Phoenix

The Holy Sun Bird

Known as the great sun birds by the Rakh'Guals. This magnificent fly over the desert and make it bloom whit a strange magic. If it was not for this birds most life in the Rakh'Gual desert would not exist. And the Rakh'Gual civilization would surly not exist as well. They are one of our worlds great mysteries as we shall never know how this mighty birds came to be.
All we can say is that whit out them our world would be greatly different.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Phoenix birds are shaped like most birds of pray. They have short strong necks, hooked beaks and a magnificent tail-feathers. The thing of greatest note is there size. As they grow to be far bigger then most birds known to mankind.

Biological Traits

The phoenix birds are know to hold a very powerful inborn magic. They have the power to create rain. When ever they fly over a part of the desert small wispy rain clouds form in their wake. This seams to be something they do whit our thinking about it and said rain makes a patch of the desert bloom.

Genetics and Reproduction

Once a year, when they reaches Lake Hyla'Gual, phoenixs mating season starts. During the first week after coming to the Lake the males will then try and win the approval of as many females as they can. He does this by showing of his skills as a hunter bringing the female his trying to impress presents in the from of freshly killed pray. Once a female finds a male she deems worthy she will mate whit him. Oddly the two will mate many times but the couples seam to remain faithful the rest of the season.
Even going so far as the two of them flying together to her nesting grounds, which may well be on the other side of the desert, where they will lay on the three to six eggs she will lay in her nest. Not even when the chicks are born do the father leave fully. The couple only ends after said chicks are leave the nest for good a full four mouths after they are hatched.

Ecology and Habitats

They are native to the Rakh'Gual desert. They seam to more or less live of the sun that bombards that land as much as the smaller animals they hunt.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Carnivores, tho never carrion in contrast whit most other desert birds. There are also theory's, and myths, that they also live of the very sun like flowers do.

Biological Cycle

In early spring the phoenixes get drawn to Lake Hyla'Gual at the northwestern edge of the Rakh'Gual desert. The flight to said lakes takes most of the spring season. Once there they look for a mate and leave after only one to three weeks. After mating at the lake the phoenixes fly towards one of the nesting grounds, which one depends on the female of the pair.
Females will return to the same nesting grounds their mothers used. Once there the phoenixes will spend the next four months laying on their eggs and taking care of the chicks. Only once the chicks are flying will the phoenixes leave the nesting grounds.
At this time it is most often the middle of summer. From this time until next years mating season the phoenixes will fly the desert alone.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

The eyes of a phoenix is said to be golden like the sun itself.

Average Intelligence

Animal instincts

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

A phoenix sees at least as well as a hawk and can spot the smallest of desert lizard from about a kilometer up in the air.

Origin/Ancestry

Theuronien

Lifespan

30 - 70 years

Conservation Status

They are seen as holy by not only Rakh'Guals but also by all believing Baltazariens.

Average Height

3 meters. Measured from top of the head to the clawed feet

Average Weight

110 - 160 Kg
Average wing span
13 meters. Measured from wingtip to wingtip

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Phoenix feathers come in a numerous shades of gold, bronze and red.

Inborn Magic

High