Bondbirds are magically enhanced raptors and corvids that are native to Velgarth. They were originally created by the Kaled'a'in Clans in the era preceding the Mage Wars, along with the famous horses which would became the pride of the Shin'a'in. Bondbirds possess elevated intelligence compared to typical raptors and Mindspeech with their bonded. Thoughts are more often expressed as images and/or feelings rather than words, but bondbirds are capable of forming simple phrases-those with more intelligence are more capable at speaking with words.
"... their minds were something less than that of a very young child, perhaps a trifle superior to a cat, and it didn’t take much to distract them."[1]
They bond to the person of their choice telepathically for life, like Companions, but multiple birds may join to a single person, especially those derived from corvids. Birds may either choose to live wild or bond-- most prefer to bond. However, there are always more of the Bondbird breeds than there are Hawkbrothers, particularly the crows and ravens.[2]
A list of known bondbird pairings is available.
Origins[]
Long before the Mage Wars, Kaled'a'in healers and mages worked together to create the bondbirds. The changes in them were less subtle than those of the warhorses.
"The raptors had been given increased intelligence and curiosity, the ability to speak mind-to-mind with humans, and the ability to flock-bond to each other and the humans who raised them. To compensate for the increased mass of brain tissue, and to make them more effective as fighting partners, they were larger than their wild counterparts."[3]
At the time of the Sundering of the Clans, the bondbirds were considered to be 'unfinished,' unlike the battlesteeds. The Tayledras continue to perfect them into the modern-day.
Biology[]
A bondbird soaring over a vale by Larry Dixon
Bondbirds are mostly derived from raptors, and specially bred by the Tayledras. As a result, bondbirds bond only with those members of Tayledras clans or one who has been fully adopted into one.[4] In modern times, there are plenty of existing bondbird types, but some Tayledras still select a type of raptor/bird and work from there to cultivate it, using magic to build up factors such as size, intelligence, etc.
Unlike their raptor counterparts, bondbirds are much larger-from 3 up to 10 times so. They are also much smarter and are capable of cooperation-birds of different species that would kill each other in the wild get along well and even play together.
Snowfire k'Vala uses the term ye’dorkandan k’shulah in reference to bondbirds. This seems to refer to a grouping or community of bondbirds.
List of bondbird species[]
Raptors[]
- Forestgyre
- Red-shouldered hawk
- Crested Hawk-Eagle
- Short-Eared Eagle Owl
- Perlin
- Screech Owl
- Snowy Owl
Corvids[]
- Crow
- Raven
New species[]
- Crested Firebird - As of the present, Firesong's custom-created Aya is the only example of this type.
- Buzzard - Steelmind's Hakan is the only example currently.
Personality[]
Certain personality traits are considered to be typical of each species.
"The crows had the liveliest sense of humor. Ravens were more sardonic, most of the falcons tended to be quick-witted but extremely focused, hawks a little slower but more deliberate, and owls somewhat ponderous in their thinking."[5]
Notable bondbirds[]
Some notable bondbirds include:
- Asheena - bonded to Starwind k'Treva
- Aya - bonded to Firesong k'Treva
- Hakan - bonded to Steelmind k'Vala
- Huur - bonded to Snowfire k'Vala
- Hweel - bonded to Snowfire k'Vala
- Hyllarr - bonded to Starblade k'Sheyna
- Kuari - bonded to Darian Firkin k'Vala k'Valdemar
- Kyrr - bonded to Dawnfire K'Sheyna
- Vree - bonded to Darkwind k'Sheyna
A full list of known bondbird pairings is available.
References[]
- ↑ Magic's Pawn, Chapter Twelve
- ↑ The Hills Have Spies, Chapter Eight
- ↑ The Black Gryphon, Chapter Eight
- ↑ In an anthology story, "Of Crows and Karsites" by Kristin Schwengel, a bondbird crow chooses to bond with a Herald. Other characters from different miniseries, such as Sparrow and Liana, have an "affinity" for corvids, who appear to help them. Animal Mindspeaker Maia has a flock of crow friends.
- ↑ Owlknight, Chapter One