Rocs
By Owl
Singular - Roc
Plural - Rocs Group - Wing of Rocs Communication - Mindspeech Size Ranges – Horse to Small Dragon Colorations – Any Naming Convention -- None but may disdain overly simplistic names Earliest Age of Bonding: Upon Hatching |
General Information
No one quite knows how Rocs came into existence, in large part because they predate the arrival of humanoids to Teragaia. When the very first dragonriders fumbled their way to what would become Haven Weyr, they found Rocs waiting for them. Initially the avian elemental spirits were treated with a degree of suspicion, especially by dragonriders half-afraid their lifemates might become roc chow. It took decades for rocs to earn the newly-arrived riders’ trust, and decades more to earn their place among the families of Teragaians. Nowadays rocs are commonplace, bonding as often and as easily as any other Teragaian species. Rocs are perhaps best described as avian elemental spirits. Massive in both size and scope, the very smallest rocs stand as tall as a horse, while particularly large specimens outstrip some small dragon lords. Their wings are enormous, anywhere from fifteen to fifty feet in length, and flare with evidence of the element each roc embodies. While rocs are inevitably avian in shape, their precise form is highly variable. The vast majority resemble birds of prey, though songbirds, scavenging birds and even flightless birds have cropped up on occasion. Specific elements- for each roc embodies an element, the type of which determines their rank in roc society- are loosely associated with specific forms, though this is by no means a hard and fast rule. Likewise, a roc’s colors and patterns are entirely decoupled from their elements; any roc can come in any color, pattern, or combination thereof. All rocs are capable of wielding the magic associated with their element, though skill level varies widely between individuals. Additionally, all rocs are able to ‘step into’ patches of their element, reemerging at another patch of their choosing almost instantaneously. (EG, a Mist could dive into a lake and reemerge from the ocean.) This ability extends to any living being in contact with the roc when they ‘sidestep’. Each rank of roc is associated with a few specific character traits, but these are guidelines more than the gospel truth. All rocs are capable of fluent mind-speech and image projection. Mating Information A roc in search of a mate will make for the highest point in the weyr, calling out for attention all the while. Once an appropriate number of potential suitors have gathered the chase leader takes to the skies, flying as high and as fast as their wings will bear them. Suitors then take off in hot pursuit, often incorporating feats of acrobatics or aggression into their flight. Attrition, altitude and exhaustion typically thin numbers quite quickly, leaving the chase leader to choose from the very best of the best. The two then lock talons and spiral down to earth. The only exception to this rule are flightless rocs, who typically mate following a chase over rough terrain. Any gender, rank or type of roc can start a chase. Likewise, suitors may be of any shape, sex or rank. Bonding Information Any female roc is capable of laying viable eggs after mating, the number of which can vary from three to fifteen. Said eggs are typically laid in remote eyries far from civilization, the precise type of which varies according to the parents’ elements. Hatchlings break shell fully feathered and ambulatory after a two-month incubation period. They are capable of bonding immediately, though many individuals choose to wait until after their first hatchday to choose a bond. Rocs are relatively egalitarian in their bonds, choosing whomever they believe will most interest, challenge, or complement them. Rocs have no specific naming conventions, though many express disdain for inappropriately simplistic names. Ranks Thunder 5* Theoretically speaking Thunders are no more or less rare than any other Roc. After all, they hatch every bit as often as more common ranks. The problem is, few of them survive to adulthood, and fewer still deign to accept a bondmate. Thunders are the most volatile of all rocs, reckless and combative and entirely too quick to jump into the fray no matter how the odds are stacked against them. When they aren’t actively looking for trouble they’re isolationist to the extreme, all but obsessed with freedom of mind and body alike. It ought to come as no surprise, then, that Thunders tend towards arrogance and elitism they do not hesitate to express. They are the Thunderbirds of legend, after all, their names whispered in tones of reverence, and they’re not about to let you forget their noble heritage. Those who manage to ‘tame’ a Thunder will find a deep well of protectiveness beneath their prickly exterior. Stranger still, Thunders seem to just know things they have no right to. Need to know about that strange tribe in the jungle, or what percentage of lead to use in your next soldering project? Ask a Thunder. No roc knows more