Impangele Hen
Racial Magic
First Ability
Sonildaz's Voice
Able to increase the volume of their own voice or, with practice, other sounds. Their voices can become explosively loud, earsplitting.
Sonildaz's Push
Can generate a pulsing soundwave with themselves as the epicenter. The larger/louder the pulse, the more energy is eaten up, quickly running out.
Second Ability
♨️☀️Shield Manifestation
Immune to negative effects and/or damage from their aspect, natural or magical. They will be totally fireproof (Flithmar), heatproof (Emryl), immune to radiation (Rithaldis) or unfettered by dangerous storms (Rylmer) depending on aspect.
This species is both wild and domesticated, an ideal poultry for those residing in Alkelbulan, so long as one doesn't mind the noise! Loud, boisterous and full of character, these bold hens hold their own even in the predator-slewn grasslands of Nyasi za Rangi and Kasar Wuta! They are good for eggs or meat, eat ticks and other pests and will even defend property as a natural alarm system. They are bold and defensive, often used as a symbol for motherhood, protection, cooperation, communication and are viewed as hardworking, resilient and productive birds!
There is a popular myth about how they got their peculiar spots. A cow and her calf graze alongside a flock of impangele hen but becomes the target of a lion. She stands her ground and points her horns at the lion to defend her calf. Inspired by her strength, the hens kick dust into the lion's eyes. The cow offers to reward them for their help, these birds asking her to camofalge their feathers. She flicks milk onto the birds with her tail until all are speckled. Interestingly, these spots will gleam with a different color depending on their Shield manifestation! Other cultures tend to view them as tricksters who reward the hardworking and punish the malicious or associate them directly with Artemis or Rylis.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Original Ancestor
Helmeted Guinea Fowl
Lifespan
Length
Weight
Appearance
Genetics and Reproduction
While males are polygymous, they will choose a single partner during incubation, chasing away any other males. It isn't uncommon for males to fight at this time, sometimes to the point of injuring each other. These pairs stay together for five weeks, totally inseparable! They preen each other, roost togther and even when they become separated they call out to each other constantly. The male will protect his mate during incubation and then continue to protect her and the keets (chicks) until they are fully mature. They lay clutches of 6-12 eggs, lain in a well hidden scrape, and the female will incubate them for 26-28 days. They are fledged at 4 weeks, independant at 75 days and fully mature in a year. The chicks' wings will grow rapidly, allowing them to roost in low branches of trees at barely a week old!
Ecology and Habitats
Impangele hen prefer warm, dry and open spaces with some scrub, shrubs and trees. This can include savannahs, grasslands, scrublands, fields, oases and watering holes. They dislike dense forests, barren sand dunes and marshes. Wild hens can be found throughout Alkelbulan except for Musi Kongo and the inner reaches of the Shamsi Desert. Domesticated, they are the poultry of choice in many villages and oases but are less popular in urban settings thanks to their noisy habits. Overall they are found in Shamsi Desert, Gaarreen Ho'aa, Kasar Wuta, Nyasi za Rangi, KwaZulu Kemet and Kna'an.
Dietary Needs and Habits
These birds are distinctly omniverous, needing more protein than chickens. Wild or domesticated, they forage for seeds, tubers and insects during the day. They might also scratch at the ground as a chicken does to dig up bugs or roots. Outside of breeding season, they mostly eat corn, grass, grain, seedlings, leaves, bulbs, roots, fruit, flower heads, tubers, seeds, weeds and crop silage. During breeding season, protein makes up 80% of their diet, eating mostly invertebrates like beetles, snails, insect larvae, ticks, grasshoppers and termites and small invertebrates like frogs, lizards and mice.
These birds are wary and reactive, a plump and desirable prey in habitats with many predators. But these aren't meek birds, they are loud, boisterous and brave! They give loud and obnoxious cries when a predator is spotted, males giving a repetitive "chek" sound which speeds up in tempo and harshness. The alarm call is racous and rattling, sounding something like "kek-kek-kek-kek-krrrrrr" repeatedly. With each repetition, they get louder and louder until, using their magic, their call becomes earsplitting and physically palpable—felt in one's bones! Those with Push manifestations are particularly dangerous, only getting involved in the most dire situations. Peculiarly, the whole flock might fight back amid this noisy afair, making them excellent guardians of property as they are very territorial. There are times when these reactions deter predators but otherwise they aren't afraid to run and fly away. Their predaters include leopards, serrvals, wildcats, dogs, eagles, Jah Eagle-Owl, wolves, crocodiles and snakes. Humans also enjoy hunting wild populations as they are a clever and challenging prey.
Behaviour
They travel in flocks of up to 100 hens though most average around 25. Each flock has their own distinct pecking order, walking single file and imitating their leader. While impangele hen can fly, they actually prefer walking or running away. They may even stand their ground, puffing up and spreading their wings to seem larger and making dangerously loud sounds. Flocks roost communally at night in the branches of trees. They are capable of short and explosive bursts of flight, gliding over longer distances, and can walk up to 10 km a day.
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