Axehandle Bird

A dim-witted inhabitant of the colder biomes, this curious creature has a collection of bizarre abilities it uses to thrive in it's frigid home environment. From it's stone-hard bill to flammable feathers, this creature is never short on tricks.

## Appearance

It's appearance is similar to that of Kulu-Ya-Ku, down to an oversized beak and well-adapted forelimbs, but it's bill is shaped like an axe and has teeth-like groves, similar to a jigsaw. It's got a thick coat of feathers which occasionally drips flammable oil, thick legs and an armored beaver-like tail. It's colored a deep brown, with a grey beak and talons (feel free to change this when we properly decide on it.)

## Abilities

This creature's whole ecology is quite curious, as it's coat isn't nearly as thick as one would assume. Instead it's coated in a flammable oil, which it can trigger with the help of explosive gastroliths to set itself ablaze. It's head is heavy, strong and impact-resistant, used to chop down trees to use the logs for it's nests, which it transports efficiently with the help of it's strong forelimbs and powerful beaver-like tail. When enraged it will start shaking like a wet dog and spewing fire, effectively turning the arena into a firefighter's nightmare.

## Behavior

They're rather aloof and passive with both hunters and other monsters, usually too focused on gathering logs to care about them. They'll randomly set themselves on fire when feeling too cold, and during blizzards they can be seen sitting in their nests completely engulfed in flame. They eat firecones (same ones Blood Orange Bishaten uses) and will consume volatile rocks they find near cave entrances.

When not out chopping wood or searching for food, they're resting in their nests, with fire-proof eggs that are constantly incubated via a roaring flame, which the parents keep ablaze with the before mentioned logs.

## Interactions

As stated before they tend to ignore the hunter and other monsters, except ones like Taylipo, against whom they have an instinctual hatred (presumably because they sometimes grab them and use them as weapons). The most dangerous part about them is trees they chop down or that they forgot to completely chop down can fall onto the hunter, but they'll not do so intentionally. They feel confident wondering away from their nests for long periods of time, as their eggs are well-protected within the pyre, with no sane monster wanting to try and get to them.

-Turf Wars: Taylipo, more when we get a full roster list for it's zones.

## Combat

It's main weapon is it's axe-like beak, which it will use to slam, slash and swipe at the hunter. If it hits a tree during a swing, it will fell it, which can hurt the hunter if it falls on them. It's claws are mostly used for transportation of logs, but the wicked claws can be used in self-defense rather effectively, usually being used right before a beak attack. It will make wide sweeping attacks with it's tail, and if it's holding a log with it while doing so it will have greater range and damage, breaking the log if the hit connects.

Gastroliths they spew out are shot down at their feet, which is not intended as a direct attack but can still deal hefty damage, but this move is used to set themselves on fire. During this they will charge at the hunter, utilizing the signature bird wyvern flailing charge and a belly flop, along with enhanced beak swings and tail swipes that can shower the hunter in fire. When enraged, they will shake themselves like a wet dog to spread the burning oil around before starting to breathe fire. Their rage is rather short, but it will leave the area covered in melted snow, burning trees, and if effective, roasted hunters.

It's weak spots are it's neck, arms and belly, while it's tail and beak are incredibly tough, bouncing off even well-sharpened weapons. When on fire, being in contact with it will burn, as expected.

It's arms, legs, tail and head can all be broken, and if it's beak is damaged it will not be able to cut down trees anymore, instead getting it's head stuck in the trunk

## Equipment

-What does it's armor and weapons look like and what do they do.

## Notes

This creature is based on the Axehandle Hound, a fearsome critter from American lumberjack tales. It is a dog in the shape of an axe that loves to steal axe handles to eat them.

## Credits

Completely WRETCHED Frogh for the illustration and original idea.