Planet Zar: Nexus

General

The Vykelian Cockatrice is a small species of avian familiar, originating from a sub-tropical climate. Its short wings are more useful for gliding than flying and it is primarily terrestrial in nature. Cockatrice feed primarily on small birds, rodents, and lizards, but are known to accept carrion.

Cockatrice are solitary by nature and will attack other cockatrice on sight.

Temperament

Vykelian Cockatrice are nasty, mean-tempered, ornery birds who are fiercely territorial. They bond strongly to a single owner and won't tolerate being touched by anyone else. It takes a great deal of training to get a cockatrice comfortable enough around strangers that they won't attack on sight. With their bondmates they can show a variety of personalities, from regal and aloof to playful and cuddly, but all cockatrice are proud and difficult to motivate.

Cockatrice have parrot-like intelligence and can sometimes learn to mimic sounds and voices. They aren't capable of proper language and can only understand simple phrases.

Reproduction & Development

Breeding is a difficult endeavor for a species as aggressive as the cockatrice. Males approach females with their tail fans displayed and wings held open. If a female is impressed with him, she'll attack him. Fights are often quite vicious and bloody, but if a pair are evenly matched, a female will accept the male's advances.

Eggs are large, hard-shelled, and carefully guarded. Clutches typically consist of 1-3 eggs, and females raise their clutches on their own.

The paralyzing stare the cockatrice is known for is even more pronounced in hatchlings. Hatchlings can paralyze a target for up to 30 minutes. This is their prime defense mechanism against predators. The duration of this ability fades until the cockatrice reaches maturity.

Abilities

Poison Immunity: cannot be harmed by poisons, toxins, or venom of any sort.

Paralyzing Stare: can paralyze a victim by stare alone, paralysis lasts for up to 30 seconds.

Fire Breath: breathing fire, in short, condensed bursts. This takes a great deal of energy and cockatrice have limited reserves of fire breathing gases that need to be replenished with rest and nutrients