Name: Ari, or Aribirds Description: Ari are huge birds, comparable to the size of an ultralight plane. They take on the appearance of birds of prey, most notably hawks, falcons, and eagles, however, unlike those birds, they have feathers of bright, cool colors, most commonly blue and green, in some cases it can be black with a color on the tips, and red is the rarest feather color. Their backs are also more curved in a horizontal position when standing, allowing for easier riding, and longer legs. They are commonly used as aerial mounts. Behavior: Spends most of its day hunting smaller birds and mammals. It's known to be rather friendly around sentients, especially in captivity, due to them having a mutualistic relationship with humanoids in hunting animals, which it can chase an animal from above to assist, or give the location of food, in return for a cut of their food Tamability: Very. In their early years, they can be tamed and trained to follow commands with the promise of food and treats. If this keeps up, they grow a bond and affection towards the tamer. They are commonly used as aerial mounts, which to achieve that, there needs to be a mutual trust between the rider and bird. One cannot simply hop on one and go, that will usually end up with it panicking, escaping or fighting. Where is it found?: Cliffs near the sea, small mountains, plateaus, and mesas, they nest on the top, or on large trees nearby. Originally found on Avos, these birds have been introduced into various ecosystems across the galaxy. There also exists breeders who breed them in specially built locations. Rarity: Rare. Finding one in the wild requires some searching and tracking. Diet/Method of gaining nutrients and energy: Omnivore, usually eats mammals and smaller birds, such as sheep, foxes, ducks, chicken, etc. Products?: Can be eaten, however, most riders find the practice of eating these birds taboo. Reproduction: Sexual, standard bird reproduction methods Size: Big, about the size of an airtrike, or similar ultralight aircraft. Wingspan is 25 ft. It can seat two passengers on its back. Weight: ~300lbs around adult age. Lifespan: 70-80 years. Abilities: Due to a long time of being used as mounts, they have developed extreme strength and light weight for their size. Their wings are conditioned to provide lift with passengers or cargo, and can still fly if the load is heavier than them. They have high maneuverability and speed at high altitudes, which in some applications, can be more practical than a plane, as they can perform more acrobatic maneuvers with ease, and land on almost any terrain quickly. In low altitude, they have quick reflexes and maneuvering, if flight speed is maintained at a steady, fast speed. Flaws: Their underbellies are known weak points. Also, despite their toughness, their bones are breakable with some effort. They're rather hard to fly and control, requiring that the rider and bird trust each other, and understand basics of aviation. Wind speed and direction are a common thing to keep in mind when riding one. They also don't have good performance in low speeds in low altitude. Other: These birds are mostly meant for riding, therefore, there's some training and required knowledge for a person to be a responsible owner of an Ari. They were first tamed by an early avian civilization, known as Arias, with their light weight and fast reflexes, these avians made perfect riders. Soon, breeding and selling of the birds became commonplace, the birds being used as transport for both people and cargo, and being used as aerial cavalry animals, the culture of the place being on the backbone of the birds. Eventually, they were driven to near extinction by the Kluexis, who saw them as unholy, but were able to settle in similar environments in other planets they were introduced to, and the numbers quickly restored. They are now ridden by all races, breeding and training services that sell them are available as well. Aris are mostly able to fly with a passenger around age nine or ten. When riding an Ari, you must mount a saddle, which is in a forward laying position, though the rider can sit upright once in stable flight with the head resting in a position near the bird's neck, the rider must wear safety straps on the saddle, and the direction are controlled by reigns. The majority are trained to ascend when pulling up on the reigns or voicing a verbal command, and vice versa for going down, except shifting your weight downwards to the ground to indicate. Landing is communicated to the bird via verbal commands, or action, such as a small kick or pat. Some riders are skilled enough that they can command their Ari when to flap, as most of the flapping is handled by the bird. The skill of flying depends on the coordination between the rider and bird, and how well trained and disciplined the bird is. Remember to always give your Ari a small treat before and after flight! It's ideal for a rider to be lightweight, obviously. Riders mostly wear a helmet with a visor, which has a HUD that acts similar to aircraft panel dials, is able to detect wind currents, and provide navigation. Riders also bring along an emergency parachute or rocket boots, however, if the trust between the Ari and rider are strong enough, Aris will attempt to catch their rider if they fall off. (That itself has become a small sport amongst riders) Lastly, there are some "improvements" that can be made to Aris. Some riders fit their Ari with small jets, to speed them up or ease getting into air. Ari armor exists, and is mostly used with jets due to their weight. Although there is no advantage against a small ship, Ari space suits exist, complete with thrusters to simulate flying. Some cities have "Ari Catapults", which are catapults on rails that riders use to easily get airborne. Last but not least, some riders equip their Ari with a tracker augment in their brain, which lets the rider know where they are, and help lead the Ari to a specified destination.
