Qopi

The qopi is a species of small flightless bird native to the scrub land known as the Cressian Badlands in The Northern Peninsula. Although they might range farther north and west, they keep to areas that have some sort of vegetation to attract insects, their natural food source. They are almost never found in the more barren deserts, such as the Great Sand Sea.

If you're lost in the deep desert, follow the call of the qopi. They will lead you from the sands and into the scrub. Follow them long enough, they may even lead you to water!

Domestication

Flocks of qopi are commonly kept in and around the cities of The Northern Peninsula , especially in Cressus and Khala as these are the closest settlements to the natural range of the species. They are bred as a food stock, and provide a major source of protein to these cultures both in the way of qopi meat and the eggs produced on a regular basis by the females of the species. They did not require much space, so even a small pen against the side of a modest hovel can comfortably house a flock of six of the birds and keep the family within supplied with eggs and meat year-round. Because the qopi need very little water, they can last as long as a week without fresh water if fed a steady diet of insects rich in moisture. They can subside on a diet of grains or dried meat, but must be watered with at least a few ounces daily to maintain a healthy level of hydration. Qopi fed on grains instead of meat will grow very fat, and this is often done purposefully to ensure the beast carries as much meat and moisture as possible when finally slaughtered as a food stock.

There's more water in a fat qopi than a slender jug. Cressian saying.

Euryapteryx by Michael B.H.

Species

Animal, avian

Average Size

18 - 24 inches tall
8 - 12 pounds

Primary Habitat

Scrub lands, coastal, oasis