Austrech - Revision history

Storyteller at 03:46, 25 September 2014

2014-09-25T03:46:47Z

Storyteller: /* Cultural Significance */

2013-12-12T20:17:49Z

‎Cultural Significance

Storyteller at 14:36, 21 March 2013

2013-03-21T14:36:33Z

Storyteller: /* Cultural Significance */

2013-03-10T05:53:13Z

‎Cultural Significance

Storyteller: /* Cultural Significance */

2013-03-10T05:04:21Z

‎Cultural Significance

Storyteller at 05:03, 10 March 2013

2013-03-10T05:03:55Z

Storyteller: Created page with "==Description== The austrech is a large, vicious, flightless bird common to the Southern Threshold. It stands atop two muscular legs that grant much of its 9ft height. Each ..."

2013-03-10T04:47:30Z

Created page with "==Description== The austrech is a large, vicious, flightless bird common to the Southern Threshold. It stands atop two muscular legs that grant much of its 9ft height. Each ..."

New page

==Description==

The austrech is a large, vicious, flightless bird common to the Southern Threshold. It stands atop two muscular legs that grant much of its 9ft height. Each leg ends in three toes, tipped with razor-sharp talons capable of tearing flesh. The austrech’s body is covered in large feathers, its wings small and of little use. Its neck and head are bare of feathers, with scales running up the back of the neck onto the crown. The beak of the austrech is large, both heavy and sharp, a dangerous weapon against both prey and would-be-predators. Austrechs can weigh upwards of 500 lbs.

==Habitat & Range==

Austrechs are found in the open savannahs and deserts of the Southern and Southeastern Threshold. They once ranged further northward into the River Province, but have been driven out and are now not seen north of [[Thorns]].

==Behaviour & Reproduction==

Austrech are relatively social creatures, forming small groups in which both males and females hunt together. They nest in immense mounds made of sticks, branches, and the stripped remains of previous meals, with each nest used by a large group of birds. Females typically lay clutches of 5 eggs once per year, which the parents take turns keeping warm for 2 months before they hatch. Provided food is plentiful, an austrech chick grows rapidly to adulthood, and the majority survive these early years… this makes the species incredibly prolific, though their numbers remain suppressed due to human antipathy.

==Diet==

Austrechs are carnivorous and capable of running at great speed, keeping pace with horses (though lacking their endurance). They attack by pouncing on and incapacitating prey with their talons, using their sharp beaks to kill their victims. Austrechs will also eat carrion, though they seem to enjoy the hunt, and will often kill far more than they can eat so they can return later to eat remaining carcasses.

Austrechs prey primarily on large or medium-sized animals: cattle, goats, horses, camels, and yeddim are most common. The austrech is, in turn, hunted as prey by the leonine [[Simhata]] which share parts of their range. Austrechs will dine on humans if the opportunity presents itself.

In times when food is scarce, austrechs will devour their own eggs and young.

==Cultural Significance==

Austrechs are much reviled within their range due to preying on domestic animals (cows, goats, and horses) and humans… even the yeddim of desert caravans can come under attack. This dislike is particularly intense in [[Marukan]], where austrechs are considered anathema to [[Hiparkes]] the god of Horses, hunted and slain wherever they appear… the Marukani claim jurisdiction to slay any austrech found within the Confederation of Rivers, though this is disputed as a violation of sovereignty by some other Confederation states.

Austrechs are vicious, but can be domesticated and used as riding mounts or beasts of burden, even if they remain difficult to handle. Some desert tribes in the South use austrechs as their primary mounts… as such bird-nomads are often rivals of the Delzahn horse-nomads, this has made the Delzahn prone to featuring austrech meat at their larger feasts, a tradition maintained in [[Chiaroscuro]].

Austrech feathers are large and readily take to dyes, making them popular for use constructing oversized fans for markets on the Blessed Isle and [[An-Teng]].

