#apparently european / greek phoenixes were also originally described as being multicolored

[hcavensarrow]

Hiroko’s Monster Manual

Complete Bestiary of the Otherworldly, as compiled from information contained within the Tsukishita Archives; entry edited by Asai Hiroko

The Ho-o (or Phoenix, as it is more commonly known in the far west) is a species of bird of apparently divine origin. Their size often varies between individual from that of a human child to well over that of the average adult, but can be easily distinguished through their plumage; a Phoenix's feathers are described as gold at first glance, but iridescent, shifting in color from each angle, making the bird appear multicolored. They can also be distinguished by the crest atop their heads and long trail of tail feathers that have a similar iridescent color. Anatomically, it can be compared most closely to a common pheasant--albeit considerably larger.

Ho-o are near universally considered symbolic of the sun and, in turn, fire. While reports of their appearance can be found near anywhere, they seem to prefer to make their homes and nests in mountainous regions, particularly those well-isolated from any human civilization. Some accounts suggest that they only make appearances to those “pure of heart,” bearing blessings, but evidence would suggest that rather, anyone may encounter one, but it will only show trust and companionship to those of good will and honesty. Due to their elusiveness, they are a difficult creature to study in any great detail--many assumptions can be made from patterns in their behavior, but few conclusive facts have been found regarding the species and its specific origins; most agree that they hail from the Heavens, or whatever we may call the realm of existence of the gods. 

When one dies, its body combusts and burns until all organic material is burned away; then, the ashes re-form into a newborn. They are considered divine, or at least harbingers of luck, as they tend to bring blessings of longevity, happiness, and fortune to those who witness them--however, while many stories tend to depict them as mild-mannered, or even submissive, they can be highly aggressive when provoked--one report from within our Archives claims an attack by a particularly defensive individual when the author in question came too near to her nest. Likewise, they are not without malice, and have been known to bring curses down on those who bring them harm.

For that reason, trying to pluck a feather from such a creature is not advised--however, like all birds, the Ho-o is known to molt and lose feathers through natural causes on occasion. If one should come across a phoenix feather, they are incredibly fortunate indeed, as the medicinal properties of their feathers have been widely considered without compare. While there is no evidence to suggest that a feather can provide immortality (or even extend a person’s lifespan beyond its natural scope), they do function as an incredibly potent medicine for any number of ailments, so much that they may very well be considered a “cure-all”. Due to their rarity, of course, having any reliable stock of them is completely implausible. Likewise, their down is not only exceptionally warm, but completely inflammable--however, the odds of finding enough down feathers to produce any sort of garment are astronomical and would likely take multiple lifetimes. 

Ultimately, the Ho-o or Phoenix is a divine creature that poses no active threat and should be treated with due dignity; like all creatures, approaching without its consent is dangerous, though not typically fatally unless you make the mistake of bringing it to harm.