Roc

All know that the Roc rules over the sky and does whatever it pleases, knowing that very few things can challenge it. - Desert Nomad

The Roc is a giant bird that makes its home in the deep deserts of the Eastern Lands, where it hunts with very few creatures that can compete with it. Often strike from above to catch its prey and brings it back to its nest to feast upon it. No one dare face the bird openly for it is a creature that should feared by all for the power it has.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A massive bird with two powerful wings and legs with a pair of talons with three toes to walk on and grab food. It has a large curved boney peak and is covered with dark feathers.

Biological Traits

Massive Size: The Roc's large size allows it to hunt just about anything it sees and can intimidate any creature it comes across.
Powerful Wings: The wings of the Roc aid it in flying due to their massive size, but their sheer size allows them to create massive gusts of wind that pick up dirt and sand, causing people to be knocked over by it.
Hard Beak: The Roc's prominent curved peak allows it to quickly break the bones of its prey with sheer force and tear into flesh with ease.

Genetics and Reproduction

Rocs reproduce by mating with a male and female for long periods to produce a single, which takes two months to hatch. At that time, the chick will stay in the nest for six months to a year until it can fly on its own.

Growth Rate & Stages

Chicks will have a fuzzy fluff around their bodies at an early age after hatching and will gradually grow feathers and increase in size until they reach six months of age when they will have enough feathers and a larger wingspan to allow them to fly. They will continue to grow until they reach three years of age.

Ecology and Habitats

Due to the desert, Rocs make their homes on mesas and cliffs and use what they can find to build nests. They will often stay away from large settlements due to the dangers that come with it, such as weapons to shoot them down and sticking to the desert to hunt for their food.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Rocs are carnivores like most predatory birds; only due to their size, it is considered an apex predator hunting anything that they get their eyes on. Often striking from above and grabbing its prey with its large talons, if it isn't crushed by force, it will be eaten as soon as it gets back to its nest later. It is easy to tell when strikes when large shadow envelopes that area around the prey being made by the wings of the Roc itself.

Biological Cycle

Rocs are daytime hunters who rely on their sight to find food across the vast open deserts. However, they have been known to hunt during full moons, which allows them to see better at night when they have trouble finding food during the day. When sandstorms occur, a Roc will stay at its nest and use its massive cover itself from the sand that might get into its eyes.

Behaviour

The Rocs are not territorial with each other like most other territorial birds and will socialize and even play with one another, but often keep to themselves most of the time. All other animals they will just eat, especially if they are near its nest.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Rocs are solitary birds that often remain alone for most of their lives, hunting alone or sometimes in small groups with others of their kind. The only other time they are seen together is during the mating season, when a male and female will share a living space until their chicks are old enough to care for themselves

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Rocs are prized for their feathers due to their size and quality, making them highly valuable in clothing and items such as fans. Their meat and eggs are considered valuable, too, as they are luxury items due to how rare to acquire them do to the dangers of trying to hunt one or steal from its nest.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Rocs make their home in the Jantani Desert of the Eastern lands.

Average Intelligence

Rocs are highly intelligent, able to think and plan to build nests and hunt for food.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Sight: Excellent
Hearing: Great
Smell: Poor

Scientific Name

Class: Beast

Lifespan

50 - 60 Years

Average Height

40 - 50 ft

Average Weight

8 - 12 tons

Average Length

30 ft - 40 ft
Wingspan: 38 ft - 48 ft

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Brown, Black, White

Geographic Distribution

• Eastern Lands

Terror of the Skies

All know well to hide when a Roc is on the hunt; we learn to hide in the desert like all other creatures to avoid being taken by it. - Desert Nomad

Within the deep deserts, there is only one creature that all other beasts fear, and it is the Roc, for very few challenge its might. Even the wandering desert tribes have been placed on the menu of the ruler of the skies. Forcing them to learn to hide from the beast by hiding under camouflaged tarps to avoid its all-seeing gaze or leaving a camel to avoid its talons. There have even been some who consider them gods of the wind due to the power they have over it with their massive wings.

Masters of the Winds

It will tell you this, despite the terror that they bring, there is a beauty that only comes from a Roc that takes flight as if they are one with the wind - Caravan Merchant

Despite their size, Rocs are agile in flight, mainly due to their wings that allow them to maneuver in the air like a hot knife to butter. This is why they are dangerous fighting or running from as they can quickly catch up to anything near them easily. Even in the worst weather conditions, a Roc can fly steadily as if nothing has changed. It is often why sailors of the east keep a Roc feather on them when heading out to sea, believing that if they keep it, the wind will always be in their favor to take them where they need to be.