Marqat Sandgrouse
Racial Magic
First Ability
Ithisda's Charge
Can store up water inside their feathers including from magic. They can convert this to energy, use it to strengthen their bodies or re-release the water like an aura. However, they mostly use this as a means of transporting water to their chicks and for surviving in their arid habitats, occasionally distracting predators with valuable water.
Second Ability
❄️Iska's Aura
Able to summon or generate cold temperatures or ice, emerging from their body or into an area around themselves. Often used for camoflage, going so far as to bury or encase themselves in ice to evade predators. They cannot suffocate when buried in this state and are also immune to severe cold or damage from ice in general.
Ilnid's Aura
Able to summon or generate sand, glass or quartz from Ilnid's Plane, emerging from their body or into an area around themselves. Often used for camoflage, going so far as to bury themselves to evade predators. They cannot suffocate when buried in sand, quartz or glass but must eventually re-emerge to eat or drink. Immune to damage from this aspect.
A diurnal and gregarious species of sandgrouse common to northern Alkelbulan, the Frozen Wastes and even Bharat. They live in small flocks, feeding along the ground, drinking once a day and sleeping in barren spaces infrequently visited by predators. Marqat sandgrouse still possess the ability to fly despite their preference for the ground, flying with rapid wingbeats and travelling quickly. They have a tendency to migrate into any area that has had rains recently, seeking out new plant growth. These birds are extremely wary and easily frightened, hunted by both predators and humans.
Basic Information
Anatomy
by Lee Stepp
Original Ancestor
Spotted Sandgrouse
Length
Coloration
Genetics and Reproduction
Marqat sandgrouse form monogomous pairs in summer but nest separately from their eggs. Two to three eggs are lain in a depression of stony ground, having a preference for pourous rock which remains cooler. The eggs are difficult to tell apart from ordinary pebbles. Combined with their parent's camoflage as they incubate the eggs, they are nearly invisible. Eggs hatch after 20 days, born relatively mature. Chicks will leave this soon after hatching, following their mother to nearby wadis where she teaches them to peck at and eat dry seeds along the ground or in the snow. Their father will soak his feathers in water similarly to a Ramil Lark, absorbing large amounts of water into his feathers and bringing his family water once a day. They will fledge at around 4-5 weeks.
Ecology and Habitats
Northern Alkelbulan, Frozen Wastes and Bharat. They prefer desert, semi-desert and arid countryside, feeding along scrublands and drinking from wadis or oases once a day. Within Alkelbulan, they make their home in Shamsi Desert, Kemet, Dawn Ahrayn, Kna'an, Arabiyyan Desert, Balkurtiz, Gaarreen Ho'aa, Arya, Sesli Plato, Flumen Pontem and the borderlands of Kasar Wuta.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Marqat sandgrouse eat seeds and plant matter found on the ground and will fly to a watering hole to drink when their stored water has run dry. These birds are an ideal meal for a great many beasts of the desert, as well as being particularly hydrating for predators, and have to remain wary in order to survive. Living in small flocks, they rely on each other as they search for food. Their main threat are Paraa Falcon. One member of their flock will fly overhead as they browse and will give a warning call if it spots a falcon. At this sound the entire flock will freeze. While remaining still, their camoflage usually fools these falcon so long as they aren't making use of their racial magic, Kalitho's Eye. If they are still spotted and the falcon begins diving, the sentinal will give one more alarm call. In a last ditch effort to survive, marqat sandgrouse will activate their auras, encasing their bodies in thick sand, layers of ice or sharp glass but arean't always quick enough.
They must be equally wary when seeking out water, landing away from the watering hole and treking the rest of the way on foot like a troupe of would be soldiers. The sentinal will again give a call when the coast is clear, each bird only given 15 seconds to absorb as much water as they can! They usually make this journey at dawn when the air is cool. Their final adaption for avoiding predators is where they choose to roost for the night. They will seek out barren wastes where there is no plantlife to feed on, where there aren't likely to be any Qafz Jerboa which Ayyur Fox and Wata Jackal normally hunt. When sleeping, they encase themselves in a sand or ice cocoon, settling in until just before dawn.
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