Fantastical Avians
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- Natural Habitat
- Caverns, Crypts, Ruins, Rural
- Frequency
- Rare
- Number
- 1-10 (2)
- Description
- Gargoyles are humanoid in form, but they have leathery wings, sharp claws, a horn, a tail, and spiked elbows and knees. Their skin is stony in appearance, and upon contact it feels very rough. Gargoyles have deep-set eyes, and sharp, small teeth.
- Comments
- Gargoyles are hopelessly evil, and will attack immediately any party that they think they have a fair chance of handling. They can sometimes be found in the service of a highly evil character, in which case they will usually show more restraint.
- Abilities
- Gargoyles possess no special skills or talents. They have only limited magical abilities in general but may use tools and even weapons.
- Movement Rates
- Running: 200; Flying: 400
| PS:
|
14-20
|
MD:
|
13-18
|
AG:
|
12-16
|
MA:
|
10-12
|
EN:
|
7-10
|
FT:
|
18-20
|
| WP:
|
9-13
|
PC:
|
12-16
|
PB:
|
2-5
|
TMR:
|
4/8
|
NA:
|
Hide absorbs 8 DP
|
- Weapons
- Gargoyles can use their horn, claws, bite or a weapon to attack, or any combination of two of these attacks without penalty. They will have Rank 1-5 with their weapons.
- Bite: BC 45%, [D + 2], Melee & Close, Rank 0.
- Horn: BC 35%, [D + 1], Melee & Close, Rank 0.
- Claws: BC 50%, [D - 3], Melee & Close, Rank 0.
- Natural Habitat
- Highlands, Plains
- Frequency
- Very Rare
- Number
- 1-7 (1)
- Description
- The gryphon is a large beast with the body of a lion, the head and wings of an eagle and back covered with feathers. A gryphon's claws are so large that they can be made into serviceable drinking horns. A gryphon is about 5 feet long and stands man-high when full-grown. Gryphon eggs (2-5 possible per nest) are solid agate and quite valuable (4000 - 6000 Silver Pennies apiece).
- Comments
- Gryphons prefer solitude and will fly away when approached if possible, but will always chase and attack horses (whose flesh they prize). They are extremely valuable for use as mounts and cost accordingly (16,000-20,000 Silver Pennies). They nest in cliff-sides and prefer to build their nests of spun-gold (value 8,000-10,000 Silver Pennies).
- Abilities
- Gryphons have no special skills or magical abilities, but their special talent is locating buried treasure and their nest will quite often be built near such treasure, which they will actively guard. A "domesticated'" gryphon has a Base Chance of 60% of locating any buried treasure within a radius of 250 feet of it. Gryphons make valuable steeds, once tamed. They are not magic or tool users.
- Movement Rates
- Running: 200; Flying: 500
| PS:
|
30-36
|
MD:
|
15-20
|
AG:
|
15-20
|
MA:
|
6-9
|
EN:
|
25-30
|
FT:
|
30-35
|
| WP:
|
12-16
|
PC:
|
16-22
|
PB:
|
0-5
|
TMR:
|
4/10
|
NA:
|
Hide absorbs 6 DP
|
- Weapons
- Gryphons may use their beak and both claws without penalty.
- Beak: BC 65%, [D + 5], Melee & Close, Rank 1-3.
- Claws: BC 60%, [D + 5], Melee & Close, Rank 1-4.
- Natural Habitat
- Coastal, Highlands, Waste, Wetlands
- Frequency
- Rare
- Number
- 1-20 (6)
- Description
- Harpies are vulture-like birds with the upper bodies of women. They have long claws, and pale, thin faces. They make a tremendous amount of noise flying, and have a horrible smell.
- Abilities
- Harpies can speak, but have limited magical abilities and no special skills or talents. They are occasionally prophetic, although they will only speak a prophecy if it is evil and they wish to torment the listener.
- Movement Rates
- Running: 50; Flying: 500
| PS:
|
14-20
|
MD:
|
22-26
|
AG:
|
26-30
|
MA:
|
13-17
|
EN:
|
8-10
|
FT:
|
14-19
|
| WP:
|
17-20
|
PC:
|
10-16
|
PB:
|
2-6
|
TMR:
|
1/10
|
NA:
|
Feathers absorb 7 DP
|
- Weapons
- Unless cornered, harpies do not fight man. They may use two talons or any weapons they may have, which will usually not be ranked.
- Talons: BC 70%, [D + 5], Melee & Close, Rank 0.
- Natural Habitat
- Highlands
- Frequency
- Very Rare
- Number
- 1-12 (2)
- Description
- Hippogriffs are similar to pegasi in that they are basically winged horses, but their head is that of some great bird of prey, with a fearsome beak. The head differs from that of an eagle in that it has large feathered ears, almost like wings, at the back of the head. The front legs of the hippogriff also resemble those of a bird of prey, with huge talons and feathers.
- Comments
- Hippogriffs do not like people, and generally shun any area that is inhabited. They are trainable with difficulty. Their value is 3,000-4,000 Silver Pennies untrained and 3 times that price trained. Hippogriff eggs are valuable (circa 800 Silver Pennies each) and very young hippogriffs are even more so (1400-2000 Silver Pennies).
