The physique will show in the punches

Zephyrus is an Argentavis Magnificens, one of the largest flighted birds to ever exist. With a wingspan of 258" (21'6") and a standing height of 71"+ inches tall as a grown adult, he will capable of engulfing even the largest of wolves beneath his wings. He will grow to weigh a heavy 150lbs, a 'light' build for others of his [extinct] species.

It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds

The vast majority of the feathers that make up his body are a rich charcoal, though in places the dark peels away into a sort of spotted mottling mixed with grey. These spots are visible upon his face, his throat, his tail feathers and wingtips, his underbelly, and upon the underside of his wings. Sparse bits of flat grey feathers also adorn the crown of his head where they show up amongst the various shades of blue that make up his accents.

Blues appear throughout his body upon the tips of his talons, his beak, and again upon the primaries of his wing where the shades gradient and become mottled. The last color to appear upon him is a brilliant stark white, framing his face and running down along his shoulders and appearing once more on his secondary feathers.

An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language

Zephyrus' eyes are a bright and vibrant cyan, matching both the brightest of his plumage accents and the rim of his beak.

A good fragrance should have a certain personality that makes people identify the scent with you

Probably oceany and salty/sea-sidey with a hint of fireplace.

Scars show toughness: that you've been through it, and you're still standing

None currently. appearance

Playful - Jokester - Carefree

Freedom (n.): To ask nothing. To expect nothing. To depend on nothing.

A side effect of being abandoned as an egg and raised by a species that is not your own, Zephyrus attempts with all his heart to be an independent and free bird. Relying upon others is a somewhat frightening concept to him, and though he'd never admit it one of his greatest fears is to find himself dependent upon another who abandons him as he assumes his birth parents did.

Laughter is the best medicine - unless you're diabetic, then insulin comes pretty high on the list.

A firm believer in that a day without laughter is a day wasted, Zephyrus is a bird who will take advantage of every and all opportunities for playfulness and pranks. He takes few things seriously, and until he suffers true consequences for his actions he will simply continue to play again and again regardless of who he may be bothering or what threats they may issue. It is extremely likely that he will extend this throughout all of Boreas, attempting to take advantage of his flight to get away without consequence after dropping a skunk bomb onto a formal pack meeting or air lifting a straggling pup onto the canopy of a tree.

As is our confidence, so is our capacity.

Without an unhealthy dose of confidence surely an incessant prankster would find pause or uncertainty in his actions, and thus Zephyrus will grow to develop as high of a level of confidence as the mountain peaks he can fly. To assist in this he will likely become a skilled fighter, capable of defending himself should someone not take well to one of his many pranks.

When people show loyalty to you, you take care of those who are with you. It's how it goes with everything. If you have a small circle of friends, and one of those friends doesn't stay loyal to you, they don't stay your friend for very long.

While one could not call Zephyrus chivalrous or knightly, he does have the redeeming virtue of unshakeable loyalty to those who manage to earn his friendship. It's likely that very few creatures would earn from him the label of 'bestie', but to those who do there is little this massive bird would not do for you. However betrayal to him is the ultimate sin, and Zephyr does not give second chances to those who hurt him no matter how slight the treachery may be.

Assumptions and Facts

IC Assumptions

Current Age: 1 year
Den Site: Goose Room of the Hallows
Habits: While full grown and too big now to sleep inside unlit fireplaces, Zephyr has maintained his love of warmth and fire. He gravitates to wherever the castle is warmest, and is miserable in even the mildest of cold weather.
Loves food. He has grown out of screaming at wolves to request more, but will still follow around cooks and hunters to beg for scraps.
Fully capable now of flight, can often be seen taking off from the castle balconies and enjoying short flights around the territories.
Will be taking summers in Boreas, to avoid the rainy season of Auster.

OOC Facts

[Sourced from various resources of argentavis', condors, vultures, and other similar families/sizes/etc of birds]
- Expected to be independent after approximately 16 months, though remained with their parents longer (2-3+ years?)
- Full sexual maturity at about 5 years.
- Lifespan of anywhere from 60-100 years.
- For 'balance' reasons, RK has decided that because his beak is eagle-like, he does not have the exceptional ability to smell that vultures have. His nose is approximately as sensitive as a human, and pales in comparison to his wolf friends and family. He is not capable of noticing scent borders, though does make an effort to learn the visual border of a pack to not trespass.
- For even more 'balance' reasons, RK has reasoned that Zephyrus will be capable of short flapping flight as an adult as well as stationary take-offs. This is against what science presumes (but we don't know for sure, because we haven't even found a sternum to estimate flapping strength) but the alternative makes him wildly unfair to fight against. Nobody is going to enjoy fighting a bird who dive bomb attacks, lifts off, flies up, and does it again - but realistically that would be his only chance against a wolf, if he was incapable of 'hovering' in front of one to attack with his beak and talons. I am helping to reason this by strengthening him IC through 'weight' training, as well as by mutating him to have denser and stronger bones (which, science says actually helps flight, somehow.)

personality

Possessions / Companions / Mutations

Primary Offensive Accessory - A pair of sharpened steel 'battle claws' that attaches to the talon and claw with two hoops, allowing it to flex with the talon's movement. Supported with leather that runs across the top of the talon and onto the leg. Silver, blue and black.

Alternate Offensive Accessory - A pair of sharpened steel swords, modified in design for ease of avian use. Rather than a traditional hilt, the swords are attached to a sort of protective gauntlet that the talon slips through, with a horizontal rod to grip. Silver, blue and black.

Defensive Accessory - Leather face shield reinforced with steel around the eyes for extra protection, with an opening for his beak to fit through. Silver, blue and black.

Mutation 1 - Zephyrus' contour feathers shafts and barbs are thicker and heavier than usual, giving them more resistance to damage.

Mutation 2 - Zephyrus bones are reinforced and more dense, while still pneumatized as a normal birds are. This offers him more resistance to a potential crushing (or severing) bite from any angry wolves or predators, as well as making him more powerful in flight.

Mutation 3 - Zephyrus' talons are encased in extra layers of sheeted keratin, much like the hooves of a deer, making them stronger, sharper, and more resistant to damage.

Large Accessory - A grey messenger style bag Zephyrus uses to carry various trinkets. Anything from herbs to snacks may be found within, and if asked very nicely (and there is something in it for him) he may even be willing to use it to play messenger bird.

Large Companion - A 50" long male cottonmouth snake named Wraith. He is leucistic with black eyes. As all pit vipers, Wraith has infrared vision, but he has been mutated to enhance the sensitivity of his pit gland to allow for him to 'see' heat signatures at further range. He is working with Zephyrus to hone this skill for search & rescue as well as hunting.

Large Companion - a 11" tall male honey badger named Thor, who has been reluctantly domesticated. He is spiteful, aggressive and anti-social, but has managed to bond with Zeph over their shared love of food. His role in the group is mostly as fury and protection and keeping away large predators. Closely bonded to Frigg, the binturong and honey badger pair grew up together and were found by Zephyrus as travelling companions.

Large Companion - a 25" tall binturong female named Frigg. She is a much gentler soul than her honey badger companion. Frigg is protective, generous, and thoughtful, with experience in basic healing. Her mutated paws are more dexterous then others of her kin, allowing for her to perform basic first aid and crafting with ease. Closely bonded to Thor, the binturong and honey badger pair grew up together and were found by Zephyrus as travelling companions.

misc