Sea gull

Sea gulls, also known as gulls, were a mundane species of seabird found in the Realms.

Description
These birds measured around in length, from beak to tail, and had wingspans of. Their feathers were typically white, though some had a black coloration.

Abilities
Gulls were skilled at flying long distances over water, but were not that agile. They were capable of swimming, but only on the surface level of water.

History
In the mid–14 century DR, a Cormyrean freesailor by the name of Dalvar Corzon worked to domesticate many of the sea gulls that inhabited the coast of Cormyr and carefully train them to carry messages, much like the carrier pigeons that were used in Waterdeep. He only had limited success in this endeavor, though some of his sea gulls managed to deliver messages that proved critical to Cormyr's success during the Time of Troubles of 1358 DR and the Horde War of 1360 DR.

Sub-Species

 * Calathra: A species of seagull that was indigenous to the Arnaden region. This species was larger than other gulls, being the size of geese, but much like the typical gull they were born with gray and white feathers. However, over time their feathers took on a green tinge due to their time spent in the Lake of Steam.
 * Gullion: A species of seagull that had adapted to life in Wildspace.

Diet
Sea gulls ate a wide variety of food including carrion, fish, snails, worms, and even some vegetables like turnips, though their most preferred food was fish.

Habitats
These birds were typically found inhabiting areas within of any coastline and near any inland body of water. In the Trackless Sea, they were prevalent on the Nelanther Isles. And in the Sea of Fallen Stars, particularly large sea gulls could be found around the isle of Sumbar.

In north Faerûn, these birds could be found around the coastal cities of Tantras and Ravens Bluff, as well as Harrowdale's small set of islands calld the Shoulder. However, they were largely absent from Ravens Bluff's Mortonbrace neighborhood, owing to the area's very territorial ravens.

In west and north Faerûn, sea gulls could typically be found at any port along the normally temperate Sword Coast, such as Waterdeep and Neverwinter. They could also be found around the coast of Cormyr. In Waterdeep they were rather scarce beyond the outer harbor due to local predators. They often nested on a cliff near the city, eventually becoming its namesake&mdash;Gull Leap. Further north, they could be encountered around the Great Glacier.

In Kara-Tur, these birds could be found in the region of Wa, such as around the Paikai islands.

Beyond the Prime Material plane, sea gulls could be found in the Domains of Dread, particularly in Draga Salt-Biter's domain of Saragoss. They could also be found in the plane of Acheron.

Relationships
Sea gulls were favored animals of the Untheric deity Ramman, as well as the Faerûnian powers Shaundakul and Valkur. Shaundakul was known to send gulls to guide or aid his faithful. And Valkur specialty priests, stormharbors, often had a sea gull design embroidered on their outfits with gold thread in the belief that it would bring them good luck.

The inhabitants of the Paikai islands believed these birds to be representatives of the souls of the dead. They held an annual ceremony, called the Festival of Seagulls, in which they would leave out plates of raw meat for them.

In the Shutters, one of the neighborhoods of Ravens Bluff's Crow's End District, impoverished children would often try to kill any sea gulls that swooped down by throwing sticks and stones at them. They would then bring the bird back to their homes to be made into food.

In the Great Glacier region, they were one of the many staple birds in the diet of Iulutiuns. And the inhabitants of Cragmyr would also supplement the chickens they raised by slinging down gulls.

Some aquatic rangers were known to have gulls as animal companions. Mages that practiced sea magic often had them as familiars and used them as targets for the spell animal messenger. Those summoned by the spell find familiar typically had black feathers and were in the larger range of size.

Usages
The feather of a seagull was used as a material component in the spell gullship.

Trivia

 * Seagulls were one of many common species of bird that made warriors in Hlondeth uneasy.
 * Any humanoid that sat on the magical granite throne inside Dangwaru could transform themselves into a sea gull for a period of eight hours.
 * The staff of birdcalls allowed its wielder to mimic the call of a seagull.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Dungeon #48, "The Oracle at Sumbar" • Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
 * Desert of Desolation
 * Novels
 * The Ring of Winter • Mortal Consequences • The Sapphire Crescent
 * Video Games
 * Neverwinter Nights: Pirates of the Sword Coast • Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford • Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms • Neverwinter Nights: Tyrants of the Moonsea
 * Board Games
 * Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Begins
 * Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Begins