Portcaller

The Quellan Four-Winged Tropitross, or as it is more commonly known, the portcaller, is a large, artificially bred seabird with four wings. Its colloquial name stems from its intended purpose: to relay messages between ports and ships at sea.

Specialized Solutions. Portcallers were originally bred in Quella as messenger birds capable of delivering news to and from boats at sea. The proposal for breeding the birds was brought about by an increased need for quicker correspondence at sea, along with a shortage of Stonsingers capable of long-distance teleportation or communication.

Avian Amalgamates. The portcaller was bred from several known kinds of birds, including the largest known albatross species in Pulmara, and one of the fastest tropicbirds, resulting in its name, the Tropitross. The portcaller grows up to 3 feet long and has two wingspans. Its larger, fore-wings are used for gliding long distances, and can have a wingspan of up to a massive 6'6". Its smaller rear wings are used to help it take off and accelerate while in the air by flapping quickly, and can have a wingspan from 2'6" to 3'. Both sets of wings can tuck into the bird's body, making it extremely aerodynamic. Finally, the portcaller has two extended tailfeathers that assist it in keeping its balance at high speeds.

Distant Voyagers. True to their intended purpose, portcallers are excellent messenger birds. They have an incredible well of stamina and a set of biological techniques that allow them to endure months-long journeys at sea. Their large wings allow them to glide with little to no exertion over long distances, carried only by the wind. They have been given the ability to sleep while in flight by using only one half of their brain to stay aloft while the other half rests. Under heavy winds, the portcaller's small rear wings help them keep the course, and their enhanced intelligence combined with instinct helps them navigate masterfully.

Surface Hunters. While on long journeys, the portcaller normally sustains itself on fish and other creatures that dwell on the surface of the ocean. Their white coloring, inherited from their seabird ancestors, acts to blend them into the sky from a fish's perspective making their diving strikes hard to avoid. Their long beaks allow them to grab whole fish without touching the water or slowing down.

Victims of Science. Despite their achievements, Quella's masterful breeders and stone singers could not quell the complications involved in complex cross-breeding. The Portcaller is not biologically prepared to survive in the wild and those who attempt to do so almost always perish within a year of their attempt. Even in captivity, a well-kept portcaller only lives for roughly 10 years, and most begin to develop debilitating health complications by their 8th year, disabling them from making their normal flights. Additionally, portcallers have an extremely low healthy birth rate, making them hard to breed continually.