Tyrdal

Surely you have already seen a tyrdal yourself. Those beautiful birds, that are an essential part of the Qataban caravans. Their size alone makes it impossible not to see them, and the multi-colored feather coat catches attention immediately. So, at least as long as you don't live under a rock you have seen one of them, as their caravans travel both our continents far and wide and are always accompanied by several of those majestic animals.

Anatomy

In the wild only one version of the tyrdal exists. That one is approximately 3 meters high and weighs up to 140 kg, with the females slightly smaller and lighter. Both the males, called roosters, and the females, called hens, have colorful plumage that can appear in a wide variety of patterns. No bird looks exactly like another. They have relatively large wings but are still unable to fly due to their weight. The juveniles are primarily brown and have dark brown spots.

The birds' necks and legs are featherless and have a pinkish hue. Their heads appear relatively small compared to their bodies but have very large eyes. Their long legs, equipped with powerful running muscles, allow the tyrdal to reach top speeds of up to 70 km/h. They can maintain a speed of 50 km/h for up to 30 minutes. To achieve these high running speeds, Tyrdal have only two toes, both of which have claws, allowing them to use their legs as weapons if necessary.

Oh yeah, they are beautiful, impressive and a little bit intimidating!

Behavior

The tyrdal is a diurnal bird that is particularly active during dawn and dusk in the wild. Outside the breeding season, they live in loose groups that vary greatly in size, usually consisting of five to 50 individuals. Single birds or small groups leave and join these flocks at will, and many individuals spend a large part of their lives as solitary wanderers.

During the mating season, these groups dissolve, and ready-to-mate males gather multiple females around them. During this time, the roosters become aggressive and attack intruders with powerful kicks. A single kick from an ostrich can quickly be fatal to a person.

Reproduction

The mating season of the tyrdal varies by region. In savannas, it falls during the dry season, while in desert areas, it lasts year-round. During this time, the males become territorial and defend a territory ranging from 2 to 15 km², depending on the availability of food. A male usually has a harem consisting of a primary hen, who often stays with him for several years, and 3-5 secondary hens.

The hens lay their eggs into nests that obviously are on the ground. The primary hen has about 5-10 eggs, while the side hens have less, with mainly 3-7eggs. It is not known, why this happens.

I didn't know about that, really interesting.

Growth Rate & Stages 

After six weeks, the chicks hatch, already covered in light brown down. As precocial birds, they leave the nest immediately. The parents continue to care for them by spreading their wings over the chicks to shield them from sun and rain. At just three days old, the chicks leave the nest for the first time and follow their parents everywhere.

At three months old, the young tyrdal transition from down to juvenile plumage. By the age of one year, they reach the size of adult birds. Female tyrdal become sexually mature at two years, while males reach maturity at three to four years. Their lifespan is around 30 to 40 years, though in the caravans, they can live beyond 50 years.

Diet 

Tyrdal are primarily herbivores but occasionally consume insects and other small animals. Their main diet consists of seeds, grasses, herbs, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Insects such as caterpillars and grasshoppers are merely supplementary food. They prefer food that can be picked up from the ground, rarely plucking leaves or fruits from shrubs or trees.

Tyrdal have an efficient digestive system, supported by a 14-meter-long intestine. Their muscular gizzard can hold up to 1.300 grams of food. To aid in grinding their food, they swallow sand and stones and tend to pick up small objects that might serve a similar purpose.

Distribution & Habitat

Tyrdal are found exclusively among the Qataban, as their selective nature makes them difficult to tame outside their culture. They roam the vast trade routes and open plains where the Qataban travel, thriving in warm, arid climates. Though wild tyrdal exist, they are highly elusive and fiercely independent, rarely allowing outsiders to approach. The natural habitat of the tyrdal are the savanah and grasslands on both continents. They are also regularly observed crossing the larger deserts. Breeding programs are carefully maintained within the caravans, ensuring only the strongest and most intelligent birds continue the lineage. Attempts by outsiders to domesticate them have mostly ended in failure - a tyrdal chooses its rider, not the other way around.

You can't expect to just sit on a tyrdal and ride it. They are stubborn birds that decide for themselves whom they allow on their backs. So don't be surprised if you get thrown off in a high arc and break every bone in your body.

— advice from an experienced rider

Uses

The Qataban rely on tyrdal as their primary mode of transportation, using them for scouting, message delivery, and rapid travel between their sprawling caravans. These riding ostriches are faster than any horse, allowing scouts to spot threats early or navigate treacherous terrain ahead of the main group. While some tyrdal are trained for warfare, capable of delivering devastating kicks and swift charges, most serve as trusted mounts for messengers and caravan leaders. A well-trained tyrdal is a status symbol, often decorated with dyed feathers and ornate harnesses.

They also use the leather and meat of the birds, and a small number of them are bred specifically for this purpose. However, most of the animals used for this come from those that are no longer fit for travel due to injuries.

I think I'd rather not attempt to ride one of them. Sounds painful ...

Breeding

Attempts of domesticating the giant birds has never been successful. Until the Qataban arrived at Mirintha. Nobody talks about how they achieved it. But they were able to domesticate the tyrdal and even breed two very different versions of it. The Qataban are breeding their birds close to their caravanserais. Those buildings are always highly guarded, as the travelling folk is not willing to share their secrets with others.

Riding tyrdal

The riding tyrdal is even bigger then its wild relatives. Their leg muscles are specialized for running and for this purpose they also weigh less. Their eyes are turned more forward, so they have better depth perception and can navigate more easily with high speed. They are often more intelligent and attentive birds, but can sometimes be a bit temperamental. As the name indicates, those birds are used by scouts and guards accompanying the caravans.

Draft tyrdal

The draft tyrdal is shorter, but heavier than the riding tyrdal. They have stronger, more muscular legs that enable them to pull heavy things. Their chests are wider, so it is easier to use a towing harness. The temperament of the draft tyrdal normally is more patient and they are not easily startled. Those birds are essential for hauling the massive caravan platforms, the Qataban use to travel the land.

Of course they don't share their knowledge ...

Feature	Riding Tyrdal	Draft Tyrdal
Size	3–4m	3,5–4,5m
Weight	400–600 kg	900–1.500 kg
Speed	90km/h	30-40km/h
Endurance	High (long-distance travel)	Extremely high (steady pulling for days)
Legs	Long & lean	Thick & muscular
Claws	Hooked & sharp	Blunt, but strong
Temperament	Agile & alert, but temperamental	Patient & steady
Main use	Riding, scouting, light cavalery	Pulling, heavy labor, defense

That is a handy table, very good thinking from the authors!

---

TLDR for my players

Level: 4

Motive: Independent, only allows trusted riders

Health: 12

Damage Inflicted: 5

Movement: Long

Modifications:

Speed Defense 5 (Extremely fast and agile)

Resists Being Tamed 6 (Requires effort to bond with a rider)

Perception 5 (Sharp vision for spotting danger far away)

Combat:

Mighty Kick: Knocks creatures prone on a failed Speed defense roll

Quick Evade: If a tyrdal is not restrained, it can use an action to move away from an attacker without triggering a free attack

Special abilities:

Picky Rider: A tyrdal chooses its rider. If someone attempts to ride without bonding first, they must roll Might or Speed (Difficulty 6) to stay on. Failure results in being thrown.

Unshakable Reflexes: Tyrdal can react before its rider in combat, acting at the start of the round unless surprised.

Interaction:

A tyrdal is stubborn, but once bonded, it is loyal for life. It uses body language (feather ruffling, posture changes) to communicate its mood. A properly trained tyrdal follows commands but still makes its own decisions in dangerous situations.