Bestiary February 2023 | Savelan Birds

What better to do during my birthday month than create a bushel of birds to populate my world!

— Appreciating the WorldAnvil team for the novel timing

As an avid bird lover, I find it almost miraculous and simultaneously shameful that I've not written a single bird for my world in all this time. That changes this month!

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For Bestiary February, I have selected the theme of: Savelan Birds! Think of this as the start to what could be an adventurer's field guide to the wonderful flying creatures that call the Kingdom of Arsavela home.

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Aurelian Gilded Pigeon

^{For Prompt 2: Stripes}

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Beloved in their home city of Aurel, these refined-looking pigeons were once bred from the hard-working messenger pigeon commonly employed by the city's officials.
In an unfortunate turn of selective breeding, where breeders succeeded in achieving an illustrious gold sheen in the stripes of their wings, they sacrificed the intelligence which made them great messengers.

by Strixxline

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by Strixxline

Moss Swallow

^{For Prompt 23: Vicious}

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The moss swallow makes its home in Arsavela, often occupying the overgrown buildings and stony outcrops of the Northlands' many farms.
Small but mighty, these swallows are fiercely territorial, much to the dismay of Savelan farmers who often become the victims to these tiny birds once they seek to reclaim their overgrown buildings.

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Redlace

^{For Prompt 1: Wings}

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The redlace is a bird often seen in western Arsavela, fluttering through the trees of Brineveil Forest, often spotted in the marshy regions alongside the cattails of the brackish waters.
Visually striking, these dark birds are easily identifiable by the stripe of orange plumage along the upper edges of their wings.

by Strixxline

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by Strixxline

Gorin Puffin

^{For Prompt 18: Bond}

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The gorin puffin, while not a permanent resident of Arsavela, is a frequent winter sighting as the birds arrive during the colder seasons as visitors from Ba'Logor in the north.
Known to mate for life, these puffins are fiercely protective of their mates and are known to court one another throughout their lives together the way young lovers do.

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Pines Pheasant

^{For Prompt 27: Stalk}

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The pines pheasant is native to Arsavela's grasslands, and is commonly hunted both for food and sport. Commonly thought to be named for the pines of the northlands, their name comes not from the environment but from their own behavioral patterns.
These birds are notorious for falling in love with humans, who they will proceed to stalk for as long as they are able, performing various courtship rituals in the hopes of capturing their victim's heart.

by Strixxline

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by Strixxline

Sea Scamp

^{For Prompt 19: Stinky}

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Making their homes from the stinky seaweed left behind during low tides, the sea scamp is a menace of Arsavela's rocky shores. Bold and swift, these small seabirds are known to make off with any morsel of food brought into their habitats by unsuspecting travelers.
Though a delight to watch, with their lanky frames, most tend to avoid being too close to them, as their nesting habits have made the birds themselves quite stinky.

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Brine Shear

^{For Prompt 17: Burrow}

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The brine shear is a common sight along the shores of Brineveil Forest, floating along the waves until unsuspecting fishy prey make themselves known. Powerful divers, these birds are known to be excellent fishers.
Smaller than most local diving seabirds, these shears make their homes in burrows littered throughout the cliffs of their seaside home.

by Strixxline

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by Strixxline

Barn Owl

^{For Prompt 13: Shriek}

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Barn owls are year-long residents of Arsavela, finding great success in hunting the rodents and pests which seek to make their homes in Savelan farmlands.
Loved for their graceful frames, the sounds of their calls often come as a shock, as they shriek and screech very harshly. No hoots.

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Reedling Owl

^{For Prompt 3: Horn}

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The reedling owl is as close to waterfowl as an owl can get, making its home and its hunting grounds amidst the reeds of Arsavela's more aquatic regions, namely Brineveil Forest.
These small owls seldom grow larger than the seed pods of the reeds they live in, and share a similar coloration to them, acting as camouflage from predator and prey alike.

by Strixxline

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by Strixxline

Great Bearded Owl

^{For Prompt 6: Nocturnal}

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A titan among the wildlife of Arsavela, the great bearded owl is a bird of immense size and a powerful nocturnal predator. Though seen all throughout the region, sightings are most common in the region's west.
Their striped feathers are frequently used in decoration, though mandates have been enacted stating that the hunting of these birds is highly illegal.

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Pinnate Hummer

^{For Prompt 7: Mythical}

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Though there are many stories throughout the land of strange and peculiar birds, the pinnate hummer is not known to be one belonging to the lands of Arsavela.
Nevertheless, those residing in the southwestern reaches of the kingdom have started to tell stories of hummingbirds who emerge from the forests across the river, only to quickly disappear when spotted.

by Strixxline

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by Coilgoose

Coilgoose

^{For Prompt 10: Danger}

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The coilgoose is indeed not native to Arsavela, but to the great Caldera in the west. Known to gather in large flocks around areas in which the Leyline of Agitation is emerged, these magical creatures are a menace and pose great danger to everyday travelers.
Known for their strange coiled necks, these geese will attack by swinging their heads wildly as weapons.

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