Name: Vulcan
Habitat: Astralar Mountain
Rarity: Common
Threat: Medium
Description: Vulcans are relatively small bi-pedal avians that possess partial plumage on their upper bodies, while their lower bodies are generally thick padded skin to protect them from the colder elements. They have keen eyes that can spot prey quickly like a falcon, and razor-sharp claws they use to rake against their prey. Vulcans also possess a tail that averages around a foot, to which they will use to carry small prey.
Biome Role: Minor Predatory Scavengers
Diet: Vulcans will hunt for relatively small-sized rodents and animals throughout the mountain range, though they will also swarm relatively larger creatures like humans, for a chance at a larger meal that their flock can share.
Aging & Reproduction: Vulcans reproduce once throughout the year, when the heat of Searing brings a very gentle warmth within the Astralar Mountains. Vulcans will gather and seek mates within cave systems, where a network of nests is made as males impress their females with the nesting. When they reproduce offspring they're kept within the nest as one of the parents will head off to hunt, and scavenge food to bring back to their young as efficiently as possible. They can produce a litter of up to four Vul's on average, which the parents seemingly take turns going on hunts for. As the Ash season nears, they're near full adulthood as half their plumage is shed, and their skin hardens as they continually become exposed to the colder climates of the region. By winter, a Vulcan is fully mature and has become a lethal hunter of the skies.
Size: They range on average between two to three feet tall, weighing between forty to sixty pounds.
Abilities and Features:
20/5 Vision: Vulcans are known as keen hunters for a reason, and it's because their eyes allow them to see twenty feet before them. With this sort of vision, they have an unfavorable advantage over any poor creature they hunt. There is a reason as to why the Vulcan, while simple to kill alone, is a very lethal predator of the skies.
Mild Intelligence: Not only do Vulcans seem to thrive in flocks, but they can communicate with one another in their own language. It sounds as though a series of screeches is emitted to the ears of a mortal, but the Vulcans are able to adjust their pitches to speak with their flock. This enables them to observe and even tactically swarm a target they intend to swoop in on, which makes them an interesting predator in comparison to apex predator of the Astralar Mountains; Redfanged Howlers
Cultural Significance (If applicable): Within Kalzasi the Vulcans have a name. It is given to them because they are the scavengers of the mountain range, picking at anything they find like rats within the sky.
Reasons to interact: The feathers of a Vulcan can be used as materials for crafting, as can the claws, and alchemists of Kalzasi have reputed on their eyes being useful for vision enhancement potions.
Recommended Stats: Even Novice warriors won't have any problem with these creatures, Ranged combat is highly recommended against them. Magic is another route as they are vulnerable to fire, wind, and lightning. The danger lies in their numbers, however, face more than two, and your chances of surviving alone start to diminish.
