Okikage (Oh Key Kah Gay)

The fiercest of the great beasts found on Ezai. It's terrifying roar is loud enough to be heard for miles; and if you can hear it, it already knows you're there.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Okikage are massive, with a set of thick legs capped by bird-like feet, perfect for gripping onto the vines and trees of Ezai. They have a set of arms, which are much like dragon's wings, though thick with naturally camouflaged feathers, which help the Okikage to hide from it's prey in the underbrush, or up in the trees. These wing-like appendages allow the Okikage to glide short distances, though not fly. Okikage has a thick tail, tapering to a point which, for males, is flanged by bright, flamboyant and plant-like feathers, allowing them to make themselves appear even larger; useful for scaring off other Okikage, or taking a mate. Female Okikage do not have these tail plumes. Their short, yet thick necks support their large heads, which are are finned by a thick plume of smaller feathers similar to the ones on their wings.

Biological Traits

Okikage has hollow bones, making them lighter and faster than their size indicates. This also allows for brief gliding with their wing like arm webbing, useful for traversing the hazardous jungles of Ezai.

Genetics and Reproduction

Okikage mate once every three years. The male will leave his territory, seeking a female which roams the wilds. Once found, the male will attempt to impress the female with his colorful tail feathers. If the female takes a liking, the two will mate, and the male will help the female create a mating nest. Okikage is not a mammal, and is hatched from an egg, which must be kept warm for 12 weeks in order for the young Okikage to hatch. As it is difficult to keep more than a few eggs warm, Okikage usually only lay 2 or 3 eggs at a time. They generally wait about three years in-between mating seasons, allowing them to nurture their offspring from the previous season fully enough for them to succeed by themselves.

Growth Rate & Stages

Once hatched, the Okikage is a small, leathery, defenseless creature for about 6 months, coming out of their egg the general size of a common dog. During this time, they are defended fiercely by both father and mother from other predators. They soon begin growing their feathers, at which point the father will return to whichever territory they call home. For the next 2 and a half years, the mother stays with the hatchlings, teaching them how to hunt, nest, fight, and generally how to survive. Once they are around 3 years old, the Okikage begin to leave their nest, either to seek a territory, if a male, or roam the jungles, if a female. At that point the mother abandons the mating nest, and continues roaming the wilds, to find a new mate in three years.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Okikage is a carnivore, and tends to hunt anything humanoid or larger, even other Okikage. The Okikage employs stealth and fear tactics to frighten it's prey into a position it cannot easily escape from. It will often prepare it's hunting grounds, creating fake trails through the underbrush which lead to dead ends, or abrupt falls. Once the hunting ground is prepared, they climb up into the trees, waiting patiently for prey to appear.

Biological Cycle

From birth til the age of three, Okikage stays in it's mother's mating nest, growing and learning. Once grown, the Okikage sets out on its own. The males will go out, and seek a permanent territory for themselves. These territories range from anywhere between a mile to twenty, and once claimed, the male stays for life. He defends his territory fiercely from other Okikage males, seeking to expand or claim their own territory. As for the females, they never settle down anywhere permanently, and roam the forests of Ezai, settling down only temporarily during their mating seasons, every three years.

Additional Information

Domestication

Though many have tried, none have successfully domesticated Okikage. Okikage is an alpha predator, and knows it. Anything beneath Okikage would be viewed as nothing more than food.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Typically found in the deeper jungles of Ezai, far from most civilizations.  It is uncommon to find one in the highlands, where the jungles are sparser. They seem to avoid Dashan, the sole mountain found on Ezai, completely. This may be due to the presence of rival Dragons which make their homes there.

Average Intelligence

Okikage are smart, and quick-witted. They have the average intelligence of a 4 year old human.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Okikage are day hunters, and cannot see very well in the dark. However, if there is even dim light, they can see even the slightest flicker of movement. As for their smell, they have an excellent nose, which acts as their primary prey acquisition method. They can smell blood for miles, and the natural odors of anything edible to them up to a few thousand feet.

Civilization and Culture

Common Myths and Legends

Okikage is the most dangerous beast on Ezai, and many fables and scary stories of Okikage exist.

Lifespan

15 Years

Average Height

20 feet

Average Weight

4000 pounds

Average Length

40 feet

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The leathery skin of Okikage often ranges from various shades of greens, to equally various shades of grey, dappled with spots of random variations of their base skin color. Their feathers and head plume match almost exactly the exotic and bright flora of Ezai.

Geographic Distribution

• Ezai