[[Category:Fauna]] [[Category:Birds]]

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
-Austrechs are found in the open savannahs and deserts of the Southern and Southeastern Threshold. They once ranged further northward into the River Province, but have been driven out and are now not seen north of [[Thorns]].
+Austrechs are found in the open savannahs and deserts of the [[:Category:The South|Southern]] and [[Great Grass Sea|Southeastern]] Threshold. They once ranged further northward into the [[:Category:River Province|River Province]], but have been driven out and are now not seen north of [[Thorns]].
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
-Austrechs prey primarily on large or medium-sized animals: cattle, goats, horses, camels, and yeddim are most common. The austrech is, in turn, hunted as prey by the leonine [[Simhata]] which share parts of their range. Austrechs will dine on humans if the opportunity presents itself.
+Austrechs prey primarily on large or medium-sized animals: [[Cattle]], goats, [[:Category:Horses|horses]], [[Camel]]s, and [[Yeddim]] are most common. The austrech is, in turn, hunted as prey by the leonine [[Simhata]] which share parts of their range. Austrechs will dine on humans if the opportunity presents itself.
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
-Austrechs are much reviled within their range due to preying on domestic animals (cows, goats, and horses) and humans… even the yeddim of desert caravans can come under attack. This dislike is particularly intense in [[Marukan]], where austrechs are considered anathema to [[Hiparkes]] the god of Horses, hunted and slain wherever they appear… the Marukani claim jurisdiction to slay any austrech found within the Confederation of Rivers, though this is disputed as a violation of sovereignty by some other Confederation states. Austrechs are also hunted in [[Harborhead]] as they threaten local cattle, their elimination commanded by cattle god [[Ahlat]], but the god responsible for the austrech is [[Bright Spearpoint]], also God of the Southern Hunt... hunting expeditions by Ahlat's followers somehow prove prone to strangely high amounts of missteps and fruitless effort.
+Austrechs are much reviled within their range due to preying on domestic animals (cows, goats, and horses) and humans… even the yeddim of desert caravans can come under attack. This dislike is particularly intense in [[Marukan]], where austrechs are considered anathema to [[Hiparkes]] the god of Horses, hunted and slain wherever they appear... the Marukani claim jurisdiction to slay any austrech found within the [[Confederation of Rivers]], though this is disputed as a violation of sovereignty by some other Confederation states. Austrechs are also hunted in [[Harborhead]] as they threaten local cattle, their elimination commanded by cattle god [[Ahlat]], but the god responsible for the austrech is [[Bright Spearpoint]], also God of the Southern Hunt... hunting expeditions by Ahlat's followers somehow prove prone to strangely high amounts of missteps and fruitless effort.
-Austrechs are vicious, but can be domesticated and used as riding mounts or beasts of burden, even if they remain difficult to handle. Some desert tribes in the South use austrechs as their primary mounts… as such bird-nomads are often rivals of the Delzahn horse-nomads, this has made the Delzahn prone to featuring austrech meat at their larger feasts, a tradition maintained in [[Chiaroscuro]]. The Royal Army of [[Thorns]] maintained a large number of barded austrech cavalry, the result of breeding programs to produce creatures (known in Thorns as 'Battle Birds') more suited in temprament to carrying riders into battle, though they remain vicious and easily enraged. The battle bird cavalry of Thorns are said to have accounted well for themselves at the [[Battle of Mishaka]], devastating the Marukan cavalry sent against them but suffering heavy casualties as well. Reduced in number and with many veterans slain at Mishaka, they crumbled in the face of the Mask of Winters some years later.
+Austrechs are vicious, but can be domesticated and used as riding mounts or beasts of burden, even if they remain difficult to handle. Some desert tribes in the South use austrechs as their primary mounts... as such bird-nomads are often rivals of the Delzahn horse-nomads, this has made the Delzahn prone to [[Cuisine of the Southern Nomads|featuring austrech meat]] at their larger feasts, a tradition maintained in [[Chiaroscuro]]. The Royal Army of [[Thorns]] maintained a large number of barded austrech cavalry, the result of breeding programs to produce creatures (known in Thorns as 'Battle Birds') more suited in temperament to carrying riders into battle, though they remain vicious and easily enraged. The battle bird cavalry of Thorns are said to have accounted well for themselves at the [[Battle of Mishaka]], devastating the Marukan cavalry sent against them but suffering heavy casualties as well. Reduced in number and with many veterans slain at Mishaka, they crumbled in the face of the [[Mask of Winters]] some years later.
-Austrech feathers are large and readily take to dyes, making them popular for use constructing oversized fans for markets on the Blessed Isle and [[An-Teng]].
+Austrech feathers are large and readily take to dyes, making them popular for use constructing oversized fans for markets on the [[:Category:Blessed Isle|Blessed Isle]] and [[An-Teng]].
 [[Category:Fauna]] [[Category:Birds]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:17, 12 December 2013
Line 37:		Line 37:


