Editing The Storm-Bird

''"Raise your arms to the sky and it will come for you. It will lift you away. Its talons are ice, and they protect you. Its wings are frost. Its eyes are two holes. It has only to look at the flames and they are quenched."''<ref name="cry to storm bird">{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Cry_to_the_storm-bird|Cry to the storm-bird|Fallen London|}}</ref>

The '''Storm-bird''' is a mysterious avian creature that patrols the lands of [[Parabola]].

==A Rescuer of Dreams==

''"Perhaps you have already seen: a nightmare cannot be killed permanently without changing the dreamer. Often the battle must happen many times over. But we can fight some of them, and defend against others. Not all of this work need be left to the Storm-Bird."''<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Ask_what_she_will_do_against_enemies_that_are_not_Fingerkings|Ask what she will do against enemies that are not Fingerkings|Fallen London|}}</ref>

[[File:Fire.png|alt=Roaring flames.|thumb|The hellfire of horror.]]

A known fact of life is that nightmares and other dangerous thoughts are almost always just that: thoughts. But in [[Parabola]], rules are made to be broken, and sometimes, the horrors that the mind can dream up forget to stay confined in the head, resulting in conflagrations and other disasters that can place all forms of Parabolan life in mortal danger.<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Conflagration|Conflagration|Fallen London|}}</ref> The Storm-bird is a large being with a wide wingspan,<ref name="storm bird stash observe">{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Observe|Observe|Fallen London|}} ''"Its wingspan is perhaps a foot more than it was a moment ago."''</ref> visually similar to an avian, that is drawn to these firestorms of fear.<ref name="battle storm bird">{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Embattled_with_Storm-bird|Embattled with Storm-bird|Fallen London|}}</ref> It does not appear to be malevolent, merely curious,<ref name="battle storm bird">{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Embattled_with_Storm-bird|Embattled with Storm-bird|Fallen London|}}</ref> and it can help rescue unwary travelers from these wildfires, dousing the flames with merely a glance. However, this help comes at a price, of knowledge or perhaps something else entirely.<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Cry_to_the_storm-bird|Cry to the storm-bird|Fallen London|}}</ref>  

Appropriately, the Storm-bird resides in its '''Cloud''',<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Await_the_Parabolan_Quarry_at_its_Lair|Await the Parabolan Quarry at its Lair|Fallen London|}}</ref> a cold, wet, and foggy location,<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Face_the_Storm-bird_in_its_Cloud|Face the Storm-bird in its Cloud|Fallen London|}}</ref> where it apparently collects mechanical trinkets such as scraps of metal, intricate whirring contraptions,<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Search_the_Cloud_1|Search the Cloud 1|Fallen London|}}</ref> or expertly crafted model ships.<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Search_the_Cloud_2|Search the Cloud 2|Fallen London|}}</ref> Interestingly, [[Fingerkings]] actively avoid the bird, regardless of whether or not the bird tries to repel them; apparently, this is because the bird "partakes too much of the Is-Not already".<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Offer_the_Storm-bird_to_Fingerkings|Offer the Storm-bird to Fingerkings|Fallen London|}}</ref>  

==Biology==

''"Its eyes are pits of darkness. It is drawn to fear, curious, not always able to read what it means."''<ref name="battle storm bird" />

Storm-birds are biologically unique even when compared to creatures of Parabola. Their eyes are dark and their wings are cloud-colored,<ref name="battle storm bird" /><ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Work_toward_a_fuller_understanding_of_monstrosities_2|Work toward a fuller understanding of monstrosities 2|Fallen London|}}</ref> with a texture like the very soft down of a young chick.<ref name="capture storm bird">{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Capture_the_Storm-bird|Capture the Storm-bird|Fallen London|}}</ref> The birds also emit an aura of frost with feathers and talons of ice,<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Offer_the_Storm-bird_to_Fingerkings|Offer the Storm-bird to Fingerkings|Fallen London|}}</ref><ref name="cry to storm bird" /> and they can even weep snow when severely distressed.<ref name="capture storm bird" /> When multiple Storm-birds are assembled, they behave as if they cannot see one other, or indeed as if the others are not there at all.<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Work_toward_a_fuller_understanding_of_monstrosities_2|Work toward a fuller understanding of monstrosities 2|Fallen London|}}</ref>  

When removed from Parabola they slowly fade from existence; apparently this is because their essence is so intertwined with dreams that they cannot exist for long outside of them.<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Know_the_Storm-bird|Know the Storm-bird|Fallen London|}} ''"Keep a Storm-bird [...] long time in your Laboratory, [...] eventually it becomes more and more faded..."''</ref> This is because Storm-birds aren't "real" at all; they're "dream-projections": beings that can manifest in Parabola from the dreams of a much greater being.<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Ask_her_to_help_with_ordinary_research_(April)_1|Ask her to help with ordinary research (April) 1|Fallen London|}} ''"Not a bird [...] Dream-projection. Rest of this being is much larger than we see here."''</ref> Interestingly, Storm-birds have a unique reaction to the [[The Masters of the Bazaar#Mr Spices.27 Private Stash|Private Stash]] belonging to [[Mr Spices]]; when exposed to the drug, the bird may find its senses heightened and its wingspan significantly expanded.<ref name="storm bird stash observe">{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Observe|Observe|Fallen London|}} ''"Its wingspan is perhaps a foot more..."''</ref> Furthermore, they cast a shadow that appears more chiropteran (bat-like) than one would expect, similar to a young [[Master]], and when allowed to fly freely, they always seem to tend towards the [[Bazaar]]...<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Know_the_Storm-bird|Know the Storm-bird|Fallen London|}}</ref>

