Monsters: The Phoenix

These beautiful, intelligent birds are often seen on the wing flying high through the skies. The Phoenix is about 15' long from beak to tail feather with a wingspan of more than 30'. Its beak is a deep bronze, which matches its eyes, while its feathers range in colors of bright scarlet to brilliant orange or yellow to crowns of gold and platinum along the tips of its feathers. There is a luster about the feathers that make them gleam in sunlight, giving the appearance that the bird is actually ablaze while it flies.

A Phoenix is not inclined to fighting and can easily avoid would be attackers with its quick flight, but if pressed into battle it can be a fearsome foe. If sorely pressed it can shake loose a cloud of burning dust-like sand from its feathers that stings the eyes, choking anyone breathing it and burning their skin. The Phoenix can use its mighty wings to steer the cloud of burning dust in any direction it wishes. This dust is merely a molting of their feathers, and so takes time for them to regenerate.

A Phoenix mates only once in its life. The male dies by self-immolation; that is spontaneously combusting after mating. This act serves to create a warm and secure nest for the single egg. The young Phoenix hatching from the egg inherits the knowledge of its dead parent, an act which passes from parent to child through the generations. Phoenix sometimes act as mounts for Elves. In this situation the Phoenix would only use its claw attacks to keep its rider from being harmed. It is believed that a Phoenix lives for thousands of years.