about culture, about technology, or about the great beyond. Thunders almost inevitably assume predatory forms, especially those that are somehow intimidating or unnerving. Their feathers tend to stand out at odd angles, alive with the same electricity that crackles and snaps from their wings. Day 3* If Thunders are conflict given physical form, Days are peacetime embodied. They’re gentle, they’re warm, they’re caring and courteous and terribly civil- and when roused to ire they burn with all the ferocity of the desert sun. Days are thus creatures of carefully-controlled extremes. Some prefer their role as teachers and nurturers, gladly sharing their vast knowledge of horticulture, agriculture, crafting and caring. Particularly ancient Days have become a sort of living library, safeguarding the collected knowledge of whole societies in their eidetic memories. Others take their knowledge of history and law and wield it as a weapon. These militant Days can be powerful forces for good, but they are neither comfortable nor comforting guardians. In fact, many of them stray into ‘zealot’ territory, acting as judge, jury and executioner outside the purvey of the law. These two polarized roles cause considerable strain between individual Days, who rarely consent to share a bondmate with another of their rank. There’s something inherently cuddly about Days, and it can’t all be attributed to the gentle glow they emit during daylight hours. They’re the most likely of all ranks to take an insectivorous or herbivorous form. Regardless of apparent species Days tend towards rounded bodies and softened edges. Days are almost exclusively diurnal and tend to become lethargic after sundown. Night 3* Night rocs have an unfortunate reputation, and no one can quite decide whether or not it’s warranted. As their element might suggest, Nights are connected to all things unknown or unseen. They are masters of the arcane and the occult, safekeeping knowledge deemed too dangerous or unseemly for public consumption. Prominent among this hoard of information are burial rituals, for Nights are closely associated with disease, despair and death. These factors combined with Nights’ tendency towards social awkwardness has made them a rank of pariahs. They tend towards solemnity and loneliness, and typically cling tightly to the few friends they make. When they love, they love fiercely, and are among the most likely of Rocs to commit themselves to a single mate. Nights make surprisingly good educators, for they are at their most eloquent when expounding on topics they find interesting. It goes almost without saying, then, that Nights are terribly curious creatures. Just... try not to take offense when they un-subtly try to pry information out of you. It’s in their nature to be curious, you see, and Nights rarely have anything even remotely resembling social skills. Something about Night rocs is painfully, perennially underfed. They tend towards shabbiness and scrawniness, something the liquid shadow dripping from their pinions does nothing to alleviate. As with the other rare ranks, Nights tend towards atypical forms, often taking the form of scavenging or predatory birds. As befits their rank, Nights are almost wholly nocturnal and actively avoid direct sunlight. Flame 1* The first of the common Rocs, Flames are every bit as fierce as their names would imply. Everything they do they is done with a single-minded sort of intensity that many find overwhelming. They live hard and fast and fully, utterly unafraid to leap first and look later, if indeed they look at all. Alas, this all-or-nothing attitude applies to interpersonal relationships as often as it does to activities. Flames can be capricious and unpredictable, as liable to jump to your defense as they are to throw you under the bus. Famed for their tempers, Flames are equally infamous for incredible destructive capability. It usually doesn’t take much to set them off, and once their fuse is lit, the inevitable explosion can be devastating. Despite this, Flames tend to be among the most creative of Rocs. They think in right angles and intersections, often coming to conclusions that make perfect sense in hindsight but would never occur to other ranks. Perennially scornful of tradition, they instead choose to blaze their own trail, and often drag everyone else along for the ride. Flames make surprisingly good leaders, provided you can handle their unpredictability, and have an uncanny knack for working together in teams. Individually they’re strong, sure, but together? A group of Flames is nigh unstoppable. ...then again, given just how gullible they can be, that may not be a good thing. Never underestimate the stupidity of Flames in large numbers. Typically of average height and heft, Flames are generally physically unremarkable, provided you ignore the flames burning along the edges of their flight feathers. They take almost exclusively predatory forms. Mist 1* ‘Indistinct’ seems a strange word to describe a several-story bird. Mist rocs, however, are precisely that. They’re studies in