Mejiksi
Among the birds unique to Vardanta is the mejiksi. It is known for its wondrous colors, with turquoise feathers on its head transitioning to yellow, red, green, and violet feathers on its body and wings, with long tail feathers. They can grow to nearly 3 feet in length from the tip of the tail to the top of the head, with a wingspan to match.
Like some other species of bird, the mejiksi is able to mimic sounds. Unlike other birds, it can do so with such remarkable precision that it can even cast spells by mimicking incantations it has heard. In almost all cases, it will not know what incantations it's mimicking and their low numbers may be in part caused by their occasional casting of spells that are harmful to themselves without realizing it.
However, they are also quite clever birds. Assuming they survive their first recitals, they've been observed to learn what these spells are capable of, and then utilize them in advantageous ways.
History
The Great Mejiksi War occurred from 240 to 241 DC between the people of Sanalla and the local mejiksi bird population. The city was established in the Verdant Valley near the mountains, as well as a small school teaching magic. The mejiksi would roost near the school and the groves of the city, and began to repeat spells they overheard. At first, it seemed entertaining and fascinating, but quickly became a problem as destructive spells were accidentally invoked by birds, causing damage and injury in Sanalla. As the mejiksi "spread the word" and their population grew, they began to learn. Isolated incidents started to become provoked, the birds intentionally targeting incantations. A gardener who chased away a flock with a broom would come out to a burning garden in the middle of the night. A group of kids that threw rocks at them along a street every day would get ambushed by birds with booming caws and buffeting winds. The city finally decided they needed to rise against this problem and drive out the mejiksi. Thus began the war, which lasted nearly two years. Eventually, the Sanallans won after aid from Proria quickly disposed of the local mejiksi population. The survivors were driven away into the mountains, with a sudden increase in exports of the captured birds to other countries. Today in Sanalla it is illegal to bring mejiksi into the city, and they proudly claim to be free of them since 241.
Geographic Distribution
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