I’ve been meaning to talk about these guys for quite some time now. I’ve always been fascinated with plague doctors, moreso with the idea that they themselves could be plague-bringing monsters in disguise. So here are my creepy plague birds, explained out of order of lettering, because I don’t do layouts well.
Fig. C- The Corvon are a mysterious sort of creature. At a great distance, they appear as large, somewhat unwieldy flightless birds, stumbling over terrain and bobbing their heads in complete silence. They aren’t the brightest of beasts, flocking together and yet seeming as though they don’t realize there are others of their kind around them. They stand around 5’5 and weigh around 60 lbs. They are completely blind and navigate the landscape with an acute sense of hearing and smell, which has taken over the eye sockets as a second set of ears.
Fig. A- Despite their frightening appearance, Corvon are not inherently aggressive. They will not consume anything living, and are so drawn in droves by the smell of great disasters which have resulted in large numbers of deaths. Their job, while not appreciated by most who would rather hold ceremonies for the dead, is to clean up and prevent the further spread of decay and disease, after which they may gather close to one another some distance away and lightly hibernate until such a time as they are needed again. It is said that the Corvon have a sixth sense, and can detect suffering from many miles away, though this has been neither proven nor disproven.
Fig. D- The Reapers (who are known for their dealings with the dead and dying) have been known occasionally to follow flocks of Corvon on their migrations, living as hermits and observing their behaviors, but also scanning disaster areas for any living victims that may require aid. They are not always the friendliest of individuals, but will diligently perform their duties nonetheless.
Fig. B- From the outside, the Corvon appear to be regular animals, if a bit odd in appearance and behavior. However, their internals much different story. Their bodies are mostly hollow, with a simple set of organs for a one-way-in-no-way-out sort of approach to food consumption, which breaks down food and contains pestilence against the elements. Their bones are thin and hollow, and their bodies are very fragile. Their feathers slough off at the lightest touch (similar to the dust on butterfly wings), and upon being struck with force great enough to break skin, they undergo an event which brings their life to a close. The Corvon’s body breaks down rapidly, collapsing in on itself like ash and scattering to the wind as Corvon Spores. These spores are highly contagious with a pathogen specific to one purpose, and breathing in even a small amount could begin a horrifying process to take place in any of the three known races of Exis over the course of several weeks. Lacking any reproductive organs, the Corvon Spores take over any living Human, Diarkind, or Faeyr host body and turn them into Corvon, themselves.
However, this is not the only way a Corvon can die. After many years, a Corvon may decide to stay behind when the flock begins to migrate, where it will stand motionless and slowly petrify into a solid rock-like substance, sealing away all of the death and pestilence for good.
Fig. E- Corvon reproduce through a process known as the Corvon Curse. The entire process takes place over the course of three to four weeks, and is no longer contagious once the transformation has begun. There are no known ethical cures for the Curse. The process begins with hair loss, blindness, and loss of apatite. As rapid weight loss ensues, one may begin noticing a few budding feathers here and there- itchy, but not painful, and the occasional lost tooth. Memory loss also begins at this stage. The skull begins to elongate, some fingers and toes may fuse and change also, sprouting claws and scales. The eyes typically dry up and fall out as the eye sockets expand, as well. Memory loss continues until complete apathy takes over. One may still be capable of simple speech at the stage shown in the figure above, but will have no knowledge about themself or any of their experiences. The transformation is considered complete when the newly created Corvon sets out on its own to find a flock.
To many, the Corvon are considered a punishment for some long-forgotten sin, but to others they are a sign of a new beginning, even if the pain of loss has already tainted it.
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