Ruby-crowned woodpecker
Gyrion sat still in the tree as the trio below him broke their camp and entered the wood. The woman was somewhere between impatience and apprehension. The other two seemed more distracted. Morning's Crest flitted to the branch before him, and waited.
As they passed further on he whistled thrice.
She flew away, instructions clear.
The ruby-crowned woodpecker is common to woodland areas of Northen Anvimar on either side of the Dragon Spine Mountains. It is in the Wildewoods where they are truly treasured having formed unique bonds with the local High Elves.
Watchers in the Woods
The high elves of the Wildewoods form close diplomatic ties with their neighbours, the city of Salindral has regular trade with the people of Goodmete across the way. Still they retain a veil of privacy and though they allow travel through the woods, even providing routes, they will be rarely seen. But they will always be watching.
The ruby-crowns air a great help with this. The elves have learned to breed them and train them with a variety of signals and calls. It is said the more experienced among their forest guardians possess the ability to speak directly with the animals and even observe with their senses.
The elves provide nesting grounds for the ruby-crowns and help tend their needs throughout the year, creating bonds that rival those of mated pairs. Those who care for the birds can easily identify each in their care, often being able to recite lineages and events where their ancestors played signifcant roles. There birds are a valued part of the elven nation.
In practice, the birds are able to convey messages between watchpoints, track targets, and report on a variety of conditions within the forest. The elves have also trained them to raise an alarm sound, a variation of their regular bird call. These woodpeckers naturally have a vaguely laughlike call. The elves have trained them to modify the rhythm and pitch of the call and to echo one another, causing a resounding cacophany of laughter to fill the air, alerting nearby scounts to an emergency.
Kyander glanced around the woods and her horse picked its path along the road. Calls from birds hidden in the bush and branches kept the air alive and the tree cover kept it cool. Behind her companions laughed as they exchanged travel stories, their horses practically meandering along. She looked back at the half-elf and dragonborn, annoyed. "Focus, remember who owns these woods!"
The half-elf, called back, "I used to live here you know."
It was then the random bird calls unified into a chorus of laughter. "Aye, Jerrod," the dragonborn stated flatly beside him, "and what does that mean?"
Jerrod blanched, then kicking his horse to a gallop said, "Run!"
Basic Information
Anatomy
Identified by a crown of ruby-red and a black moustache, these green backed woodpeckers measure about 30cm or so with a wingspan ratio of 1.4-1.5. Their bodies are a speckled yellow-white, the speckling heavier on the females. The genders are otherwise very similar in appearance.
Juveniles first develop a speckled yellow-white coat and pinkish crown followed by their adult colours with their first molt.
The eggs are notable for their pinkish colouring, and children throughout Anvimar love collecting discarded eggshells. But It is considered very bad luck to disturb a nesting hole of unhatched ruby-crowns.
Genetics and Reproduction
Ruby-crowns do not have as strong beaks as usual woodpeckers, causing them to search for softwoods when nesting. They come together in mating pairs in early spring and stay together until the young are fledged. At fledging they will divide the young evenly with each parent teaching their assigned children where to feed.
Breeding pairs are said to mate for life, although they spend the interim seasons apart. Even so, elves of the Wildewood claim the birds will mourn a fallen mate. The elves state the pairs can identify each other by song, usually to reconnect in the spring, and theyknown the birds to modify this song at the death of their mate.
You are very thoughtful in the way that you describe the Ruby-Crowned Woodpecker. I really like how they form a bond with the high elves of the woods. Particularly how the mimicking of laughter can spark fear in any traveller who knows the purpose of the birds. I liked the quotes and how they present the different views. Excellent work!
Adazuri: A shonen-inspired magitech fantasy world home-brewed for 5e.
Thank you! I really enjoy adding narratives to articles, but feel it's important to have them serve a bit of purpose, especially if they have any length to them.