Oozeëater Anzu

The Oozeëater Anzu were a artificially-bred species of Anzu that originate from the First Age New Rozsan Empire. They were distinguished from standard anzu from their smaller, knee-sized height and relatively featherless legs and face. They are thought to be the ancestors of modern nightstalkers.

By the end of the First Age, Oozeëater Anzu were considered a common urban pest and featured frequently in New Rozsan literature; as such a considerable amount of information has survived to the Third Age.

Plasmoidal Slime Moulds

Oozeëater Anzu were bred to be hunters of "intelligent plasmodial slime moulds": bizarre, amorphous, semi-intelligent creatures that apparently resulted from arcane-alchemical experiments gone awry. These slime moulds could replicate quickly, eat all manner of materials, and worst of all, had no natural enemies. They rapidly became a major problem in New Rozsan society, eating away at building foundations and sometimes even smothering young children or pets. A predator was needed.

Oozeëater Anzu

As standard anzu were already known to have an innate dislike of arcane phenomena—not to mention intelligence and resourcefulness—they were chosen to be the base. The new anzu were smaller in size so they could pursue their quarry into cramped areas, their leg & facial plumage reduced to give the sometimes aggressive oozes less to grip onto. The result was highly successful and plasmoid populations were decimated; the only downside was that the oozeëaters were not deterred by the loss of their favourite meal, instead adapting to their new urban homes with nearly as much gusto as the slimes did. But they didn't destroy buildings or (generally) harm children so the New Rozsans accepted the result.

Oozeëaters are likely the progenitors of the modern nightstalkers: no record of the diminutive anzu exist before their introduction in New Rozsan society, and to this day nightstalkers have an ingrained hatred of slime moulds and their alchemical cousins. They now hunt all manner of quarry, and in places where there are no oozes present, many subspecies have regrown the plumage around their legs and head.