Animals

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Stonepecker: A large relative of woodpeckers that reside in the mountains surrounding Arove Valley. They primarily sport black and dark bronze feathers, but their breasts and crowns are a dark crimson-like color. Their average wingspan is about 140 centimeters, and they stand at just under a full meter themselves. Their hard beaks and powerful necks allow them to bore through stone with ease, hence their names. However, they’re primarily scavengers; they don’t mind carrion, and their beaks allow them to break bones and access the marrow inside, giving them a unique niche. They only live up to their name under extreme circumstances; if food is low, they’ll seek out anything that’s traversing the mountains—preferably along a predictable path. The stonepecker will then fly ahead to prepare a trap, pecking cliffs and mountainsides meticulously to create a small avalanche. Once their prey is crushed, they’ll fly down, dig their way through the rubble, and feast. It’s not uncommon for them to hunt in small groups. While they fortunately avoid humans, they will target them if the situation is truly dire.