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Shrykes

Shryke Sisters patrolling the Great Shryke Slave Market.

Shrykes were a warlike race of giant bird-creatures, known for their ruthlessness and cruelty.

During the Quint and Twig trilogies, shrykes were nomadic slavers, running the Great Shryke Slave Market in the Deepwoods. Later they took control of the Great Mire Road, establishing their capital at the Eastern Roost. For a number of years the shrykes were the dominant species on the Edge, as their control of the Great Mire Road allowed them to dominate the Edge's trading and commerce. Their fortunes changed at the Battle of Lufwood Mount, when the shryke army was destroyed by the warriors of the Free Glades.

Physical Appearance[]

Shrykes were essentially large, bipedal birds. Females were slightly larger than Fourthlings, and often bulkier, with thick, bright plumage and viciously sharp, curved beaks and talons. Males, usually referred to as shryke-mates, were much smaller and scrawnier, with duller plumage.

Shrykes were immune to the insanity-inducing effects of the Twilight Woods. This was what initially allowed them to take control of the Mire Road. Vox Verlix, the road's original architect, realised he would need people to man the sections of the road which lay within the Twilight Woods. He charged the shrykes with this duty, and they accepted. Later they used their position to assume control of the road in its entirety.

Shryke fledglings had to be watched constantly to prevent them from devouring each other.

Shryke teeth[]

Shrykes teeths were jagged and yellow. Sky pirates used shryke teeth to determine a new captain: every crew member was given a tooth, and would give it to their chosen candidate. Whoever collected more teeth had the "shryke smile", and became the new captain. In Clash of the Sky Galleons, Quintinius Verginix and Thaw Daggerslash used shryke teeth to determine the new captain of the Galerider. [1]

Social hierarchy[]

Shryke-mates were subservient to female shrykes, and were typically led around on leashes as slaves or pets. The Elite Shryke Sisterhood was a group of particularly vicious and powerful shryke sisters who acted as warriors. Presiding over a roost of shrykes was the Roost-Mother. The vibrancy of a shryke's plumage, sharpness of talons and beak, and physical size connoted her level of power.

Personality[]

Most of the more prominent shryke-sisters were ruthless, sadistic, and bloodthirsty. In battle, shrykes principally fought with talon and beak, though they also used crude weapons like flails, whips, and spears. On the battlefield it was common for shrykes to devour their enemies while still alive. Their culture approved of slavery, and as Varis Lodd put it, found it easy to believe in treachery, too. Shrykes were largely feared and distrusted by most inhabitants of the Edge. However, some shrykes were more civilized, even valiant and good. Shrykes loved gossip[2], wore expensive clothing[3] and used cosmetics such as cold cream, feather-balm and beak-gloss[4].

Notable Shrykes[]

This list doesn't include roost-mothers. For that list, click here.

Notable Shryke-Mates (males)[]

Gallery[]

Behind the scenes[]

References[]

  1. Clash of the Sky Galleons, Chapter 18: Shryke teeth
  2. The Last of the Sky Pirates, Chapter 8: The Eastern Roost
  3. For example Mother Muleclaw III's golden armour in Freeglader, Chapter 8: Blood Frenzy
  4. Vox, Chapter 18: The Ghosts of Screetown
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