The Strix (plural: Striges) originates from ancient Roman mythology, with references dating as far back as Ovid and later Roman writers. The name is rooted in proto-Indo-European language relating to screeching or shrieking. The creature has connections to older Greek legends (e.g., Strigla, Strigx), and its influence can be seen in later European folklore—especially the idea of witches transforming into owls. The word “Strix” is from Latin.
It appears as a large, nocturnal bird of ill omen, most commonly associated with owls—particularly the screech owl or barn owl, whose eerie cries added to their fearful reputation.
In the dead of a Roman winter, when the hearths burned low and children whimpered in their sleep, the Strix would perch upon rooftops. Its cry—harsh and hollow—would pierce the dreams of mothers. They would wake to find small scratches on their infants, or worse—no child at all.
One priestess of Diana, Valeria of the Blue Eyes, tracked a strix through the night with a bow carved from yew. She found it in a grove of withered olives, its feathers slick with red, eyes like coins of glass. She spoke not with her mouth, but with flame and silver, and when the bird fell, it cracked open like pottery—revealing a tongue of ash and a heart that beat no longer.
The village knew peace that winter. But the skies have never been silent since.