This ashen colored egg is extremely hot to touch, and the burning sensation lingers long after you’ve let it go.
Hatchling
Orram's bane hatchlings are quite aggressive from the moment when they leave their shells, and much prefer solitude over the company of others. With time and patience, they can be taught to accept their magi, but even then they are still easily agitated and prone to lashing out. Because they acquire their powers at a young age, it is hard to control the tar-like substance that drips from their jaws, which enables Orram's banes to spontaneously combust their targets. As they age, these hatchlings gain the additional talent of turning invisible, and thus become more independent, using this ability to hunt for their own food. Rather than feeding on tangible objects, however, Orram's banes feed on people's negative emotions, though they favor hate the most.
Adult
As an adult, an Orram's Bane will spend most of its time searching for and feeding on the strongest negative emotions they can find. When fully grown, they gain better control over the tar-like saliva from their jaws, which no longer sets alight everything that it touches unless the creature itself wills it. Their true form is hidden until their hunger has been satisfied, and the more they feed, the clearer they become. An angered Orram's Bane is truly a terrifying sight; its eyes will start to glow bright red and hellfire cloaks its back and wings. Though they do not often attack people, they can easily defend themselves against potential enemies by biting down and setting their saliva on fire. They will hold grudges for a lifetime, and people are warned against wronging these creatures lest they wish a vengeful death upon themselves. Upon their demise, Orram's Banes will crumble into a pile of bones and ashes, though unlike their phoenix ancestors, they cannot rise again. However, it has been claimed by multiple people to have seen these ashes tremble ever so slightly, even long after they have passed.
General
Orram's Banes are known in folktales as the spirit of hatred, said to be the creation of a dark mage who wanted to use these creatures as revenge on those who foiled his devious plans. He had escaped The Keep and went into hiding, but could never be found. Thus, he started to plot his return by engineering a hybrid of such power, that if he held it under his command, no one would be able to stop him. The blackest of magics had allowed a fire phoenix and a hellhound to mate, resulting in a canine-like animal with wings of a magical bird. However, Orram could not keep them under control, and as a result, died when too many of them lashed out against him. Thus, they were granted the name of Orram's bane, and it is said that if one is foolish enough to antagonize these creatures, they will be marked by the beast until it manages to exact its full revenge.
Special thanks to LaughingIdiot, mands, Aflame, Ruzio and Pok for help with editing, art and expanding on the idea.
Art by LaughingIdiot
no good deed goes unpunished.
