Eaglephoenixes

Written by UmbralGoat

The Eaglephoenix symbolizes power and determination in many cultures throughout Romseþirn, and are proudly boasted as the national bird of Kailys. They are notable for their quick- and brutal- life cycles, in which their souls are destroyed and reconstructed, birthing a new form from the ashes left behind.

Their ability to destroy other things along with themselves, and then reform those objects upon rebirth has also become a very useful method of discretely delivering messages, making them one of the most popular messenger birds in the world among the elite.

Eruption

The Eaglephoenix's life cycle famously ends in what is called an "eruption". As its time approaches, not marked by much other than instinct and, later, training, the Eaglephoenix destroys its own body in a flash of fire, the internal heat of which is so intense it becomes ash within seconds. Not only is the body destroyed, however, the soul of the creature itself is ripped apart by this magic flame, left to remain within the ashes.

Only once a single drop of water touches these soul-embued ashes, often from a natural rain, will the Eaglephoenix's next life begin. Its new form is born from the ash, and its soul is built from the shreds of its predecessor.

Around 640 ZA, some few decades after these birds had begun to be adopted by other countries, a revelation was made regarding these eruptions. Provided special training and association with an object, an Eaglephoenix could take small objects with it during its death, and upon its rebirth, the object would also be recreated, entirely preserved. It is believed that this can also apply to living creatures. More specifically, other Eaglephoenixes, implying that if the members of a mated pair desired, one could take their mate with them in their eruption, and from both of their ashes, a single Eaglephoenix would be born, and their souls combined.

Secrets in the Inferno

In the early first millennium, the Kailysians began using these birds as messengers, taming them and strapping letters to their backs or feet. They were very effective, able to avoid detection due to their incredible height of flight. However, during wars it became risky, as this main method of communication meant many eyes were kept on the skies for messages, especially as more Eaglephoenixes were exported to other countries.

Instead, the eruption of Eaglephoenixes was used to the advantage of those wishing to keep their messages secret, encrypted in ash. A tamed Eaglephoenix can become associated with a fully-written letter and erupt with it in its flames. The collective ashes need only to be transported in a safe manner to their location, often in a discrete pouch or box, so that a recipient can bring the Eaglephoenix new life, and with it, the letter hidden in its remains.

This form of communication was only significantly used in times of war, or during disputes regarding trade or political affairs. Most common were messages delivered to military outposts within rations or other unrelated deliveries in countries such as Kailys and Sosha. In the modern day, however, nobles who own Eaglephoenixes as pets enjoy the safety that this method guarantees, as the ashes can be hidden very well if sent with other packages or letters.

Biology

Eaglephoenixes are among the largest birds of prey on the planet and considered apex predators in their habitats. They are often noted for their vibrant feathers, the dominant colors of which typically match with the color of the flames they produce. While the females are typically larger than males, the males can reach wingspans of over two and a half meters as adults. Their massive talons are their main weapon of choice, though when diving upon prey, they will often engulf them in a sudden vortex of flames.

Most of their features are far larger than other common birds in their habitat, from their heads to their eyes. Their beaks are hooked downward, able to tear through flesh with ease or bite with enough force to crack bone, and their eyes are extremely acute, allowing them to spot prey from high above. They use this to their adavantage as they primarily hunt from incredible heights, often surpassing six thousand meters.

From this height, they dive towards prey to snatch them in their flaming talons. Despite their size, their slim bodies allow them notable aerodynamics. On average, these birds' dives reach 93 meters per second (210 miles per hour). This speed is maintained until just about ten to fifteen meters above the surface, where they reel their bodies back, but let their wings continue with momentum. With this hard flap of the wings, a sudden rush of flames erupts from their bodies and engulfs their prey.

Though the range of these flames is not controlled, this magic-embued firestorm appears to only scorch the intended target of the creature. It's believed this is done to shock prey with immense heat before being snatched in the birds' talons.

IV

Geographic Distribution
Kailys, Sosha, Northwest Kovur, East Dreska
Conservation
There have been periods of time where Eaglephoenixes were so commonly exported, that their natural habitats were being affected. In these times, Kailys would put in place restrictions until their populations increased. In the modern day, they are known to inhabit many other places.
Ancestry
Their predecessors are thought to have been a larger, flightless bird of similar strength and ability before the First End.