''"The Storm-bird gives a pleased cry you've never heard before, and tries to snuggle its head against Mr Spices."''<ref name="observe storm bird mr spices">{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Observe_the_behaviour_of_a_Storm-bird_in_the_vicinity_of_Mr_Spices|Observe the behaviour of a Storm-bird in the vicinity of Mr Spices|Fallen London|}}</ref>

''"Mr Spices is taken aback. It seems to want to comfort the bird without getting too close. "Do you have a toy?" it asks you urgently. "A miniature train, or a model motorcar, perhaps?""''<ref name="observe storm bird mr spices">{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Observe_the_behaviour_of_a_Storm-bird_in_the_vicinity_of_Mr_Spices|Observe the behaviour of a Storm-bird in the vicinity of Mr Spices|Fallen London|}}</ref>

The Storm-bird's shadow resembling a young Master isn't a coincidence, it's implied that the bird may be a dream-projection from the unborn progeny of none other than [[Mr Spices]]! Some time ago, Mr Spices was romantically involved with and impregnated by a [[Devils|Baroness]] from [[Hell]]; unfortunately this relationship apparently ended rather poorly.<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Discuss_the_matter_of_Mr_Spices|Discuss the matter of Mr Spices|Fallen London|}}</ref><ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Discuss_the_matter_of_Mr_Spices,_delicately|Discuss the matter of Mr Spices, delicately|Fallen London|}}</ref> Regardless, Mr Spices is considered by his colleagues to be of ill health at the moment,<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Discuss_the_matter_of_Mr_Spices|Discuss the matter of Mr Spices|Fallen London|}}</ref> and it regularly takes the drugs from its Private Stash to soothe itself and ensure its child is born healthy, and perhaps dream more deeply than it normally would;<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Finish_your_experiment_with_Mr_Spices%27_Drug_and_reveal_the_truth_to_the_Dean|Finish your experiment with Mr Spices' Drug and reveal the truth to the Dean|Fallen London|}} ''"Pregnant animals find the drug soothing. It makes their offspring quieter, soothes the differences between parent and child. Runts of the litter survive longer after the birth. Both the born and the unborn dream longer and more deeply."''</ref> this may explain the Storm-bird's unique reaction to said drugs.

In the presence of Mr Spices, the Storm-bird is unusually happy and affectionate; Mr Spices itself shows some awkward affection in return, but in close proximity the Storm-bird eventually melts away, in the manner of a dreamer's dream-persona fading as it approaches its "real" body.<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Observe_the_behaviour_of_a_Storm-bird_in_the_vicinity_of_Mr_Spices|Observe the behavior of a Storm-bird in the vicinity of Mr Spices|Fallen London|}} ''"It seems to want to comfort the bird without getting too close. [...] the bird melts away like lacre. [...] like a dream-self that has come too close to its dreamer."''</ref>  

Amusingly, given its baby's circumstances of conception, Mr Spices sometimes needs to deal with its unique form of what may be pregnancy cravings, such as thoughts about collecting various transportations as well as thoughts "devils have", like the baby being born with mandibles.<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Offer_Mr_Spices_your_medical_opinion_on_its_peculiar_health|Offer Mr Spices your medical opinion on its peculiar health|Fallen London|}} ''"Thoughts devils have," [...] "That the baby will be born with mandibles."''</ref> Given that [[Curators]], including the Masters, are known to obsess over amassing a collection of certain items,{{fact}} it can be inferenced that the child of Spices will have an affinity for collecting various forms of transport, like carriages and landaus, with a special preference for mechanical vechicles;<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Offer_Mr_Spices_your_medical_opinion_on_its_peculiar_health|Offer Mr Spices your medical opinion on its peculiar health|Fallen London|}} ''"Thoughts devils have," [...] "That I should build a strange newfangled transport for its baby carriage."''</ref> to reflect this, Storm-birds seem fascinated by trains,<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Observe_the_behaviour_of_a_Storm-bird_in_the_vicinity_of_Mr_Spices|Observe the behavior of a Storm-bird in the vicinity of Mr Spices|Fallen London|}} ''"...you produce your Model Infernal Locomotive. The storm-bird is instantly transfixed."''</ref> and some like to race the engines that run through the [[Great Hellbound Railway]], their only competitor in sheer speed and booming sound.<ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Reveal_a_contemptible_truth_to_the_Fool%27s_Apostate_(1898)|Reveal a contemptible truth to the Fool's Apostate (1898)|Fallen London|}}</ref><ref>{{FLCitation|https://fallenlondon.fandom.com/wiki/Winged_Creature_of_Considerable_Speed|Winged Creature of Considerable Speed|Fallen London|}}</ref>

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