic speeds afterwards.


• The rumors of a mystical clearing deep in the Outer Realm where the greatest of the owls hold meets in a wisdom (a group of owls). Anyone lucky enough to stumble into the clearing is blessed with enhanced cognitive function.

Appearance

Great silver-beaked owls, as the name might suggest, are most commonly identified by the metallic sheen of their beaks. They are extremely large - though not as big as griffins, the largest of the owls can reach heights of up to 6 feet, with a wingspan of nearly 20 feet. Many are a dark or mottled brown, though a few rare owls are jet-black. Their eyes range from vibrant greens to electric yellows, and two small tufts extend from the tips of their heads, almost like horns.

Silver-beaked owlet. Note how the beak has yet to turn silver, and is instead golden, as is the case with most owlets.

Diet

Silver-beaked owls are omnivores and will eat almost anything. From the basic mice, rats, voles, and shrews of all kinds, as well as fruits and large seeds, they also expand to weasels, baby animals of almost any kind (including dragonets, though most attempts to snatch dragon eggs or baby dragons usually end in the death of the owl), and even humans!

Although most owls don't usually venture out of the Outer Realm, many Skydwellers still carry mild shock powders with them as a defense against not only owls, but other agressive wild animals that may venture a little too close into the Cities for comfort. However, the excessive and unnecessary use of said powders against any living creature is strictly punished.

"It was terrifying! I've never flown so fast in my life! I couldn't find my Bond, and then I heard her whistle, and suddenly I saw her, being chased by one of those owls! I barely got to her in time!"

-young dragon

Habitat

Great silver-beaked owls can be found almost anywhere. Though they are largely found in the dense woodlands of the Outer Realm, as omnivorous apex predators, they can venture wherever they wish with profound success. They tend to avoid snowy or sunny areas, as they are very sensitive to extreme temperatures. But the fringes of the Inner Realm have become increasingly appealing to them. They are becoming a more and more common sight in the everyday lives of Skydwellers. It has yet to be determined whether this is a good, bad, or neutral thing. Biologists, however, are thrilled at the chance to study these magnificent creatures.