Owl of Loss

The Owl of Loss is an owl (Spotted-Bellied Eagle-Owl) that the locals in the Council of the Realms and bordering Rikki towns believe that if someone hears their shrill that their life or that of someone close to them will meet death soon.

Description & Habitat
The owl is generally smaller but more agile than the larger snow and brown owls. The owls can be pushed out of their territory by the snow and brown owls.

The owl is generally found in forests, but due to loss of habitat they have been driven out into isolated trees on the plains and farm land. The have been known to roost in barns. If they roost in human shelters, locals are generally too afraid to try to move them for fear of threatening them, which can make them shrill.

Behaviour
The owl is a solidarity bird that will only seek out a partner during the mating season. After they mate the owls will return to their home range. The male has no role in the raising of the young.

The owl has a gentle and muted hoot. However the owl's name is derived from the shrill call it makes when threatened or in danger. The shrill has a sound similar to a terrifying scream of someone dying.

Religion and Folklore
The brown and snow owls are believed to be noble creatures and are .... as they attack an Owl of Loss and can force them out of a territory without any loss.

The Mountain people have a different tale about the owls. The shrill of the owl is seen as an omen, that (their God) is unhappy with the way those who hear the shrill have treated Ersnon / 'earth'. These people must make amends and help Ersnon / 'earth', otherwise (their God) will personally descend from the sky to avenge the harm and put right the situation. The owl's shrill is a warning, their God is speaking via the owl to let the people know they are not happy. They call the owl '(Their God's) Messenger'.

(Note: some time through the story a whole flock is heard and seen, this is seen as a very bad omen).