Description: A Phluck is a wildspace equivalent of a duck. Flying through space, they seek out heavily populated areas of native fish, while constantly migrating from one place to another. They make lairs once every few years within asteroids, where anywhere up to 500 birds may group together.

Combat: In combat, one would assume that something the size of a duck is not very hostile. In fact, unless attacked, these creatures are incredibly docile, seeking only their fish for food. Once even the smallest stone has been thrown, however, the whole flock rapidly descends on offenders, and shows it's true strength. The Phluck have small, razor sharp teeth inside their beaks, used to rip meat apart, and small talons on their feet, for holding, snagging, and raking. When attacking from the air they prefer to use their talons, but once on the ground snap and bite at their opponents with powerful jaws.

Habitat/Society: The Phluck migrate as normal ducks do, but on a more constant basis (after all, at non-spelljamming speeds, it takes them years to reach their destinations). They have a very instinctual sense of direction, and uncannily know when a ship or other large body is approaching, but rarely deviate from course as some sailors (usually those who know them and consider them a lucky sign) give them small pieces of food.

When one Phluck is down, the rest will not leave it unless driven off by excessive force. They are tireless hunters, also, and will spend hours chasing the one flock of fish, usually spreading out around it to try and contain it (a tactic their planet-bound cousins cannot easily do).

Phluck mate once every cycle, which is usually three to five years, depending on their route of migration. Currently, a group of Phluck is known to settle on the underside of Dragon Rock every fourth year, usually up to 750 birds can be found at this time. Phluck lay 1d4 eggs, which hatch a month later, and are large enough birds to depart on the migration 5 months after that. Phluck mating is a very loud, and long-winded process (this is quite literal - as the phluck start mating calls immediately after arriving), involving the expulsion of all their oxygen reserves. There seems to be something within these oxygen reserves, when expelled this way, as it attracts schools upon schools of fish - not only bestowing a food-source for the now stationary Phluck, but also boosting the local fishing economy. Mating usually takes one week of almost continuous, noisy displays of lung capacity.

The locals of wherever the Phluck amy mate usually soon learn to put up with the nosie (which has a nasty habit of traveling over even airless space), due to the amount of eggs, fish, and strayed Phluck that can be collected. Of course, the local children enjoy this time as well - they are usually employed to clean Phluck droppings (as it is very difficult to remove) from ships, buildings, streets - and sometimes even people (the Phluck tend to be a little inquisitive during mating season, but unfortunately don't let only their eyes roam the local port)

Ecology: Phluck eat most fish native to wildspace, along with some other small edibles. It is rumoured they eat Orld as much as Scro do, but of course these are hard to find in large numbers in space, more-so found on vessels etc. Phluck do not breathe as normal creatures, instead anytime they go through an air envelope they built up a stock of concentrated oxygen reserves (similar to a camel and water). Of course, this can be a hazard to ships, as an air envelope of a small ship can be harsly damage by a large flock of Phluck, but instinct keeps the birds from doing this to small ships (ie those it would have a detrimental effect on) - as theyare usually attacked when doing so.

Of course, some rather nasty captains use this concentrated oxygen to their advantage. On several occasions pirate vessels have been seen to purposely slay scores of the brids to replenish their air envelopes without returning to port - as when the Phluck are killed any oxygen they retain is expelled.

Phluck meat is also rather tasty, and some hunt the smaller flocks for food (phluck meat is very lean). It seems tinker gnomes have taken to having them as pets, also, and will pay up to 50 gp per Phluck egg captured and brought to them (something about "phluckted air conditioning and renewing").

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