Elka’Bird

In Amaran myth, the livestock of other elves was tainted by a malign spirit. This taintedness appeared in a sickening plight which tormented the Amarans exclusively. To counteract this curse, Ashra is said to have morphed an existing animal into a new form of poultry. Even after the Amarae and their other beasts disappeared, the Elka’Bird remained and engrossed itself in the Silvic jungle and forest. With the return of the Amaran landscape and its many inhabitants, the Elka’Bird has been returned to its former native range. Most treat the Elka’Bird as little more than exotic livestock but given the Amarans’ treatment, to kill one upon their lands is unmistakably taboo.

#### Physiology and Anatomy

Elka’Birds are plump avian beasts. Too heavy to fly, they’re reclined to the forest floor. They don’t break as easily as other birds with non-hollow bones and a denser coat of feathers. Their downing provides shock absorption when they make harsh falls, allowing them to move between elevation zones without fear of severe injury. The feathers of an Elka’Bird are covered in an oily gel. This gel is hydrophobic and insulatory -and given the intense rainfall of most of their range-  to help stave off severe wet and cold. An Elka’Bird’s feathers are ornate, particularly in males, so are often used in garments.

An Elka’Birds’ legs are exceptionally long and muscular, built to exude considerable force. They make for exceptional runners, diggers, and spur-fighters. Their three-toed claws are tipped with sharp talons. When exuded, an Elka’Bird can deliver a kick that can punch deep into flesh and muscle, often to the point of disembowelment between male Elka’Birds. They also have a smaller claw on each of their wings. Unlike their legs, these claws aren’t for fighting. Instead, they’re used to help remove debris from the underside of the Elka’Bird or in other places the legs cannot reach.

This exotic bird has an exotic diet. Specifically, fruits and nuts are the chosen meals for Elka’Birds. Their beaks are broad and powerful, letting them crack open the thick shells of their favorite ground-falling nuts. To find food and detect predators, Elka’Birds make use of enormous eyes. Their eyes are motion sensitive, the slightest movement will set them off. Like most birds they’re able to emit loud shrieks to alert nearby flockmates and other herbivores nearby. Their alarm calls are some of the loudest on the east coast, described as fingernails being dragged down a chalkboard.

Elka’Birds lay their eggs every dry season. They can produce upward of six golf ball-sized eggs in a single clutch. Elka’Bird eggs are noteworthy due to their gold-like sheen. Elka’Birds are born featherless and blind, requiring the constant attention of their parents to survive their six month long gauntlet to maturity.

#### Psychology

Elka’Birds are shy and skittish creatures, choosing to live within the brush opposed to prancing around in the open. Despite this reaction to the open, they are relatively docile around humans and humanoids, simply ignoring them unless provoked or startled. This has allowed many to take to farming these large avian creatures as their affinity to live practically anywhere so long as it's quiet has granted them an advantage over most other types of avian livestock. Despite their shortcomings with other animals the Elka’bird is incredibly social, living in large family groups over an expansive landscape, moving nomadically for food.

Elka’Birds only express aggression toward each other during the dry season. Males will vie for the favor of females in intraspecific fights. These fights can often prove lethal with the aforementioned claws. Males will intentionally chase out their male offspring before the next season can occur to mitigate this issue.