Sea gulls, also known as gulls, were a mundane species of seabird found in the Realms.
Description[]
These birds measured around 1.5 to 2 feet (0.46 to 0.61 meters) in length, from beak to tail, and had wingspans of 4 to 5.5 feet (1.2 to 1.7 meters). Their feathers were typically white, though some had a black coloration.[3]
Abilities[]
A gull squawks in Luskan
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.[3]
History[]
In the mid–14th 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.[4]
Sub-Species[]
- Calathra
- A species of seagull that was indigenous to the Arnaden region.[5] This species was larger than other gulls, being the size of geese,[6] 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.[5]
- Gullion
- A species of seagull that had adapted to life in Wildspace.
Ecology[]
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.[3]
Habitats[]
A greedy seagull in the harbors of Neverwinter.
These birds were typically found inhabiting areas within 50 miles (80,000 meters) of any coastline and near any inland body of water.[3] In the Trackless Sea, they were prevalent on the Nelanther Isles.[7] And in the Sea of Fallen Stars, particularly large sea gulls could be found around the isle of Sumbar.[8]
In north Faerûn, these birds could be found around the coastal cities of Tantras[9] and Ravens Bluff,[10] as well as Harrowdale's small set of islands calld the Shoulder.[11] However, they were largely absent from Ravens Bluff's Mortonbrace neighborhood, owing to the area's very territorial ravens.[12]
In west and north Faerûn, sea gulls could typically be found at any port along the normally temperate Sword Coast, such as Waterdeep[13] and Neverwinter.[14] They could also be found around the coast of Cormyr.[4] In Waterdeep they were rather scarce beyond the outer harbor due to local predators.[13] They often nested on a cliff near the city, eventually becoming its namesake—Gull Leap.[15] Further north, they could be encountered around the Great Glacier.[16]
In Kara-Tur, these birds could be found in the region of Wa, such as around the Paikai islands.[17]
Beyond the Prime Material plane, sea gulls could be found in the Domains of Dread, particularly in Draga Salt-Biter's domain of Saragoss.[18] They could also be found in the plane of Acheron.[19]
Relationships[]
Sea gulls were favored animals of the Untheric deity Ramman,[20] as well as the Faerûnian powers Shaundakul and Valkur.[21] Shaundakul was known to send gulls to guide or aid his faithful.[22] 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.[23]
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.[17]
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.[24]
In the Great Glacier region, they were one of the many staple birds in the diet of Iulutiuns.[16] And the inhabitants of Cragmyr would also supplement the chickens they raised by slinging down gulls.[25]
Some aquatic rangers were known to have gulls as animal companions.[26] Mages that practiced sea magic often had them as familiars[27] and used them as targets for the spell animal messenger.[28] Those summoned by the spell find familiar typically had black feathers and were in the larger range of size.[3]
Usages[]
The feather of a seagull was used as a material component in the spell gullship.[29]
Trivia[]
- Seagulls were one of many common species of bird that made warriors in Hlondeth uneasy.[30]
- Any humanoid that sat on the magical granite throne inside Dangwaru could transform themselves into a sea gull for a period of eight hours.[1]
- The staff of birdcalls allowed its wielder to mimic the call of a seagull.[31]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ The Tortle Package states that sea gulls should reuse the statistics provided for the raven in the 5th-edition Monster Manual.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Desert of Desolation
Novels & Short Stories
Video Games
Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir
Board Games
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Christopher Perkins, Jeremy Crawford (September 2017). The Tortle Package. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 14.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 335. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Stephen Inniss (April 1984). “A cast of strange familiars”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #84 (TSR, Inc.), p. 14.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 74. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 124. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 138–139. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 94. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
- ↑ Paul Culotta (July/August 1994). “The Oracle at Sumbar”. In Barbara G. Young ed. Dungeon #48 (TSR, Inc.) (48)., pp. 23–24.
- ↑ Scott Ciencin (June 2003). Tantras. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 25. ISBN 0-7869-3108-6.
- ↑ Phillip A. Dyer, et al. (August 1991). Port of Ravens Bluff. Edited by Jean Rabe, Skip Williams, David Wise. (TSR, Inc.), p. 3. ISBN 1-56076-120-2.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (January 1996). Volo's Guide to the Dalelands. (TSR, Inc), p. 133. ISBN 0-7869-0406-2.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 128. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Ed Greenwood (2018-11-17). Wildlife of Waterdeep (Tweet). theedverse. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2021-05-24. Retrieved on 2021-05-24.
- ↑ slade, et al. (April 1996). “Cities & Civilization”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 15. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (January 1993). Volo's Guide to Waterdeep. (TSR, Inc.), p. 9. ISBN 1-56076-335-3.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Rick Swan (1992). The Great Glacier. (TSR, Inc), p. 37. ISBN 1-56076-324-8.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume II). (TSR, Inc), p. 159. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ Colin McComb, Scott Bennie (April 1992). Islands of Terror. Edited by Anne Gray McCready. (TSR, Inc.), p. 48. ISBN 1-56076-349-3.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 124. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
- ↑ James Ward, Robert J. Kuntz (August 1980). Deities & Demigods. Edited by Lawrence Schick. (TSR, Inc.), p. 120. ISBN 0-935696-22-9.
- ↑ Sean K. Reynolds (2002-05-04). Deity Do's and Don'ts (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Faiths and Pantheons. Wizards of the Coast. pp. 14–15. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-08.
- ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 146. ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ John Terra (February 1996). Warriors and Priests of the Realms. Edited by Steven E. Schend. (TSR, Inc), p. 122. ISBN 0-7869-0368-6.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 137. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (December 1993). “Elminster's Notebook: Lord Kuldak Maurancz”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #200 (TSR, Inc.), p. 144.
- ↑ Rick Swan (1993). The Complete Ranger's Handbook. Edited by Elizabeth Danforth. (TSR, Inc), p. 31. ISBN 1560766344.
- ↑ Ted James and Thomas Zuvich (November 1996). “Mage on Deck!”. In Pierce Watters ed. Dragon #235 (TSR, Inc.), p. 32.
- ↑ Deborah Christian (August 1995). “Arcane Lore: Sea Magic”. In Wolfgang Baur ed. Dragon #220 (TSR, Inc.), p. 72.
- ↑ Mark Middleton et al (January 1998). Wizard's Spell Compendium Volume Two. (TSR, Inc), p. 419. ISBN 978-0786906642.
- ↑ John Terra (February 1996). Warriors and Priests of the Realms. Edited by Steven E. Schend. (TSR, Inc), p. 54. ISBN 0-7869-0368-6.
- ↑ Jeremy Crawford, Mike Mearls, Robert J. Schwalb, Adam Lee, Christopher Perkins, Matt Sernett (November 2017). Xanathar's Guide to Everything. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 139. ISBN 978-0-7869-6612-7.