Peddlers

A Peddler

[noun: peddler; plural noun: peddlers]
A large waterbird with a long neck, tall legs, webbed feet, twin crest feathers, and typically spottled* plumage.

Once known as the River Kings of Nijhtieva due to their size as they paddled and bobbed in the rivers of the Old World, these giant bird-kin now pace the lengths of the Óssidian Sands as mounts for tradesman, chasers or travellers.

These giant birds were originally built for water, with large webbed feet and lightweight feathers that made them hydrophobic (ie waterproof.) Now that the region is covered in hot sands, their webbed feet are hardier and rough; allowing their feet skin to distribute the weight as to not sink into the sand, making them ideal to run long distances in the desert and not disturb the monstrosities hiding below. Their lightweight feathers are also incredibly breathable, and with their long outstretched necks, legs and twin crest feathers (namely used to communicate or show a defensive stance) they are able to dissipate body heat easily. For these reasons, peddlers defied expectations and adapted to survive the change in their habitat, rather than fleeing the newly harshened landscape.

What do they eat?

Peddlers have always been carnivores. As the biggest birds from the region pre-Siphoning, they were natural hunters. When their environment changed however, they went from a diet of small mammals, travellers

How do they breed?

Strangely, although peddlers are herd animals, they do not mate or bond in pairs. A female peddler will bury her eggs (roughly 4-7 of them) under the sands, and when a male peddler smells the eggs, he will be lured into fertilising and protecting them. The eggs hatch after a week (9 days) and are quickly taught how to defend themselves. With the mass of dangers in the desert, it is likely only 2-3 will survive. When they are deemed fit for long distances by the father, he will return to his herd with the offspring, which are accepted without question as a means of survival. The larger the herd, the less likely they will die.



*Spottled: A mixture of more than 4 colours weaving seamlessly between each other like waves on the ocean.