−	Austrechs are vicious, but can be domesticated and used as riding mounts or beasts of burden, even if they remain difficult to handle. Some desert tribes in the South use austrechs as their primary mounts… as such bird-nomads are often rivals of the Delzahn horse-nomads, this has made the Delzahn prone to featuring austrech meat at their larger feasts, a tradition maintained in [[Chiaroscuro]]. The Royal Army of [[Thorns]] maintained a large number of barded austrech cavalry, the result of breeding programs to produce creatures (known in Thorns as 'Battle Birds') more suited in temprament to carrying riders into battle, though they remain vicious and easily enraged. The battle bird cavalry of Thorns are said to have accounted well for themselves at the ~~Battle of~~ [[Mishaka]], devastating the Marukan cavalry sent against them but suffering heavy casualties as well. Reduced in number and with many veterans slain at Mishaka, they crumbled in the face of the Mask of Winters some years later.	+	Austrechs are vicious, but can be domesticated and used as riding mounts or beasts of burden, even if they remain difficult to handle. Some desert tribes in the South use austrechs as their primary mounts… as such bird-nomads are often rivals of the Delzahn horse-nomads, this has made the Delzahn prone to featuring austrech meat at their larger feasts, a tradition maintained in [[Chiaroscuro]]. The Royal Army of [[Thorns]] maintained a large number of barded austrech cavalry, the result of breeding programs to produce creatures (known in Thorns as 'Battle Birds') more suited in temprament to carrying riders into battle, though they remain vicious and easily enraged. The battle bird cavalry of Thorns are said to have accounted well for themselves at the [[Battle of Mishaka]], devastating the Marukan cavalry sent against them but suffering heavy casualties as well. Reduced in number and with many veterans slain at Mishaka, they crumbled in the face of the Mask of Winters some years later.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:36, 21 March 2013
Line 1:		Line 1:
	==Description==		==Description==
		+
		+	http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr123/jsstrn/ADnD/battlebird.jpg


Line 35:		Line 37:


−	Austrechs are vicious, but can be domesticated and used as riding mounts or beasts of burden, even if they remain difficult to handle. Some desert tribes in the South use austrechs as their primary mounts… as such bird-nomads are often rivals of the Delzahn horse-nomads, this has made the Delzahn prone to featuring austrech meat at their larger feasts, a tradition maintained in [[Chiaroscuro]]. The Royal Army of [[Thorns]] maintained a large number of barded austrech cavalry, ~~which~~ are said to have accounted well for themselves at the Battle of [[Mishaka]], ~~only to crumble~~ in the face of the Mask of Winters some years later.	+	Austrechs are vicious, but can be domesticated and used as riding mounts or beasts of burden, even if they remain difficult to handle. Some desert tribes in the South use austrechs as their primary mounts… as such bird-nomads are often rivals of the Delzahn horse-nomads, this has made the Delzahn prone to featuring austrech meat at their larger feasts, a tradition maintained in [[Chiaroscuro]]. The Royal Army of [[Thorns]] maintained a large number of barded austrech cavalry, the result of breeding programs to produce creatures (known in Thorns as 'Battle Birds') more suited in temprament to carrying riders into battle, though they remain vicious and easily enraged. The battle bird cavalry of Thorns are said to have accounted well for themselves at the Battle of [[Mishaka]], devastating the Marukan cavalry sent against them but suffering heavy casualties as well. Reduced in number and with many veterans slain at Mishaka, they crumbled in the face of the Mask of Winters some years later.

