Monster Specification

Rocs / Thunderbirds

Thunderbird Totem

Typical Monster Level ("ML"): Rocs: 7 to 21, Thunderbirds: 8 to 24

Typical Number Encountered: 1

Usual Alignment(s): Rocs: N/L, N/N, Thunderbirds: N/C

Description: a huge eagle-like bird, Thunderbirds are black, with lightning crackling around them

Habitat: Wilderness, esp. high mountains, Sky, surface of Sea, Thunderbirds: Dreams, Chaos, thunderstorms

Language: Roc; a wide range of squawks used by Rocs, Thunderbirds (and possibly Phoenixes) to communicate

Chars: Co 4d8, Wp 4d8

Movement:

Fly at up to 100 ft/sec = 600 ft/MR = 69 mph (will use a following wind or updraft where possible on long flights)

Fighter Abilities:

ML/3, FRU AMR    D = 25 + (5ML) %    RD = 5 + (5ML) %    5 + (5ML) HP

Attack Modes:

Bite @ A = 10ML %, DAM = 2d8+4, with +2 vs Plate

Talon(s):

Thunderbirds do an additional ML/2 (FRU) d6 Lightning Damage when they hit.

HitLoc Table:

HitLoc Area

Front

Side

Rear

Head

01 to 50

01 to 30

n/a

Neck

51 to 100

31 to 75

n/a

Wings (*2)

101 to 150

76 to 150

01 to 60

Legs (*2)

151 to 200

151 to 180

n/a
Body  n/a 181 to 240 61 to 120

Tail

n/a

241 to 300

121 to 200

ADS:

HitLoc Area

 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

Head

 4 3 2 1 0 0 1 2 3 4

Neck

 3 3 2 2 1 1 2 2 3 3

Wings

 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 3

Legs

 4 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 4
Body  3 3 2 2 1 1 2 2 3 3

Tail

 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 3

Effects of Specific Damage:

Hit Loc Area %age HP Damage taken Effects
Head 15% Unconscious, Co check vs Death
  30% Death (Thunderbird explodes)
 Neck 30% Co check vs Neck Broken (= Death, Thunderbird explodes)
  60% Co check vs Neck Severed (= Death, Thunderbird explodes)
  90% Neck Severed (= Death, Thunderbird explodes)
Wings (*2) 30% Co check vs Wing Crippled
  60% Wing Crippled (glides to ground), Co check vs Wing Severed
  90% Wing Severed (falls to ground)
Legs (*2) 20% Co check vs Leg Crippled
  40% Leg Crippled, Co check vs Leg Severed
  60% Leg Severed
Body 75% Incapacitated, Co check vs Death, Bleed 5%/min, Co check vs Bleed 5%/MR
  150% Death (Thunderbird explodes)
Tail 25% Co check vs Tail Crippled
  50% Tail Crippled, Co check vs Tail Severed
  75% Tail Severed

Bleeding effects from Severance (only) are as for People.

If a Thunderbird is killed, it explodes with a Flash of Lightning (= Call Lightning centred on its place of death) and a Clap of Thunder (see Note 4. below)

Thievish Abilities:

M on Th Activities:

Defensive ThL = ML/2, FRU

Other Abilities / Powers / Notes:

  1. Rocs are intelligent and far-sighted Monsters that ride the winds, only landing to nest or take prey.  They nest in eyries in the highest mountains, but fly great distances in search of prey on land or at sea.  Their nesting sites are mostly in the high mountains of the East of the Overworld, but nests may be found on Mt. Anar or in other mountain ranges of the Overworld or Underworld.
  2. Rocs may be ridden, but are difficult to tame or control and only bond with one rider.  The Sun Riders, a Cult of CAERULAS-worshipping Bird Cultists of the Kayani, are the most experienced at this, their initiation being to steal a Roc egg to raise the chick and tame it as one’s mount.
  3. Thunderbirds are semi-legendary Rocs with Lightning Powers.  They dwell in Dreams and Chaos, but may visit the Real World to hunt in thunderstorms.  It is said that the greatest Eagle Shamen of the Mist Warriors of the Grasslands can summon and ride a Thunderbird (but this may just be boasting after a few drinks or mushrooms).
  4. Thunderbirds can Call Lightning to do ML/2 (FRU) d6 Lightning Damage to all Targets in an ML ft Radius and are Lightning Resistant.  They can also beat their wings to cause a Clap of Thunder: st @ 4ML% (Hr) vs Deafness for d6 + ML MRs for all within earshot.
  5. Phoenixes are legendary Rocs with Fire Powers.  They are very rare (if they exist at all), and are said to be found only in Dreams or Chaos.

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