Phoenix

## **Biology**

A fiery orange bird which closely resembles that of an eagle. On average they’re larger than a horse with an utterly massive wingspan to match. The age of a phoenix can easily be told by the colouration of its feathers. Younger phoenix are a light yellow, but as they get older they’ll shift from yellow to orange to red. The oldest phoenix are a deep crimson red with dark purple feather tips.

Contrary to popular belief, Phoenix themselves are not made of fire, nor are they constantly ablaze. While they do have a myriad of fire related abilities, more often than not they’re just slightly warmer than the average bird. Much like a dragon a phoenix has the same gland which allows it to produce Dragon’s Breath, although phoenix tend to create a far more watery version which doesn’t stick to whatever surface it makes contact with. It’s more of a combustible mist than anything else.

## **Personality/Instincts**

   Seeing as they’re birds of prey, Phoenix spend a considerable amount of time on the hunt. Such large birds require a substantial amount of food, and oftentimes there just isn’t enough of it in their home region. Back before the infestation they were known to stalk farmers and steal large livestock such as sheep and cows, but in the modern day most phoenix take advantage of the demon population to get their meals. They do reside in the mountains, after all, so there’s no shortage of them available.

   When they aren’t on the hunt Phoenix have been observed to be very playful and curious creatures. They’ve been known to experiment with very basic magic, teach themselves to unlock doors or latches, and even take apart things like carts or crates without breaking them. Many phoenix are fascinated with any object with moving parts, and many phoenix nests have random trinkets or toys inside them they’ve stolen from travelers or nearby settlements. That being said, they’re by no means hoarders. If they have a toy, it’s usually only one or two. Nothing to the same scale a dragon might have.

## **Relations**

   Historically speaking Phoenix have always been highly isolated creatures. Not only do they keep their distance from other species, but they’re usually spotted alone. At most you’ll see a mated pair of phoenix, but even then most of the time it’s one parent sitting on an egg while the other is off hunting. Phoenix don’t do well in captivity for a plethora of reasons, but there have been several cases of mages befriending them over the years. If someone can manage to get one as a familiar they’re basically set for life in terms of mana.

## **History**

   Phoenix are one of the longest standing magical beasts. Their species dates all the way back to the before times, although back then their abilities were greatly limited. It wasn’t until after the ascension of Meridian when they really began taking off. His time loops have an unforeseen side effect on the magic of phoenix, allowing them to build their own mana throughout and giving them a massive advantage over other creatures.

   Since the beginning the Phoenix population has been abysmal, but that’s largely due in part to the fact they’re able to rise from the ashes. When a phoenix dies or is killed by an outside force they’ll explode into a ball of flames, only to reform a few days later. A massive chunk of Mirror Domain’s current phoenix have been around for at least a thousand years, if not more. It’s speculated that the phoenix population rarely exceeds 1200 individuals at any given time, although that number may be much lower.

   Historically phoenix are tied to extremely powerful spells, potions, and even mages. The first use of Phoenix in known history was all the way back during the Arkan Renaissance . A group of human researchers in Bane discovered the true power of these birds and began a quest to capture and use one for themselves. They ended up capturing a phoenix, but due to its sheer power were unable to tether it to themselves. Instead, they took a bit of its blood and forged it into a totem which allowed them to construct their own bird. The mage responsible was known as Sylvia the Mystic; one of the Flighted Resistance.

   Nowadays Phoenix are more or less tracked down in order for parts of them to be used as spell components. Most people stray away from killing them, as killing a phoenix permanently is a very difficult and lengthy process, but things like feathers, ash, egg shells, and even residue left over from their fire breath is collected and sold for absurdly high prices in the magic industry.

## **Adventures**

Phoenix aren’t the most adventurous creatures. The vast majority of them hang around the Sanquet Mountain Range, although occasionally they’ll travel down to countries bordering the mountains. They’ve been spotted around Bane, Pontyn, Trixot, and occasionally Patallon. People speculate they like the mountain range due to its cooler temperatures. For a creature so heavily tied to fire, being stuck in the heat can only lead to disaster.

## **Abilities**

Phoenix fall under the Magical Beast category. They’re very heavily tied to purple and blue magic, which is clearly evident by the purple tinge on their feathers as they age. The older a phoenix is, the more magic it has. With every regeneration they go through it increases exponentially. Regeneration, of course, is one of the things Phoenix are known for. Upon their death they’ll explode into a ball of flames, only to reform and rise from the ashes later.

   Many phoenix are intelligent enough to figure out how to cast more complex spells than the average beast. On top of the myriad of fire related magic at their disposal, they’re also commonly able to heal themselves or enhance their own abilities; making them faster, stronger, and more resilient.