Fool's Phoenix

Often mistaken for miniature cockatrices or “extinguished phoenixes”, the Fool’s Phoenix is dangerous, delicious, and incredibly useful for alchemical procedures. Due to their surprisingly small stature, they have tricked many an amateur hunter or explorer into believing they are practically harmless- those poor fellows that escape often come home with severe burns.

## Habitat

Fool’s Phoenixes cluster around the top of Minnaar’s southern volcano, to the east of Moonsrest in the Jinxian Wilds, aptly called the Phoenix’s Nest. Their dens litter the face of the stone, though they are also known to submerge themselves and hide passageways in the lava itself. Their presence has made it difficult for followers of Naviik to maintain the shrine erected there. While the Phoenix’s Nest is the primary spot to locate Fool’s Phoenixes, they can also be scattered about the surrounding jungle.

Many hunters and researchers have speculated that should Fool’s Phoenixes nest near any settlement in great numbers, said settlement would be ashes within the month, malicious intent or no. Thankfully, Fool’s Phoenixes swarm sweltering, practically unbearably hot environments that can only be replicated by volcanoes.

## Behavior

These creatures can be described as three things; loud, flighty, and surprisingly vicious. When threatened, Fool’s Phoenixes will puff their bodies outwards and flare the bare glowing portions on their necks and chests. They have a flock mindset and are not solitary creatures, preferring to live in groups of up to 10, and typically have no leader amongst them.

Their nests are almost exclusively in higher altitudes, decorated in igneous rock and other volcanic material. Fool’s Phoenixes will cover themselves in magma and rest upon their eggs, as their chicks only hatch in extremely high temperatures. Desperate ones will steal embers, still warm ashes, and coals from open camps and houses.

Despite their small size and chicken-like appearance, Fool’s Phoenixes are obligate carnivores, preferring to hunt smaller birds, frogs, snakes, and even small monkeys. They have a symbiotic relationship with some sort of ooze native to the Phoenix’s Nest that allows them to breathe and resist fire shortly after they are born when their routine migration to the top of the volcano has ended.

## Physiology

These reptilian birds stand at just a little larger than normal roosters, bearing both scales and feathers. Spines run down their backs and tails, and their wings are both feathered and webbed. Fool’s Phoenixes are naturally scalding when it comes to body temperature, so much so that the ends of their extremities glow red hot.

Their internals house a special viscous ooze, making them extremely useful for alchemical potions that provide a resistance to fire, however it’s most potent in the neck and egg sacs. There, in the neck sac, the Fool’s Phoenix stores a powder mixed with said ooze, which acts as a catalyst that produces flames when it makes contact with oxygen. It is not recommended to slice Fool’s Phoenixes too deeply because of this, else face fiery wounds.

This incendiary tendency makes Fool’s Phoenixes very risky to cook. Careful removal of the innards is commonly called for. Due to the fire-resistant nature of this monster, the locals who prepare it denature it via immersion of acids, commonly from lemons and limes. The meat itself is safe to eat, and the tail is considered one of the best and safest cuts to cook, followed by the wings. Fool’s Phoenix meat has a natural spice to it- it’s quite literally hot, requiring little in the way of seasoning.