mystery and misdirection, all too happy to keep their secrets and their silence. Perhaps the quietest of all rocs, they spend a positively inordinate amount of time watching, and they forget little of what they see. Unfortunately for Teragaia, a Mist’s watchfulness often comes paired with a certain callous vindictiveness. Oh, they won’t throw down the gauntlet and demand a duel. That’s far too easy. They’ll just whisper the right words in the right ears to make you a laughingstock. It goes without saying, then, that Mists can be manipulative creatures, and that they’re rarely concerned with ideas as petty as mere morality. Like scientists and despots the world around, they’re often too absorbed in asking whether they can to question whether they should. Worse yet, Mists cannot and will not be coerced. While rarely prone to outright violence, they tend to lash out when they feel they’re being manipulated. That’s their job, after all, and they take umbrage at anyone else ‘stealing’ what’s rightfully theirs. Perhaps to make up for these decidedly negative traits, Mists are also remarkably open to suggestion. If they see merit in a suggestion, they’ll act on it. Sometimes they’ll even share the credit and the spotlight with whomever offered it up in the first place. With enough patience and hard work even these reticent creatures can be shaped into model citizens, and once their loyalty is earned, the odds will ever be in your favor. Another terribly average rank, Mists are middlemen in every sense of the word. They’re not too large, they’re not too small, and barring the plumes of mist trailing from their wings they tend to be quite plain. Mists are the most likely of all rocs to take the form of a diving birds. Dust 1* ‘Meddle not in the affairs of Dusts, for they are subtle and quick to anger.’ That phrase is bandied about the weyr on a daily basis, and there’s more than a grain of truth to it. Dusts, you see, have mastered the fine art of maintaining a dispassionate facade. They’re perhaps the most controlled of all Rocs, able to chain their emotions and think through situations that would send other ranks into a tizzy. That’s not to say they don’t feel- in fact they feel more intensely than most of their kin- but simply that they refuse to let emotion overthrow common sense. They’re a grounded bunch, Dusts are, logical and thoughtful and almost annoyingly adaptable. Few things are able to shake their unwavering acceptance of what is and what might be. Dusts tend towards stubbornness, though they prefer the term ‘loyalty’, and unflinchingly accept the consequences of their actions. That isn’t to say they apologize, though. After all, they’re Rocs, proud even for members of that noble species, and they often struggle to admit they were wrong. Perhaps the greediest of all Rocs, Dusts have an odd affinity for treasure, especially those wrought of metal or gemstones. They tend to ‘hoard’ their finds, too, though they won’t hesitate to dole out their wealth to those who genuinely need it. Family matters a great deal to many Dusts, as does unity, generosity and caring. What good does knowledge or wealth or love do if it isn’t shared? Among the physically largest of all rocs, Dusts tend towards blunt edges and solid, weighty bodies. They’re the most likely of all rocs to take a flightless form. Regardless of appearance, dust and chunks of stone are ever drifting down from the following edges of their wings. Breeze 1* Life may be the longest thing humans ever experience, but that doesn’t make it long. Doesn’t that mean you should spend every moment enjoying it? Breeze Rocs certainly seem to think so, and they’re so bloody earnest in their joy it’s hard to not agree with them. Among the most personable of all rocs, Breezes are almost universally happy creatures. They’re open and honest and terribly charismatic, perfectly capable of jumping into a crowd of strangers and emerging with a dozen new friends. On the other hand, it’s questionable whether they’ll actually keep any of those new friends. The unfortunate majority of Breezes are live wires in every sense of the term. Yes, they’re bouncy and fun and always up for an adventure, but they’re also distractible to the point of near-airheadedness. Most of them have more energy than sense. That tendency to jump in with both feet tends to get them (and those they care about) into a tremendous amount of trouble. The Breezes at fault are usually contrite, of course- bless their hearts, they really do mean well- but they simply can’t sit still. There’s too much to see, too much to do, and they’re just! So! Excited! To do it all! Be gentle with them, though, for Breezes tend to be sensitive souls. They’re empathetic and sympathetic and... sometimes a little pathetic, really, especially when their tempestuous emotions get the better of them. Opposite of their Dust kin, Breezes are the smallest of rocs. Thanks to their aerodynamic frames and sleek feathers, they’re also among the swiftest. All Breezes take flying forms, though the type varies wildly from individual to individual. |