Garuda

The garuda are an aggressive avian beast species with human-like faces.

Physiology
Garuda somewhat resemble humes with a humanoid torso and arms & fingers that extend into feathered wings, with an avian lower body that ends in sharp talons. Their bodies are covered in a pattern of feathers except for their head and neck. They possess humanoid faces with sharper eyes, noses, chins, and cheekbones, and razor-sharp teeth.

Similar to birds, garuda nest and lay eggs to produce offspring; they also have poor night vision. Some garuda subspecies are flightless while some are capable of flight. They eat an exclusively carnivorous diet.

There are two discovered branches of the garuda species:
 * Garuda Stalker - A subspecies of garuda adapted for terrestrial life, like ostriches or emu. Their wings are small, but their bodies, especially the lower half, have evolved to be much larger and more muscular. Using their thick, powerful legs, they can run at incredibly high speeds and can outrun their prey.
 * Garuda Gallus - Nesters and caretakers who lay eggs and tend to the young.
 * Garuda Raptor - A larger-bodied subspecies with eagle- or hawk-like wings and talons.

Behavior
They are a sadistic species that tend to nest in high areas. They prey on travelers and merchants below their nests. They will also kidnap any travelers or stragglers in their hunting areas to feed them to their young.

There are proportionally more female than male garuda, and female garuda have the ability to unleash a powerful ultrasonic cry. These small groups are led by a Matriarch.

Their nests are built from dirt and threads of their saliva.

Lore
The garuda were originally mediums between worlds, until they were corrupted.

When the Cestra were creating the Beast races, someone got greedy and stole the incomplete formula. They wanted to be the most glorious, but instead they were corrupted.

Known Roost Locations

 * Hills


 * Caverns