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:53, 10 March 2013
Line 35:		Line 35:


−	Austrechs are vicious, but can be domesticated and used as riding mounts or beasts of burden, even if they remain difficult to handle. Some desert tribes in the South use austrechs as their primary mounts… as such bird-nomads are often rivals of the Delzahn horse-nomads, this has made the Delzahn prone to featuring austrech meat at their larger feasts, a tradition maintained in [[Chiaroscuro]].	+	Austrechs are vicious, but can be domesticated and used as riding mounts or beasts of burden, even if they remain difficult to handle. Some desert tribes in the South use austrechs as their primary mounts… as such bird-nomads are often rivals of the Delzahn horse-nomads, this has made the Delzahn prone to featuring austrech meat at their larger feasts, a tradition maintained in [[Chiaroscuro]]. The Royal Army of [[Thorns]] maintained a large number of barded austrech cavalry, which are said to have accounted well for themselves at the Battle of [[Mishaka]], only to crumble in the face of the Mask of Winters some years later.

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:04, 10 March 2013
Line 32:		Line 32:


−	Austrechs are much reviled within their range due to preying on domestic animals (cows, goats, and horses) and humans… even the yeddim of desert caravans can come under attack. This dislike is particularly intense in [[Marukan]], where austrechs are considered anathema to [[Hiparkes]] the god of Horses, hunted and slain wherever they appear… the Marukani claim jurisdiction to slay any austrech found within the Confederation of Rivers, though this is disputed as a violation of sovereignty by some other Confederation states. Austrechs are also hunted in [[Harborhead]] as they threaten local cattle, their elimination commanded by cattle god [[Ahlat]], but the god responsible for the austrech is [[Bright Spearpoint]], also God of the Southern Hunt... hunting expeditions by Ahlat's followers somehow prove prone to strangely high ~~amoounts~~ of missteps and fruitless effort.	+	Austrechs are much reviled within their range due to preying on domestic animals (cows, goats, and horses) and humans… even the yeddim of desert caravans can come under attack. This dislike is particularly intense in [[Marukan]], where austrechs are considered anathema to [[Hiparkes]] the god of Horses, hunted and slain wherever they appear… the Marukani claim jurisdiction to slay any austrech found within the Confederation of Rivers, though this is disputed as a violation of sovereignty by some other Confederation states. Austrechs are also hunted in [[Harborhead]] as they threaten local cattle, their elimination commanded by cattle god [[Ahlat]], but the god responsible for the austrech is [[Bright Spearpoint]], also God of the Southern Hunt... hunting expeditions by Ahlat's followers somehow prove prone to strangely high amounts of missteps and fruitless effort.

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:03, 10 March 2013
Line 32:		Line 32:


−	Austrechs are much reviled within their range due to preying on domestic animals (cows, goats, and horses) and humans… even the yeddim of desert caravans can come under attack. This dislike is particularly intense in [[Marukan]], where austrechs are considered anathema to [[Hiparkes]] the god of Horses, hunted and slain wherever they appear… the Marukani claim jurisdiction to slay any austrech found within the Confederation of Rivers, though this is disputed as a violation of sovereignty by some other Confederation states.	+	Austrechs are much reviled within their range due to preying on domestic animals (cows, goats, and horses) and humans… even the yeddim of desert caravans can come under attack. This dislike is particularly intense in [[Marukan]], where austrechs are considered anathema to [[Hiparkes]] the god of Horses, hunted and slain wherever they appear… the Marukani claim jurisdiction to slay any austrech found within the Confederation of Rivers, though this is disputed as a violation of sovereignty by some other Confederation states. Austrechs are also hunted in [[Harborhead]] as they threaten local cattle, their elimination commanded by cattle god [[Ahlat]], but the god responsible for the austrech is [[Bright Spearpoint]], also God of the Southern Hunt... hunting expeditions by Ahlat's followers somehow prove prone to strangely high amoounts of missteps and fruitless effort.