Mospid

Mospid are a species of scaled bird, or feathered snake, depending on one’s perspective. They are brightly coloured serpents, with feathered tails and wings, eyes well-suited for the darkness beneath forest and jungle canopies. Mospid typically prey on small birds and rodents, though they also enjoy devouring eggs and sometimes sweet fruit such as Joyberry or Peno Fruit.

Mospid are brightly coloured, their scales and feathers typically coming in different colours and slightly iridescent. The colours of mospid scales (and the eggs from which they hatch) vary by the Direction in which they were born: blue in the North, green in the East, red in the South, black in the West, and yellow in the Center. Specific shades, and the colour and pattern of feathers, can be bred through selective breeding.

Mospid are favoured as hunting animals for falconry by many noble courts, including the Scarlet Dynasty of the Realm and the Shogunate daimyo courts, the birdsnakes not only adept hunters and loyal to their masters, but also coming in an array of colours allowing match with Dragonblooded Aspect and clothing to fit the demands of Dynastic Fashions. Mospid breeding is a lucrative business in the Realm, as well as in several satrapies where provision of mospid eggs for Isle-based breeders brings great wealth to local trappers.

Confusion over whether a mospid is a snake or a bird is understandable, as such a judgement amongst Creation’s common folk will always be subjective. Things are different, though perhaps not more clear, for those able to examine the politics of Yu-shan: in the eyes of Heaven, they are both, and have been so since the Usurpation, for the god of 'Mospid Flashing Scale of Feather holds leadership posts in both the convention of birds and of serpents. While gods in the Bureau of Nature often hold membership in councils and conventions of both Type and Function, having one’s purview within two different Types is rare, in this case attributable to the support of the Bronze Faction for a loyal supporter.

Source: Based on Mospid entry in Exalted 2e Core pp.348