Editing Icelus (section)

==Ash Raptors==

Ash Raptors, sometimes referred to as "Owl Dogs" by off-worlders, are a species of quadrupedal avians endemic to Icelus. Owing to massive dust storms in the stratosphere (believed to have occurred some time after a warp storm isolated the planet and an unknown "calamity" began to destroy the world's life-sustaining capabilities), the Ash Raptors' wings developed slowly into forearms, as they were forced to spend more and more of their time on the ground. Mostly nocturnal, they possess large eyes capable of detecting even the smallest movement from dozens of meters. Accompanied by large, pointed ears, capable of hearing vibrations produced by prey burrowing beneath the surface, as well as powerful claws and a hooked beak, male Ash Raptors are adept at hunting small prey.

Female Ash Raptors typically live in small groups and are capable of hunting larger prey. Using their hind claws, they are able to tap out rhythms of varying intensity on the parched soil. These small vibrations are interpreted by other members of the pack. The higher the frequency of the tapping, the closer an individual is to prey. Highly intelligent, but not sentient, Ash Raptors in captivity often bond to the nomad beastmaster who raises them. They display the fierce loyalty of their masters, necessary for survival in Icelus' unforgiving wastes.

Ash Raptors lay eggs once per year, and spend an unusual amount of time in the mother's body before being deposited into a small den in the ashy surface, where they are nurtured for at most two weeks before hatching. In the wild, Ash Raptor young typically travel with their mother's flock until they are drawn away by other Ash Raptor young at two to three years of age. These young Ash Raptors will pair off and travel for a number of years until breeding, at which point the female will seek a new flock. It is believed that in captivity, the fiercely loyal bonding of Ash Raptors to their masters replaces this relationship, and interrupts natural mechanisms that would normally drive the individual to its next stage of life--lonesome, wandering males and small flocks of females. 

Bred for aeons for intelligence, obedience and hunting ability, Ash Raptors are ideal companions for the wandering Icelians. Due to a hodgepodge of chemicals in their diet, Ash Raptors' feathers and skin may range in color from their natural spectrum of grays, browns and cream-white to bizarre combinations of iridescent oranges, purples and greens. Ash Raptors, if fed correctly and treated with respect, can live for sixty or seventy years. Upon the death of their companions, many Icelians craft ornate shrines in the desert, arraying their feathers in patterns behind their skulls. Small offerings are always left at such shrines when they are encountered, often consisting of dried meats, incense or shiny trinkets--which the creatures are drawn to. Ash Raptors that outlive their masters have been known to attach themselves to individuals who were close to them, most frequently wives, sons or daughters.