Songbird pet
Songbird pet
The songbird is an exotic pet available in GemStone IV. It hatches from an egg and bonds to its owner, leaving behind an enchanted whistle used to call it home.
For lore and background on songbirds, see Songbird.
Acquisition
Songbird eggs are currently only available during Rumor Woods.
Hatching your egg
To hatch a songbird egg, hold it and EXHALE upon it. Do not pre-wash the egg or rush the hatchling. As the shell gives way, the remaining shard forges into a whistle once the bond has been made. This whistle is your tether to the bird; should it wander, a simple EXHALE upon the whistle will call it home.
Feeding and care
A songbird's spirit and will, much like our own, is tied to its stomach.
- Foraging: Songbirds crave seeds and live bugs, such as crickets. A starving bird will enter a comatose state to preserve its magic, and its appearance declines rapidly without food.
- Hunting: When roaming, a songbird may hunt room bugs on its own. However, a few room bugs are a mere snack—the bird still requires regular hand-feeding to remain vibrant and cannot survive on self-foraged bugs alone.
Social behavior
Songbirds are sociable creatures and have been observed:
- Performing duets with fellow birds.
- Engaging in playful antics with teadragons, lizards, puppies, and more.
- Accompanying a bard's instrument or loresong with perfect pitch, or joining other singing songbirds in harmony.
Plumage
Songbirds come in a wide variety of colors reflecting their region of origin. See Songbirds : A Traveler's Guide to Plumage Origins for the full regional breakdown.
Songbird Verbs
Songbirds are bonded pet companions that respond to a wide variety of player interactions. Each verb has multiple randomized response variants. When the bird is in a comatose state (0% from hunger), most verbs produce weaker, sadder responses instead of the normal ones.
RUB, SING, WHISTLE, TURN, PUSH, PULL, DROP, HUG, KISS, PET, POKE, TICKLE, WAVE, SHOW, WRITE, READ, SEND, TAP, LEAN, TWIST, TOUCH
See also