Winged Marjyr (mär-jîr)

Gokrenxia         Winged Marjyr

I saw one once, the winged marjyr. We were running a shipment of food East to the Elven lands. We'd stopped for the night and I was on guard when it landed just beyond our site. It seemed to shimmer in the campfire. Its red eyes glared through me. Sent shivers down my spine like it was reading my soul or something. Truly terrifying experience I hope to never have again.

— Maurin Pollajni, Freerunner

Description

When it comes to amazing creatures found on the sparse plains of Northwestern Zuul'Hy, few stand above the winged marjyr. This majestic four-legged beast is most readily recognizable by its glistening midnight-colored horns and fur, broad wings, and fierce vermilion eyes. They are cloven-hooved nomads roaming a wide swath of land in modest-sized herds of around two dozen, grazing on the plentiful grasses and woody shrubs.
Considered a valuable and rare commodity, marjyr's long and lustrous black horns, found only on the males of the species, are composed of bone. They are solid and come to a razor sharp point which can be used for fighting predators and defending the herd. Marjyr horns grow steadily over the course of their youth into adulthood. They do not shed and if broken can take years to regenerate.

Behavior

Due in part to their deep red eyes and sharp movements, winged marjyr are often perceived as angry creatures. However their temperament tends to be fairly unpredictable. They are just as apt to flee from a predator using their powerful legs and incredible speed as they are to charge and attack without provocation.
Marjyr wings are small in contrast to their overall size and not well suited for long distance or rapid flight. Typically they are used to survey the area surrounding the herd in a behavior akin to scouting, and to put vertical distance between themselves and predators lacking the ability to leave the ground.

Habitat, Population & the Influence of People

Elven histories record marjyr sightings being extremely common, roaming the entirety of Northern plains all the way from Western to Eastern Gokrenxia. However civilization, hunting, ravages of the Great War, and re-population destroyed much of their lands, drastically reducing their numbers and range. Today, the winged marjyr largely avoid settlements. Their populations are currently estimated by the Ja'nakh peoples to be around 5,000, though due to their nomadic and migratory nature the numbers could be much higher or lower.

Geographic Distribution

by Koragath via wonderdraft +

The winged marjyr typically roam from Eastern Vath'azen to central Zuul'Hy.

Coloration

Black, with white or grey distinguishing markings

Average Height

3 - 5 ft (0.9 - 1.5m)

Average Weight

1,100lbs - 2,000lbs (500kg - 900kg)

Average Lifespan

10 - 25 years

Speed

Land: 43mph (69km/h)

Air: 10mph (16km/h)

Litter Size

1

Lifestyle

Herd (~20-25)

Skin Type

Fur with feathered wings

Further Reading