Nachtkrapp

Enormous raven-like creature with a bare, skull-white face and eyes that don’t blink because, apparently, Nature ran out of mercy that day. Stands larger than most eagles, often far larger, and is fully capable of lifting an adult deer clean off the ground. If you hear branches cracking above and you smell blood on the wind, it's already too late. Keep your head down and your livestock indoors.

Nachtkrapp do not build nests in the traditional sense. They assemble them from the ribcages of their prey. Elk, cattle, bears, humans... if it has a spine and enough ribs to cradle an egg, it's fair game. The male with the largest, most “ornate” bone-pile tends to attract the most mates. Predictably, this turns mating season into something like a blood-soaked construction contest.   Incidents of mass killings spike during this time, as males aggressively stockpile suitable materials. The forests become eerily silent, save for the occasional scream and the clatter of bones being dropped from above.   Standard protocol is to cull the population before breeding begins and to issue civilian warnings in areas where sightings increase. Do not go wandering into the woods during nesting season unless you're heavily armed or have a wish that your ribcage becomes some fouls mantle piece.

If there's one thing Nachtkrapp are disturbingly good at (besides lifting your sheep into the sky) it’s knowing when something’s about to die. Not in a vague, "it looks sickly" sort of way. No. A Nachtkrapp will perch, silent, then let out a harsh, rattling cry that means, "this one has about a day left." That’s not poetic. That’s lab-verified.   Controlled studies showed a 95% accuracy rate in predicting death within 24 hours—regardless of cause. Illness, accident, even premeditated violence that hadn't occurred yet. The bird knew. Nobody knows how, and frankly, nobody wants to be the one to ask.   Aside from that cheery talent, they’ve got all the usual raven senses: sharp eyes, keener ears, and a memory that’s frankly unhelpful if it holds a grudge.