Phoenix

The Phoenix was said to hunt dragons, driving them to extinction.

Appearance

The Phoenix is a large bird with a body wreathed in flames. It is believed it was the biggest creature to have ever lived, hunting down even the gigantic dragons of old. It has three longer tail feathers, a darker red crest on the head, and a yellow patch on the belly, according to ancient paintings. However, it is believed that the flames change colour depending on what the Phoenix last ate.

Lifecycle

Newborn

Nobody knows how new Phoenix are born. It is believed there has only ever been one, and not even the Goddesses will tell where it originally came from. Additionally, the Phoenix has not been seen since the extinction of the dragons centuries ago.
The Phoenix is born from ashes of its corpse, and feeds on any meat nearby. Typically, the Phoenix burns up spectacularly after incurring major injuries after a fight, leaving the charred corpses of its foes for it to eat when it revives.

Juvenile

Before a Phoenix hunts its first dragon, its flames are very small and dull, and so its talons and beak are its main weapons. It is unknown why the Phoenix hunts down dragons exclusively, but it is believed that dragon fire fuels the Phoenix's flames.

Adult

The Phoenix is believed to be the main reason why the dragons went extinct. It continually grew larger for each dragon it killed, driving them out to the coast where they were threatened by Sea Serpents. Even the Great Skeleton of the North was found with scorch marks nearby.

Interactions With Humans

Despite there being many tales of Phoenix and humans interacting, none of them have actually been confirmed. As such, despite Phoenix being presented as a good omen for new kings, guides for wayward soldiers, or pets for powerful wizards, it is unknown whether Phoenix are truly amiable to the common man.

An artist's interpretation of the Phoenix, based on records