Dræcock Bird
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Size/Type | Medium Magical Beast |
| Hit Dice | 8d10+8 (52 hp) |
| Initiative | +2 |
| Speed | 30 ft. (6 squares), fly 80 ft. (poor) |
| Armor Class | 14 (+2 Dex, +2 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 12 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +8/+7 |
| Attack | Bite +10 melee (1d6-1 plus 1d6 acid) |
| Full Attack | Bite +10 melee (1d6-1 plus 1d6 acid) |
| Space/Reach | 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Slime |
| Special Qualities | Darkvision 60ft., damage reduction 5/magic, low-light vision, immunity to acid and disease |
| Saves | Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +3 |
| Abilities | Str 8, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 7 |
| Skills | Listen +6, Spot +12, Survival +4 |
| Feats | Alertness, DodgeB, Endurance, Weapon Finesse |
| Environment | Warm plains |
| Organization | Solitary, pair, flight (3–5), or flock (6–13) |
| Challenge Rating | 6 |
| Treasure | None |
| Alignment | Always neutral |
| Advancement | 9–11 HD (Medium); 12–18 HD (Large) |
| Level Adjustment | ― |
Description
This bird-like creature is roughly the size of a baboon. It is an ugly, hybrid form with an oversized, rooster-like body, the wings of a bat, and a long, reptilian tail. The circular, yellow eyes constantly glisten with anger and malice.
This flying creature bears a resemblance to a cockatrice; so much so that it is often mistaken for such. However it is a larger creature and lacks a petrifying gaze. Instead it is able to project a large glob of green-hued slime at a target, and uses this material to kill and begin the digestion of its prey.
The dræcock bird is a scavenger that uses its disgusting ejecta to make a corpse inedible by other creatures. It is unclear how it came to form this symbiotic relationship with slime colonies, and some even speculate the unwholesome substance actually originated from the dræcock bird.
A dræcock bird is a masterful glider, and it can use rising heat to stay aloft for many hours. It will often circle above a wounded creature like a buzzard, attracting more of its kind to wait until the victim is weak enough to kill.
Combat
The dræcock bird attacks a target from high up in the air, spitting green-hued slime until the prey is killed and partially digested. It then lands to peel off strips from the softened flesh.
Slime (Su): Once every 1d4 rounds, while airborne, a dræcock bird can eject a volume of green slime, striking a creature on a successful ranged touch attack. This slime deals 1d6 points of Constitution damage per round. On the first round of contact, the slime can be scrapped off, but after that it must be frozen, burned, or cut away (dealing damage to the creature in the process). Anything that deals cold or fire damage, sunlight, or a remove disease spell destroys the slime.
Against metal or wood, the slime deals 2d6 points of acid damage per round, ignoring metal's hardness but not that of wood. It does not harm stone.
Skills: Dræcock birds have a +4 racial bonus on Spot checks.
Advanced Benefits
In addition to the standard changes due to Hit Dice advancement, dræcock birds also gain the following special benefits.
- 10+ HD ― Damage reduction improves to 10/magic.