- Abilities
- Hippogriffs have no magical or other extra-ordinary abilities, talents or skills, and are not tool users.
- Movement Rates
- Running: 200; Flying: 400
| PS:
|
18-20
|
MD:
|
19-22
|
AG:
|
16-19
|
MA:
|
None
|
EN:
|
15-18
|
FT:
|
25-30
|
| WP:
|
12-17
|
PC:
|
17-20
|
PB:
|
8-11
|
TMR:
|
4/8
|
NA:
|
Hide absorbs 4 DP
|
- Weapons
- Hippogriffs can use their beak and two talons without penalty. They may use their beak in Close at -30%.
- Beak: 65%, [D + 4], Melee & Close, Rank 0.
- Talons: 55%, [D + 2], Melee & Close, Rank 0.
- Natural Habitat
- Highlands
- Frequency
- Very Rare
- Number
- 1-6 (1)
- Description
- Pegasi are winged horses with pure white coats tinged with silver around mane and flowing tail. They are intelligent for equines and are sometimes sentient.
- Comments
- Wild pegasi are tameable with difficulty. They will only allow themselves to be bridled with gold, however. They can carry up to 300 pounds flying. They are worth 4,000 to 5,000 Silver Pennies untamed and 5 times that amount tamed.
- Abilities
- Pegasi have no special talents or skills except for their flying ability. Sentient pegasi can often speak the common tongue. They are not magic or tool users.
- Movement Rates
- Running: 300; Flying: 500
| PS:
|
55-60
|
MD:
|
15-17
|
AG:
|
15-18
|
MA:
|
None
|
EN:
|
25-30
|
FT:
|
19-23
|
| WP:
|
50-60
|
PC:
|
16-20
|
PB:
|
16-20
|
TMR:
|
6/10
|
NA:
|
Hide absorbs 3 DP
|
- Weapons
- Pegasi may either bite or kick into their rear hex. Pegasi will enter Close Combat and trample, but prefer to fly by and kick in passing.
- Bite: BC 25%, [D + 2], Melee & Close, Rank 0.
- Kick: BC 45%, [D + 7], Melee Rear, Rank 0.
- Trample: BC 25%, [D + 8], Close, Rank 0.
- Natural Habitat
- Plains, Waste
- Frequency
- Very Rare
- Number
- 1
- Description
- The phoenix appears to be much like an eagle in profile but is three times the size of an eagle. The bird's plumage is partly red and partly gold, and is dazzlingly beautiful. The phoenix is a four-hex monster.
- Comments
- Phoenix are famed for their longevity and their method of reproduction. When an old bird is nearing the end of its days (500 years) it builds a nest at the top of an oak or palm tree, and makes a pile of cinnamon and spikenard in the nest upon which it lays itself down to die. A worm springs out of the body of the dead phoenix, and after the worm has matured, it becomes a phoenix itself. It then bears the parent bird to the Altar of the Sun, where it is consumed in flames.
- Abilities
- The phoenix is highly intelligent, although it cannot speak. It does not have any magical abilities. The distinguishing ability of the phoenix is its ability to reproduce itself. Other than that it has no special talents or skills.
- Movement Rates
- Flying: 2000
| PS:
|
17-20
|
MD:
|
20-24
|
AG:
|
17-20
|
MA:
|
None
|
EN:
|
18-24
|
FT:
|
30-35
|
| WP:
|
20-23
|
PC:
|
16-20
|
PB:
|
20-24
|
TMR:
|
40
|
NA:
|
Feathers absorb 6 DP
|
- Weapons
- Phoenix can use their beak and two talons without penalty.
- Beak: BC 60%, [D + 8], Close, Rank 0.
- Talons: BC 65%, [D + 6], Close, Rank 0.
- Natural Habitat
- Highlands (mountain peaks)
- Frequency
- Rare
- Number
- 1-2 (1)
- Description
- Rocs are huge birds with wingspans of up to 250 feet. Except for their size, they much resemble eagles. Their body size is as a four-hex monster.
- Comments
- Rocs often swoop down from their nests to pick up elephants, etc. to take back to their lair and eat. A roc will sometimes attempt to steal a party's cart animals or riding animals, but will rarely carry off the people themselves.
- Abilities
- Rocs have no special talents, skills or magic, and are not tool users.
- Movement Rates
- Flying: 2000
| PS:
|
200-300
|
MD:
|
20-25
|
AG:
|
16-20
|
MA:
|
None
|
EN:
|
150-200
|
FT:
|
250-300
|
| WP:
|
16-20
|
PC:
|
17-21
|
PB:
|
3-7
|
TMR:
|
40
|
NA:
|
Feathers absorb 8 DP
|
- Weapons
- Rocs may attack with beak and two talons without penalty. They can engage in Melee Combat from a range of 3 hexes.
- Beak: BC 75%, [D + 20], Melee & Close.
- Talons: BC 70%, [D + 25], Melee & Close.
