The Island of Akaru

        This warm, windy island is the closest point to the mainland, covered in rolling green hills and light patches of rainforest. The island is home to one of the smaller tribes of lutrai, a community called Morningside. The island is extremely windy and slightly cooler than those of the interior, home to many species of birds. There are also a variety of dinosaurian species, most lean, ostritch-like runners that hunt the plains or graze from the light patches of forest. Most are benign, but some have been known to attack lone travelers when pickings are slim. The wide plains of the north island face are exceptionally fertile, and the lutrai here have created large natural orchards near the oceanside. The have also learned to harness the power of the wind to some extent, building small windmills with decoratively painted blades. These are most often used to grind minerals into paint powder, or crush coarse seeds into flour, but some are just for decoration.

        Further into the island's interior is a massive slab of rocky cliff that rises from the light rainforest like a fortress. Hundreds of different avian species make their homes here, coming from all over Rym to surround their queen in a gaudy, fluttering court. This is the domain of the phoenix, Quixl, a rainbow-feathered avian easily as large as any ancient dragon. She is one of Kij's avatars, or was, before being struck down during the Twilight War. As life gradually returned in the wake of this cataclysm, so too did Quixl, though only with a shade of her former power. The lutrai of Morningside worship her for what she is, an envoy of the sun goddess herself.

The Phoenix

        For centuries, Quixl has been cooped up in her rocky aerie, relying on her far-traveling subjects to keep in touch with the outside world. She fears Nigh, whose weapons first struck her down, and so poioned her as to prevent her resurrection. Only after this corruptive energy faded did she return to life, greatly weakened. Quixl is one of the so-called Shining Beasts, an elemental fusion of fire and life energy that takes the shape of an immense raptor. When angered, she ignites into incandescent, rainbow-hued flames that heal the living and anihilate the dead - were she at full strength, she would pose a serious threat to the Spiral. Quixl is wholly immune to elemental magic, which only serves to heal the fabric of her blazing form.

        Quixl has been poisoned by radiation, and while this energy cannot kill her, it has made her somewhat frail. The phoenix is extremely wary of outsiders, especially Machines, which she will generally attempt to destroy on sight. Quixl is very intelligent and capable of speaking any language, but typically avoids contact with mortals if she can, delivering messages and spying with her flocks of brightly-colored followers. Every pirate with a parrot on his shoulder, every magician with a raven familiar, every kingly falconer, all are loyal to Quixl in one way or another. The phoenix tires quickly, and thus doesn't get out to fly much. This has dulled her colors some, and made her somewhat tempermental as well. She doesn't like being forced to hide, and will lament to this effect at great length.

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