Thunderhawk

Thunderhawks are a sub-group of hawk that have been blessed by the goddess Aesir. It is said they serve as her trumpets echoing her voice across the skies. The beats of their wings is the incoming roll of thunder, while lightning flashes from their bodies when they are angry or hunting. Aesir listens to the screeching calls and sends them the storms.

Killing a thunderhawk is said to bring upon the curse of Aesir. Rain will not fall as it should, lightning will set fire to your crops, and thunder will spook your herds. Even the breath of your newborns will cease should you kill a thunderhawk.

Thunderhawks are highly intelligent animals, but not sapient. They can be trained although their natural habits make them ill-suited as hunting birds.

The thunderhawks derive their name from the static electricity that dances along their bodies. Often perceived as St. Elmo's fire when the birds are in flight. During a storm their wings are said to produce small booms of thunder while lightning arcs between the birds. It can be very dangerous for those nearby when a flock of thunderhawks take to the skies. A loud thunderous boom and flahses of lighting often accompany such a large gathering.

This effect is only seen on living birds. Once killed they are the same as other large raptors.

Thunderhawks mate for life. Should one mate die the survivor will attempt to find another mate. Caring for young chicks is the responsibility of both parents with one guarding the nest while the other hunts. Should a parent die before the chicks reach their adult size, the other parent will abandon the nest and begin migrating again.

Thunderhawks migrate with the storms. At times they will fly several days in from of the storm and wait for its arrival. Storms are very important for Thunderhawks as within the heart of the storm is where the mating rituals take place.

The larger the storm the more thunderhawks will gather. When the storm breaks up the younger adults will journey to the next storm, while mated pairs will often settle down to nest. Unmated older birds will perch nearby the nests, often acting as “aunts and uncles” for the mated pairs.