Bronze Swan

BRONZE SWAN by Reagren Wright

This large waterfowl once lived exclusively in the Baalgor Rain Forests. They were the pride and joy of many Elf nobles, merchants, scholars, and mages. They swam in the moats of elf stronghold, serving as warning alarms and front line defenders. Then the Rainforest was destroyed and the swans were all eradicated. However, on the island of Lopan, seven swans survived (three males and four females). For the longest time, the swans lived exclusively on Lopan then moved on to the island of Phi. During the last five hundred years, the swans have slowly been spreading out to the southern half of the western frontier of the Great Northern Wilderness and southward to the Old Kingdom and Eastern Territory. If they ever become as plentiful as they once were remains to be seen.
The birds have a metallic bronze colored plumage with a long neck, a brown bill subtly marked with red along the mouthline, and short brown-orange legs. The cygnets (babies) are dark brown in appearance, becoming metallic bronze after the first year. They live in large shallow ponds and wide slowly rivers, but at one time they pretty much lived indigenously with elves for reason that where never understood. That of course has changed after the destruction of the rainforest. Whenever the swans are seen not in the water, they are seen fling in a V-shaped flock. Though they have taken up residence in the Great Northern Wilderness, during the winter months they fly back to Lopan and Phi.
The birds choose a mate for life. The females lay 2-6 eggs on average in a mound of plant material on a small home built island or floating platform. They also like abandoned beaver or muskrat lodges. They will use the same location for several years. The eggs incubate for 30-34 days. Both parents raise and protect the cygnets, only the female will incubate the eggs. The young after they hatch can swim within two days and can feed themselves in about two weeks. They reach the fledging state in about 3-4 months. The birds feed while swimming, sometimes un-ending to reach submerged food. Their diet is almost entirley aquatic plants. In winter, they may also eat grasses and grains in fields. The young feed on insects and small crustaceans along with plants at first, changing to a vegetation-based diet over the fist few months.
The meat of these birds is a delicacy, in fact dwarves used to celebrate great feast with these large birds (namely just to annoy the elves). But these birds are anything but defenseless. They have exceptional hearing, capable of hearing a pixie sneeze 150 feet (45.7 m) away. These noisy birds have a trumpet like honk which can be channeled into a conscentraded blast of sound that can smash a hole in a wall of stone or shatter the bones of a troll. Once one starts “honking” to attack, others will join in, causing a massive sound wave that will destroy anything that gets in the way. Males and females protect their cygnes with their lives, doing whatever they can to kill or drive the intruder away. At one time, they use to have this same protective nature for elves. In some regard it still there but no where near what it use to be.

Alignments: Considered anarchist, but scrupulous around elves.

Hit Points/S.D.C.: 6D6

P.P.E.: 2D6

Natural Abilities: Fly, swim 95%, dive and swim up to six feet (1.82 m) underwater, has insulated, water repellent feathers, superior hearing (can hear normal conversation at 360 feet (109 m) away, nearly impossible to sneak up upon or surprise attack, and sonic blast. Note: The birds are impervious to sonic blasts/attacks. They are also resistant to the effects of loud, damaging, or otherwise dangerous levels of sound; halving the penalties and damage.

Sonic Blast: Can be done twice in single melee round. Range: 100 feet (30.4 m), Damage: 2D6 point of damage and a 01-39% chance of temporarily deafening an opponent. Those with heighten sense of hearing (wolfen for example) are made temporarily deaf (1D4+2 melee rounds) automatically by this attack unless use protection for their ears to block or muffle the sound. A deafened individual is -2 on initiative and -4 to strike, parry, dodge, and have difficulty communicating and runs off balance (may trip and fall). If more then three swans uses their sonic blast simultaneously (fledging can use their sonic blast once a melee), this will produce a sonic wave. This sonic wave does 1D4x10 points of damage and everything within 100 feet (30.45 m) that is smaller then a 14 foot (4.26m) troll has 01-50% chance of being knocked off its feet and blasted backwards 2D6 feet (0.6 to 3.6 m). Getting knocked off ones feet causes the victim to lose initiative and one melee attack. Unless protective means are taken, all in the blast range will be rendered temporarily dead. The sonic blast has a +3 to strike, while the sonic wave has a +6 to strike.

Speed: 33 (23 mph/37.1 km) flying or 5 running.

Attacks Per Melee: Three

Damage: Bite does 1 point of damage, they charge at opponents hoping to frighten them off (HF 5). However, if they perform a sonic blast first, this becomes a HF of 12 or 16 if more than 3 come charging.

Bonuses: +7 on initiative, +1 to strike, +6 to dodge, and +8 to save vs. Horror Factor.

Magic: None

Psionics: None.

Value: Their meat is worth 100 gold. Eggs fetch about 600 gold.

Average Life Span: 15-20 years.

Habitat: Almost anywhere near Water

Range: The islands of Lopan and Phi, the southern parts of the Great Northern Wilderness and the northern part of Old Kingdom (up to the mountains) and the Eastern Territory (only 10-15 miles away from the Inland Sea).

Language: None.

Enemies: They are preyed upon by all sorts of animals, must of which are driven away or killed. They absolutely detest dwarves (they attack them on site). They are very territorial about their nest and anyone coming near their young.

Allies: Elves and the only creatures who can approach their nest without being attacked. If they touch the young, they will be attacked. Adult swans are comfortable enough to let elves come near them, unless the elf looks as if he or she might do something threatening.

Size: 4 ¾ to 5 ¼ feet (57-64 cm) for males, with a wingspan of 7 feet (2.13 feet). Females are 4 ½ to 5 feet (139-150 cm) with a wingspan of nearly 6 feet (1.82 m).

Weight: 26 lbs (11.8 kg) for males and 22 lbs (10 kg for females).

Note: During the days of the Baalogor Rainforest the males used to get six feet (183 cm) in length, with 10 foot (3 m) wingspans, and weigh 38 lbs (17.4 kg).