The Urzûm, or Terror bird

There have always been dreadful beasts in the great mountains that mark the bounds of Tenehu. These creatures have ensured that no one dares attempt to surmount this great enclosing barrier.

But since the comet first appeared in the sky, many terrifying beasts have ventured deeper into the cursed realm. Among them is the fearsome Urzûm—known to many as the terror bird.

Now, these terror birds range across all of Tenehu, making their homes in caves and on ledges high in the mountains. From these heights, they roam in search of prey, sometimes dragging their helpless victims back to nests teeming with ravenous young.

An adult Urzûm stands nearly the height of three men, with a wingspan even greater. Their wings are leathery, like those of a bat, while their bodies are cloaked in coarse black-and-white feathers. Their beaks, marked with orange and white stripes, resemble those of coastal birds—but far more massive and deadly.

They can soar vast distances at astonishing altitudes before plunging upon unsuspecting prey. They are known to target herds or even entire villages, drawn by the concentration of life in one place. It is not unheard of for a single terror bird to consume the entire population of a small village, leaving behind only grizzled remains.

Many an elven lord offers rich rewards to those brave enough to rid their lands of these dreaded plagues. Yet the Urzûm are difficult to find—and harder still to reach. Only when they descend to the ground are they vulnerable, for there they lose their speed and grace. But they must never be underestimated. With long claws and a sharp beak, they can tear a man to shreds with ease.

Veteran hunters seek them in their caves, where the Urzûm are denied the use of their wings. But a cornered terror bird is a horror beyond imagining—especially when defending its young.

To slay such a beast is to claim a prize beyond measure. Their feathers are highly coveted, their eggs even more so. Some elf lords prize the eggs as rare delicacies, while others speak of far-off princes who dream of hatching and taming the young, hoping one day to ride them into battle.

But that is a fool’s dream.

From the Tablets of Imilik