| Classification | Dodo Bird |
|---|---|
| Ranking | F |
| Abilities | Rapid beak-peck; Squawking |
| Strength | Can attract stronger Grimm |
| Weakness | Incredibly fragile and cowardly, even in groups |
Appearance[]
The Raphus is an exotic, avian-type Grimm. It is a very small creature, with a general height of around 3 ft. and weighing in at just 24 lbs. Coupled with its small size, the Raphus' overall figure is quite stout; With its torso being rather plump, and easily the largest part of its body. Many other portions of its body are quite short in structure, including its feet and talons, and its wings - which protrude from its sides. Its tail is no exception to this, as it is more of a small, white plume/cluster of feathers than anything. The most striking feature of its body is its hooked beak, which tends to have different colored patterns between multiple versions of the creature; No two Raphus will have the same beak pattern.
Beyond this, its general coloration isn't drastically different from most other forms of Grimm, as its main body is coated in black feathers. Notably however, its small feet are coated in white, while its actual talons are colored black. Some of the feathers on its tail and wings are also white. Its wings in particular are quite decorated in terms of patterns, as some faint portions of red can also be seen on the tips of the feathers. Its face has the general white, mask-type coating seen in other Grimm. Along with having red eyes, its beak can have several different types of red-lined patterns across it.
Abilities / Threat Ranking[]
The Raphus is an extraordinarily weak creature. The only ability at its disposal that could be considered an attack is a rapid poking motion done with its beak. Assuming its target is even within reach, the rapid pecking has the potential to leave a lingering, minor sense of pain for a few minutes. At the very most, it can potentially cause strong bruises if the attack persists for long enough. Beyond this, the Raphus is generally incapable of putting out enough destructive force to potentially kill someone. Its main method of "attacking" can barely scratch an individual's aura, especially if they're a well-honed with it. Additionally, it should also be noted that: although it has wings, it is incapable of sustaining flight.
To compensate for its lack of strength, the Raphus has one other technique it can use when threatened: It can emit a very loud, somewhat bellowing squawk from its mouth. This squawk is primarily used as a distress signal, as it is capable of alerting other, stronger Grimm in the nearby area. The more Raphus that squawk, the more likely stronger Grimm will show up. As such, upsetting a large group of these creatures can prove to be very dangerous. As the creature itself possesses no real form of lethal capabilities however, it is categorized as an "F" in terms of its threat ranking.
Additional Notes[]
The Raphus itself is an extremely cowardly creature, and will often run away at the sight of both humans and Faunus alike. It prefers to stick to groups of other Raphus, feeling more secure in numbers. Even so however, a group of Raphus are still just as cowardly and likely to run or hide if they spot a Hunter/Huntress. If backed into a position with no other way out, and if its squawking has proved futile, it will attempt to resort to pecking away at those it feels threatened by. A group of Raphus can potentially start an all-out poking attack, but even their combined strength will likely do little more than inconvenience their target.
Most notably, the Raphus is considered to be an extremely rare type of Grimm. Many believe it is an extinct species, with little to no information or reported sightings turning up in the modern age. A few Raphus still exist however, but are very reclusive in nature. They tend to live in dense forest areas and sometimes near far-off shorelines, so long as they're very far away from any majorly populated area. While they can be attracted to negativity, just like any other form of Grimm, their cowardly nature tends to drive them back to their hiding spots before they venture too far.
Trivia[]
- The Raphus is very obviously based on the Dodo Bird. It should also be noted that this creature's name is derived from the first portion of the Dodo Bird's scientific name ("Raphus Cucullatus").
- The idea for the Raphus being cowardly primarily comes from the Crystal Lizards from the Dark Souls series; rare enemies which run away from the player when they get too close (and often drop very valuable items upon being killed).