[The original makalala is a giant predatory bird from Tanzania, which sounds an awful lot like an exaggerated version of a secretary bird. Poking around for art inspired me to take it in a draconic direction.]
Makalala This creature has the body of an immense bird and the
head of a dragon. Its feathers are grey, black and white, with striking plumes
growing from its head and tail. Its legs are long and thin, ending in immense
claws. Bony quills grow along its wingtips, rattling as it flies.
The makalalas are
sometimes referred to as secretary dragons for the long plumes on their heads
and quills on their wings. They are cruel and predatory creatures that look and
act something like feathered wyverns. Their dim intelligence is just enough to
make them sadistic, and they enjoy inflicting pain on anything smaller and
weaker than themselves. They tend towards foolishness, however, and can be
deceived by even simple ruses.
Makalalas may
hunt alone or in flights, and when cooperating they support each other in
combat. Some of the dragons will remain high in the air to fire barbed quills
down on enemies, while others close in with devastating hind claws and bites.
They rarely fight to the death—any creature that puts up a strong fight
surprises them, and they will readily flee to save their own lives.
When not on the
hunt, makalalas gather to tell stories and make music by rattling their quills
while singing. Violence between members of the same flight is common, but rarely fatal. Musical instruments fascinate them, even when they cannot be
played by creatures lacking hands. Some bards have claimed to have been
kidnapped by a makalala and forced to perform or be eaten—these tales probably
have a basis in truth. Like many bullies, makalalas can be pushed around by
stronger bullies, and some of them serve blue dragons, grootslangs or other
powerful reptilian monsters.
Makalalas roam throughout Koll, inhabiting any area with sufficient prey. They conflict with both breeds of pterygoti where their ranges overlap, but defer willingly to true dragons of superior strength. Several flights serve the red dragons found in Koll’s southern mountains.
Shores of Swords 