Phoera

Phoera are bird-like creatures connected to elemental fire , that each share a soul with a humanoid being known as a phoelarch . Whenever a phoera dies the phoelarch tied to it shows up to exact revenge, and vice versa. [1]

Description

Phoera are covered in a beautiful plumage of red and gold. They have wickedly hooked beaks and talons. Their long tail feathers stream behind them as they fly, leaving a shimmering of heat in their wake. On average, from the tip of their tail to their beak a phoera measures 7 feet (2.1 meters) in length and weighs around 250 lb (110 kg). [2]

Behavior

Phoeras have some degree of intelligence beyond that of a simple beast, but lack any desire to form communities. [3] Though they are very territorial and will not hesitate to set their home's ablaze to keep them out of the hands of intruders. [2]

Generally, phoera will not willingly risk their lives, [2] but these creatures are vicious combatants when angered. They only have a vague sense of the personality and emotions of the phoelarch tied to them. [1]

Abilities

Phoeras are impervious to harm from fire, [2] their bodies instead being healed by it. [4] Though they are vulnerable to cold-based spells and abilities. [2]

Phoera can generate so much heat that touching them will burn a creature. And swipes of their claws, as well as bites of their beak, can cause burning. [4] In addition, three times per day they can breath a gout of flame. [2]

When killed, a phoelarch explodes, sending flames flying outward. In the wake of their death, all that's left is ash and a chrysalis in the form of a small, black glass egg roughly 6 inches (0.15 meters) across. [5] These eggs radiate a faint transmutation magic , but otherwise have no magical properties. [2]

Phoera cannot be raised by any means, though their ash and chrysalis can be used to resurrect them. Casting ' gentle repose or a similar spell on their chrysalis will stop it from hatching. Otherwise, after 24 hours have passed, the egg hatches and a fully grown phoera emerges. [5] This phoera is an entirely new creature, possessing none of the old one's memories. [2] [note 1] Once hatched, the only way to bring the previous phoera back to life was by using the spells miracle or wish in conjunction with some resurrection effect. [4]

The ability of phoeras to rise from the ashes like a phoenix seems tied to the phoelarch they share a soul with, meaning that if they did before their phoelarch can return to life they will likely remain dead. [1] Strangely, phoera seem to have no knowledge of their resurrection ability. [2]

Combat

These creatures will claw at their enemies with their burning beak and talons [4] or hit them with their burning feathers. [1] They rely on the attrition of their burning attacks to weaken their enemies in hopes of driving them off. [2]

Variants

There exist many elemental variants of the phoera that go by different names. One of these known variants is called vazalka , who have ties to elemental ice and creatures known as vazalkyons . They are typically found in Risia . [4]

Ecology

Phoera are typically seen flying either solitarily or in flocks. [3]

Some phoera are born from chrysalises left behind when a phoelarch died. [2]

Diet

Phoera prey on small mammals, tending to shy away from larger beasts. [2]

Habitats

These creatures are native to the Elemental Chaos [1] and the plane of Fernia . [6] On the Prime Material plane, their most preferred environment is temperate forests. [2]

Rumors & Legends

Many believe that these creatures might have some relation to the legendary phoenixes. [3]

Appendix

Notes

  1. Technically Monster Manual III does not state that a hatched phoera has no memories of its previous life, only that those hatched from the chrysalises of phoelarchs do. However, the way that the "Rise From the Ashes" ability is written on page 123 strongly implies that the phoera hatched from the chrysalis is a separate creature.

References