Settling himself into his cabin for the night, Carne pulled up his Hunter’s Codex. The Codex is a collection of all the beasts that hunters are paid to hunt, descriptions of the beasts physical appearances, environments they prefer, if they travel in groups or not and how much the various pieces and parts versus live captures are worth on average in the current markets over the universe. Humming low in his throat he flipped to mana beasts and began to scroll, there was something about the way that the Icarus and Siren had behaved that bothered him. He wanted to know if some other hunter had noticed anything similar between the two species before. He scrolled past the A’s Aigamuxa, Amarok, and Amphisbaena catching his eye before the screen blurred, he had no interest in those at the moment. He hadn’t hunted one in years and wasn’t planning to change that any time soon. Though he mused Hissy might try to send him after an Amarok to try to kill him so he may want a refresher on that soon, making a mental note to come back later he scrolled to the I’s. Finding the entry for Icarus he read.
Race: Icarus
Physical description: An Icarus looks like a humanoid species with wings attached to their arms and claws on their feet. They have a difficult time walking on the ground and move about by flying. Icarus have hollow bones that break easily. Their wings are covered in bright vibrant colored feathers in various colors and patterns. These feathers are both remarkably soft and beautiful. The claws are usually the same color as their primary feathers.
Environment: Icarus tend to travel either alone or in flocks of no more than five. They are not very territorial and will attack then retreat and move on to another location. Icarus usually live in high elevation areas where there is little air. They have no trouble breathing in the thin atmosphere but most other creatures do have trouble which gives them some natural protection at those altitudes. Icarus hatch from eggs, and are kept in hidden nests.
Dangers: An Icarus can move quickly through the air and has sharp claws on their feet. They can use their mana to summon winds, ranging from a light breeze to a hurricane depending on the how strong the beast is.
Hunting Tips: It is recommended to bring an Icarus down with heavy metal netting shot from a netting launcher. Once brought down restrain the wings to prevent it from summoning wind. Since Icarus like to run away speed is needed to capture before they escape.
Pay outs:
Alive: The price in the Osten Galaxy for a live capture is around 1.2 million bits. This is the highest price available currently, Osten being known for their mana mining they offer the best price for an alive specimen. Any other galaxy and the price depends on an private buyer.
Egg: Icarus eggs go from 3-4 million bits. Hatched Icarus can be taught and trained making them more useful than the adults who grow in the wild.
Parts:
Feathers: Icarus feathers are soft and beautiful and are used in high class bedding and clothes. Each feather is worth about 100 bits in most galaxies.
Claws: Icarus claws are used in many “medicinal remedies” created in the Kelvan Galaxy where it is thought that the Icarus originated. They are also used in the making of certain accessories. Claws usually go for 2,500 bits a pair.
Bones: Icarus bones can be used to make instruments and can sell if in good condition 1-200 bits a bone. Most bones are damaged in capture so finding a good bone to sell can be difficult.
Mana: An adult Icarus can produce about two vials of mana. A newly hatched Icarus can produce only half a vial of mana and a fledgeling Icarus can produce 1 vial of mana. A vial of mana currently sells for 3 million bits.
Carne frowned at the article, nothing in it said anything about their relationship to the sirens. In fact that Icarus had acted against the known nature of his species. He had stayed and fought instead of running. All reports said that he should have run and escaped after that first gale. Still frowning he pulled up the report on sirens.
Race: Siren
Physical Description: Humanoid water creatures. Two shapes, on land they look mostly like any other humanoid species, with only their hair colors to differentiate them from humans, but allowing them to mask as a multitude of other alien species. They may only stay above the water for a few days at a time. In the water is their true form, with the upper body mostly unchanged from their land form, only adding in gills on the neck and ribs. Their lower bodies become scaled fish tails. These scales are as tough as metal and are bright and gleam. The scales come in a multitude of colors.
Environment: Siren must live by or within water. Fresh or salt does not matter. It is not unusual to find a lone siren, but many live in pods of two to ten. It is theorized that lone siren are striking out to start their own pods.
Dangers: Siren have sharp teeth when in their true forms and can easily rend flesh from bones. Siren’s scales are like metal and can slice through skin and bone as well. Siren’s voices use mana to mesmerize those who hear it.
Hunting Tips: Siren’s scales act like armor, if attacking one in the water aim for the chest and head. Sirens move very quickly in water, if possible face them on land where they are slow. Heavy metal netting is recommended, siren teeth cannot chew threw the net and can protect hunter from teeth and scales. Harpoons advised for underwater combat. Specialty ear plugs infused with mana to prevent siren song mesmerization are expensive but highly recommended.
Pay Outs:
Alive: Sirens are worth 2.7 million bits in Osten. Osten being known for their mana mining they offer the best price for an alive specimen. Many aristocrats in several galaxies will pay 1.7-2.3 million bits for an alive specimen for display. Often they will request that the voice box be removed and if so it can be sold separately.
Egg: A siren egg can be sold for 1.5 million bits, a young siren can be trained to be useful. More often than not though the young siren is worth more in parts than by selling the egg.
Parts:
Scales: Siren scales are beautiful and hard like metal. Be careful when descaling, one wrong move could slice open a hand. The scales are used in making weapons, armor, tools and accessories. The scales go for a million bits per pound.
Teeth: Siren teeth are sharp and are used in making tools, accessories and in some “medicinal remedies” of the Levantine Galaxy where it is thought that the siren originated.
Voice box: The siren voice box is a rare delicacy in some cultures and more commonly used as a vehicle for mana to allow a person to exert control on another being.
Mana: An adult siren produces 2.5 vials of mana, a juvenile siren produces 1.5- 2 vials depending on age, a newly hatched siren produces 1 vial of mana. The current price of mana is 3 million a vial.
Again there was nothing about siren and Icarus together. Their environments would suggest that the two species should not cross paths. That they had was really bothering him. Deciding to chalk it up to a freak coincidence Carne put away the codex and changed his clothes. He had seen a good bar on his way back to the hangar and decided that some company was just what he needed.
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