Phoenix

Summary: These birds of fire live in the Celestial realm and use heat-based magic. Their feathers are always lit by a magical fire, and come in a variety of colors, depending on what metals their feathers are blended with. These creatures visit Earth frequently to restore the coloration of their feathers via consuming metals, so they wish. No metal is toxic to the phoenix. Should a phoenix not upkeep the metal in their feathers (which they only have to do once every few months), their fire will return to a bright yellow or blue. 

Diet: Phoenixes do not get nutrition from the metals they consume, however they consume various metals to change the color of the flames on their feathers. In reality, their diet aligns with whatever bird species they happen to be. The Celestial realm has some natural flora and fauna to take care of this, but they can consume Earthly creatures without issue as well.

Often a phoenix will char their food before consuming it, as they claim it to taste better. 

Flame Variants: Depending on the metal infused within a phoenix’s feathers, the flame color will change. 

Bright Red: Lithium & Rubidium

Orange: Pure Calcium

Yellow: Sodium (or just a regular burn)

Green: Copper sulfate, Borax

Blue: Only the hottest (most powerful) can burn this color.

Violet: Potassium compounds

Immune System & Aging: A phoenix is technically immortal in which they reach roughly 300 years of age before burning out. From the ash arises a fresh phoenix hatchling, and over time they regain some of their memories from ‘past lives’. In this, they do not technically ever visit the underworld if they are careful. The more cycles a phoenix survives through, the more powerful it becomes. However, it is the most vulnerable in the first 100 years of regrowth. 

A phoenix however can be killed, and they lose much of their power if doused in water. Powerful phoenixes can actually evaporate the water, before it puts out their flame. A phoenix that has been doused entirely takes roughly a day to recover, and during that time they are particularly slow. 

Phoenixes are prone to Earthly bird illnesses. 

Notable Features: While a phoenix can be any FLYING bird species from Earth, they are double the size of any given species. Therefore, a hummingbird phoenix might be rather small, but a Harpy Eagle phoenix is gigantic. They follow the same breeding conventions of birds on Earth as well. All phoenixes have eyes that burn with the flames of their feathers. Should they choose to consume metals and change the color, the eyes will change as well. 

These are an intelligent species that can speak many languages, including that of humanoids. Some flocks live alongside angels, while others are isolated.

Magical Proficiency: It likely comes as a surprise to no one that Phoenixes are able to breathe fire, quite like dragons. Their most powerful magic is indeed fire-based, but those that practice well enough can become decent in other areas (they focus on) as well. A Phoenix’s flame is harder to put out than usual, and burns from a phoenix can be quite a bit deeper. 

A Phoenix can in fact speak with regular birds on Earth, though they would have to dull their flames somewhat before making an attempt. Also, a phoenix can control whether or not their flames set nearby objects or beings on fire. Someone that gets a little too close to a phoenix might feel intense heat, but phoenixes can be touched should the bird permit it with no detriment to the one attempting.

Common Misconceptions: 

1. It’s considered very rude to ask a phoenix how old it is, generally speaking.

2. Your brain might be fried if you call a phoenix a ‘bird brain’, so be warned against it. 

3. Phoenix do get along with dragons, generally, but there are sometimes competitions with flame dragons to see which flame burns hotter. This can result in town destruction. 

4. There are a few phoenixes that are Fall Out Boy fans simply due to their song about their species. They don’t care if there’s some other meaning, they like being acknowledged too.