Phoenix

The Phoenix is an example of a Para-Elemental, which is when a non-sapient creature is naturally imbued with elemental powers. The phoenix is a bird

A phoenix is a type of bird typically with bright red, yellow, or black feathering. Its body will always be hot to the touch and small wisps of fire will flicker between its feathers when they are pulled apart. The phoenix is a hunter with a beak and the eyesight to hunt quick game. When small its favorite food would be the many varieties of ground mammals - along with any fire it can get into it mouth.

Its claws are sharp and very deadly, even when it is young. An adult bird is capable of tearing through even dwarven armor.

The phoenix's most impressive feature is its birth. A new phoenix is not born from an egg or live birth, instead it is born in the ashes of its predecessor. When a phoenix dies it bursts into flames leaving behind only smoke and a pile of ashes. From these ashes will arise new phoenixes, typically between one and three (1-3) new phoenixes will rise up from the ashes.

A phoenix is born with the ability to hunt and feed on what it needs to survive. What it needs immediately is fire and the more it can get the stronger it will be during its early years. For this reason a dying phoenix will search out dry tinder before it dies so that its young can instantly feed.

As long as it can get enough meat and fire a phoenix will continue to grow during its life. A phoenix is capable of reaching sizes that would make flight impossible for any normal creature, but the magic of the elemental fire keeps it aloft.

The origin of the genus happens not during the Age of Legends or during the Age of the Gods, but instead during the fall of the Sha'rek'ta. As the last remaining of the once proud race continued the war that destroyed their civilization they were changed. Many of the fantastical beasts that now populate this world were created from the surviving ancients. The Phoenix is just one of the species that were once the ancients.

As described

The dwarf phoenix is not just named for its much smaller stature, about the size of a large dog, but for its intellect as well. Dwarf phoenixes can be trained, respond to verbal commands, and are considered very loyal - but unlike other phoenixes they are not intelligent - possessing the intelligence of parrots.

This phoenix is notable for the golden crown of feather atop its head. These feathers are actual gold and not simply golden colored. In addition its wing feathers are gold and silver colored and appear to give off a faint fiery halo at rest.

In flight, the Royal Phoenix is the only phoenix whose entire body is covered in flames so opaque that the actual body of the phoenix cannot be seen. The tail of this “fiery phoenix” can stretch for dozens of feet behind the phoenix, which the phoenix uses to make complex fire patterns in the sky.

This race is found among all species of phoenix.