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Saturday, May 18, 2013

Thunder! Thunder! Thunderbird! (Swords & Wizardry Monster)

Art By Matt Bulahao
Thunder Bird


Hit Dice: 10 (45HP)
Armor Class: 2 [17]
Attacks: (3) 2 claw (1d8) and 1 Bite (2d6) or Special
Saving Throw: 9
Special: Can breath Lightning 1/day for 8d6 damage (save for half) as per Lighting Bolt spell. Immune to electrical damage.
Move: 6 / 24 (in air)
Alignment: Neutral
Number Encountered: 1-2
Challenge Level/XP: 11 / 1700

A large (8' from tail to beak) carnivorous bird, Thunder Birds hunt either solo or in pairs. They hunt for food, not for thrill, and will often seek out lone (scouting) individuals. If they are brought down to 1/3 of their starting hit points or less, they will seek to flee, in the hopes of hunting another day.

Tactics wise, they will attempt to swoop down on their target from up high, in the hopes of surprising and killing out right with their Lighting Breath. They often hunt during thunderstorms, using the weather as cover for their attack.

5 comments:

  1. Ummmmmm.... that illustration is obviously a Lightning Bird Eric. Get you facts straight!!!

    Otherwise this looks great.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's just that with a picture you can't hear the thunderous beating of its wings. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fabulous!

    Powerful Stuff

    But are they Tuff Enuff?

    Time to Wrap It Up

    ReplyDelete
  4. If I would run my Eberron game with S&W, this would totally be the mount of choice for any selfrespecting House Lyrandar heir. Maybe I SHOULD run my Eberron game with S&W :)

    Nitpick: Degenerate Elite is right, you should addd a variant that does sonic damage (which S&W doesn't have, or I can't see it). I am sure any group of players would be left befuddled if such a bird would strafe by and knock them off their feet with a BOOM.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The above picture is very nice, but immediately conjured up this album cover image in my mind.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmltxfJk-oA

    Some tunes to go with your Thunderbird?

    ReplyDelete

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