Parrots, or "pair-rots", as eloquently put by Volothamp Geddarm,[14] was a collective name given to a variety of exotic brightly colored, sometimes talking, birds native to south Faerûn,[9] Maztica,[6] and as far as Malatra[2] and Kara-Tur.[13]
Description[]
A parrot demonstrating its strong wings and dexterous talons.
Parrots varied in size but most had brightly colored plumage, of brilliant greens,[15] reds, golds,[16][7] and blues,[17] with large strong wings and sharp talons and beaks.[6]
Abilities[]
Parrots' four-toed claws allowed them to hold and use relatively small or light magic items, such as rings, wands, or other enchanted knickknacks. This, along with their ability to speak or parrot languages, made them a popular creature to be domesticated, trained, or made into a familiar.[18]
Ecology[]
Maztican parrots included numerous species of brightly colored birds and were abundant in most regions of the continent, including Payit and Palul.[16] Parrots were trained, as well as hunted for their meat and plumage, which was used in Maztican pluma magic and pluma weaving. Maztican humans used snares to capture birds with their precious feathers undamaged.[7][19]
Smaller species of yellow-feathered parrots inhabited the hot lands of Thay, nesting around the rivers in willow trees of the First Escarpment.[9] Halruaa was home to several species of parrots, most capable of imitation of human speech, and even intelligent birds were somewhat common. One notable species had almost floral-patterned plumage of pinks and yellows and was intelligent; these were sometimes used as messenger birds by the nation's wizards.[10]
Further south, red-plumed parrots could be found on the Malatran Plateau,[2] along with their smaller multi-colored cousins.[20] And the Katakoro Plateau of the Hordelands to the east was home to a species of parrot.[12]
Parrots were among the many creatures that could be bonded with by many wizards and all half-elves as their familiar creature,[21] while pirates of the Nelanther Isles[22] and the Sea of Fallen Stars often trained pet parrots as companions.[23]
Usages[]
Barbarians of the southern lands sometimes used parrot feathers as decorations. The quills from parrots could also be fashioned into good hairpins,[24] and colorful parrot feathers could be sold as a commodity in the lands where these birds were exotic. Each feather could be valued at one to four silver coins there.[25] Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue sold parrot feathers in its Tailor's Corner section for three silver pieces per feather.[26]
Parrot feathers also could be used in fletching, making good-quality arrows.[27][28]
History[]
Polly, the stuffed bird of Torleth's Treasures in Gillian's Hill.
Aliah, the famously beautiful princess of Payit in Maztica, wore a cascading floating cape of blue, green, and red parrot feathers during the marriage ceremony to her half-brother, Xetl. The wedding ended in tragedy, and her death signaled the end of the Golden Age of Payit.[17]
During his venture to Samarach in the Year of Lightning Storms, 1374 DR, famed author Volo sought to purchase an exotic creature known as "pair-rots". He was unable to acquire one from the town's markets after being barred entry following a "misunderstanding" over something he called "powdered beard of Elminster". Volo loved the idea of a talking pet and thought it would make a grand companion.[14]
Notable Species[]
- Macaw, big, bright, and loud parrots found in Dambrath, Calim Empire, and Maztica.[5][29][11]
- Parakeet, small yellow-feathered boisterous bird found in the Malatran Plateau[30] and Zakhara.[31]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Video Games
Board Games
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 BioWare (June 2005). Designed by Keith Hayward, Rob Bartel. Neverwinter Nights: Pirates of the Sword Coast. Atari.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Jean Rabe, David Krolnik (August 1998). Masks of the Dohi-ri. Living Jungle (RPGA), pp. 4, 9.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd and Kate Novak (May 1996). “Forgotten Deities: Finder Wyvernspur”. In Scott Douglas ed. Polyhedron #119 (TSR, Inc.), p. 22.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (August 1991). “Gods & Battles”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 32. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Douglas Niles (August 1991). “Maztica Alive”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 24. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Douglas Niles (1990). Viperhand. (TSR, Inc), chap. 5, p. 83. ISBN 0-88038-907-9.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Douglas Niles (1990). Ironhelm. (TSR, Inc), chap. 1, p. 14. ISBN 0-8803-8903-6.
- ↑ Tom Prusa (December 1999). The Courage of a Coward. Living Jungle (RPGA), pp. 10, 13.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Jean Rabe (December 1991). Red Magic. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 4. ISBN 1-56076-118-0.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Elaine Cunningham (April 2001). The Floodgate. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 1. ISBN 0-7869-1818-7.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Clayton Emery (January 1999). Star of Cursrah. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 3. ISBN 0-7869-1322-3.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Curtis M. Scott (1991). Horde Campaign. (TSR, Inc), p. 118. ISBN 1-56076-130-X.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Rick Swan (July 1990). Monstrous Compendium Kara-Tur Appendix. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-851-X.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Obsidian Entertainment (November 2008). Designed by Tony Evans. Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir. Atari.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (1990). Viperhand. (TSR, Inc), chap. 2, p. 26. ISBN 0-88038-907-9.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Douglas Niles (1990). Viperhand. (TSR, Inc), chap. 6, p. 103. ISBN 0-88038-907-9.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), pp. 15–17. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ Steve Kenson (February 2001). “A Little More Familiar”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #280 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 42.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 53. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ Tom Prusa, Stephen H. Jay (September 2000). Come the Tiger. Living Jungle (RPGA), p. 4.
- ↑ Lynn Abbey (September 2000). The Nether Scroll. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 6. ISBN 0-7869-1566-8.
- ↑ BioWare (June 2005). Designed by Keith Hayward, Rob Bartel. Neverwinter Nights: Pirates of the Sword Coast. Atari.
- ↑ Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 19. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ Rick Swan (1995). The Complete Barbarian's Handbook. (TSR, Inc), p. 87. ISBN 0-7869-0090-3.
- ↑ Rick Swan (1995). The Complete Barbarian's Handbook. (TSR, Inc), p. 122. ISBN 0-7869-0090-3.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 76. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 61. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
- ↑ Jean Rabe, Norm Ritchie (Feburary 1994). The Ruins of Undermountain II: The Deep Levels (Campaign Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 106. ISBN 1-5607-6821-5.
- ↑ Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 96. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
- ↑ Linda Baldwin (October 1998). On the Lookout!. Living Jungle (RPGA), p. 3.
- ↑ Paul Culotta (May/June 1994). “The Assassin Within”. In Barbara G. Young ed. Dungeon #47 (TSR, Inc.) (47)., p. 64.