Kethren

Kethren are medium-sized, hawk-like birds that first arrived in Elotia on the masts and yardarms of Mesle trading vessels that made their way across the Neol Strait.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Kethren most closely resemble several species of hawk that inhabit Elotia, including in terms of average wingspan, talon morphology, and vocalization. However, kethren possess two sets of wings: one which is feathered and in the same approximate location as on most birds, and one set that appears ethereal and is only visible within Godling Curses. This second span enables the kethren to fly ably in the severe weather of the storms, and is also seems to draw the kethern's preferred prey towards them in some way.
Kethren feathers are dominantly dark blue and black, and their talons and beak are always black as adults.

Genetics and Reproduction

By all appearnaces, kethren reproduce in the same manner as other small birds of prey. Kethren often lay 5-10 eggs per clutch, with the egg laying bird creating a burrow in cliff faces to occupy for at least 20-30 passings. As this period progresses, the non-egg carrying kethren will collect materials in order to build a nest, and they will bring those materials into the burrow.
Once the gestation period has passed, both kethren will emerge. The non-egg laying kethren will exit the burrow first, with the egg nest built between its wings on its back. It will test its flight with the nest, landing in the burrow to make adjustments as needed. Once the nest is balanced, the egg laying kethren will carefully transfer one egg at a time to the nest, with the nest carrier testing flight with each egg added. After all the eggs are in the nest and the kethren are ready to fly, they will leave the shores of Elotia for parts unknown.

Growth Rate & Stages

No one from Elotia has yet to view a kethren as it grows. Egg-carrying kethren fly back towards Mesle and into the magical storms over the strait, and fully-grown kethren return with the Mesle ships. Slightly juvenile kethren have been spotted dive-bombing out of storm clouds, seemingly chasing each other, and these kethren have bright blue beaks and talons along with white feather tips.

Ecology and Habitats

Very little is known about the habitat of kethren, except that they are very content to live within the masting of Mesle ships during their travels. Some scholars have noted, anecdotally, that kethren that nest within the cliffs of Endref seem to dull somewhat over their time on Elotia, but this has yet to be conclusively verified.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Within magical storms, kethren are said (by the few Elotian sailors who have travelled within magical storms and surived) to eat some kind of large insect-type creature that lives within the storms. In the rare instance when kethren make their nest in a cliff face in Elotia, they seem content to eat whatever insects or small rodents they come across.

Biological Cycle

While the exact cause is unknown, several Endref sailors have reported seeing kethren with nearly inverse colours from the rest (white where black should be and golden yellow where dark blue should be). These kethren appear to be slightly gaunter than the rest, and they have not been known to ever come ashore on Elotia. Some have speculated that this might mean that these are a different species of kethren, while others have speculated that this is a change resulting from some kind of seasonal-like cycle that occurs in Mesle.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Kethren possess very strong eyesight but extremely poor hearing, likely due to the level of noise present within the magical storms they hunt in. Kethren very likely possess some level of magical abilities, but to date, we at the Meslin Map Company (and with our affiliate partners at educational institutions across Elotia) have been able to study any kethren in close enough detail to discern. The only magical ability we have been able to fully confirm is that kethren have some ability to dispel other magics, as this has prevented further study of the birds.

Conservation Status

Under casual protection by Mesle (seen as a good luck status for voyages across the Neol Strait)