The Terror Dactyl

Terror Dactyl

CR: 2     Small Magical Beast
HD: 2d10+4     Hp: 19
Init: +3     Spd: 10', fly 60' (average)
AC: 17 (+2 size, +3 Dex, +2 natural), t: 15, ff: 14
Attacks: (BAB +2/Grap -5); +7 Talons: 2d4-1
SA: Bloodcurdling Scream
SQ: Darkvision 60', Immune to fear effects, Low-Light Vision
Align: N     Saves: Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +2
Str: 8, Dex: 17, Con: 10, Int: 2, Wis: 14, Cha: 7
Skills: Listen +4, Spot +4
Feats: Ability Focus, Weapon Finesse (b)

Treasure: Standard (shiny objects only)
Advancement: 3-4 HD (Small)
Level Adjustment: - -

The orange-feathered bird's head bobs up and down as it stares at you. Suddenly, it's beak opens, revealing serrated teeth before a horrifying scream fills the air. Your heart nearly explodes in your chest as fear overtakes you before you flee into the forest.

Terror Dactyls are tropical birds with feathers ranging from orange to green. They use their bloodcurdling scream to terrify prey into running off of cliffs or cowering in fear and unable to resist their attacks.

• Bloodcurdling Scream (Su): 3/day, the Terror Dactyl can release an piercing scream in a 30' cone that causes fear in whoever hears it. Targets must make a Will save (DC13) or become panicked (drop anything it holds and flee at top speed from the source of its fear, as well as any other dangers it encounters, along a random path for 1d6+1 rounds. It can’t take any other actions. In addition, the creature takes a -2 penalty on all saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. If cornered, a panicked creature cowers). If the save succeeds, the creatures are shaken for 1 round.
• Immune to Fear Effects (Ex): The Terror Dactyl is immune to all fear-based attacks.

Combat: The Terror Dactyl attacks with both of its talons at once. It will use its scream to scare predators away from its nest or to frighten prey into cowering and unable to fight back.

Habitat/Society: Terror Dactyls live on sheer cliffs or high atop jungle trees. They live in mated pairs, coming together in the spring to lay 1d4 eggs. The eggs hatch in about six weeks and both parents take turns tending the nest during this period. The hatchlings are born without feathers and their eyes are closed for the first week or so. They begin flying by two and one-half months.

Ecology: Terror Dactyls prey upon small mammals like mice, squirrels, and rabbits and will also scavenge. Their feathers are useful in the creation of scrolls that cause magical fear. A Wizard with the Improved Familiar feat can select a Terror Dactyl as his familiar. In addition to the regular benefits a familiar provides, the wizard gains a +2 bonus to saving throws against Fear if the familiar is within arm's reach.


AD&D stats
Climate/Terrain: Any Tropical
Frequency: Very Rare
Organization: Solitary or Mated Pair
Activity Cycle: Day
Intelligence: Low (5-7)
Treasure: see below
Alignment: Neutral
No. Appearing: 1-2, plus 1d4 young
Armor Class: 5
Movement: 1, FL 36 (B)
HD: 2
THAC0: 19
No. Attacks: 1 (talons)
Dmg/Att: 2d4-1
Special Attacks: Bloodcurdling Scream
Special Defense: Immune to Fear
MR: Nil
SZ: S (3' wingspan)
Morale: Average (8)
Xp Value: 65

The Terror Dactyl's scream is a cone of Fear (as spell, saving vs Spell to negate).  If a terror dactyl's nest can be found, it might contain 1d6 coins (30%), 1d2 small gems (3%), a piece of jewelry/art object.

Comments

Post a Comment

Recent Posts

Smoke Powder Golem

Image
Smoke Powder Golem                                     CR13 (Original drawing of Smoke Powder Golem)   A Smoke Powder Golem is a blending of technology and the divine magic of Gond created to serve as temple guardians.   On average, the golem stands 12’ tall and weighs 8,000 pounds.   The smoke powder golem resembles the more common Iron Golem except its right arm has been replaced with the thick barrel of a bombard.   A large “backpack” has been built onto the golem and contains the ammunition for the golem’s cannon (internal magazine of six shells).   Firing the cannon causes the next shell to automatically, move into the firing chamber.   The golem smells of oil and sulfur.   N Large Construct Init: -1; Senses: Listen +0, Spot +0 Languages: Understands the langua...
Read more

Beldam (Other Mother from Coraline)

Image
I watched the movie “ Coraline ” for the first time this weekend.   Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen snippets of the film here and there over the years and I recognized the character when the movie started but I have never sat down and Watched the movie (or read the book).   By the time the show was over, I have to admit that I was fascinated by the entire thing.   The animation and pacing were incredibly well done and the main antagonist was delightfully wicked.   This is who I want to focus on today – Beldam, a.k.a. the Other Mother.   Some viewers may think that she was some sort of demon, offering children their heart’s desire in exchange for their souls, much like a crossroads demon but I feel like she more closely resembles a faerie, a member of the Unseelie Court who is allowed a great deal of independence in her operations.   I also think that since the protagonist, Coraline, was just a child that Beldam wouldn’t necessarily have been overly power...
Read more

The Magic of Mario-World Power-Ups for D&D

Image
Not so very long ago, one of my kids suggested that I write a blog post about using the Power-Ups from the Mario Brothers franchise.   Now, to be honest, the last Mario game I played was Super Mario 3 back whenever it came out but I thought, “Sure, why not?”   Well, it turns out that the number of Power-Ups has expanded exponentially in my almost 30 year absence.   Seriously, at the time of this writing, there’s like SEVENTY-NINE different ones available and that doesn’t even touch on the banana peels from Mario Kart. That said, instead of trying to stat out all of them, I’m just going to focus on the ones from the Super Mario Brothers game and call it good.   These include the Super Mushroom, the Fire Flower, the Invincibility Star, and the 1-Up Mushroom.   That’s it.   If you want the Penguin Suit, the Raccoon Suit, or a Yoshi, look somewhere else because I’m not going to cover those here. The Super Mushroom is pretty straightforward. ...
Read more

The EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle

Image
1976 GMC Motorhome Palm Beach model 26' Crew: 4     Passengers: 19 Cargo: 425 lbs.* Init: -4 Top Speed: 60 (6) - approximately 35 - 40 mph Defense: 6 (-4 size) Hardness: 10 SZ: G (8' wide x 26' long x 10' high) Purchase: 45     Restriction: Mil (+3) * each unused passenger slot allows the vehicle to carry an additional 100 lbs. of cargo. • 6 wheels with reinforced tires • Communications: High-Range Radio, Compass, GPS, Night Vision (via driver's periscope) • Back of vehicle opens for assault ramp Armaments: • 7.62mm Machine Guns (x2, forward arc) • Flamethrowers (4/side, fire-linked, over rear wheels) • Light Tank Gun (rear arc) • Rocket Rack (roof-mounted, retractable, 6 rockets) Despite performing well on its one and only (unauthorized) mission , the prototype EM-50 was decommissioned and flown back to the United States and placed in storage at the Sierra Army D...
Read more

A Horse By Any Other Name (Part 6)

Image
One Month after the Summer Solstice (Seventh Moon, 1000 ALB) Ra'ziir follows along beside Foil Hat, "What makes you think this 'Abacus' knows anything about planar travel?" The conspiracy theorist replies, "Oh, he's a wizard, knows all kinds of things about conjurations and summonings. If he doesn't have your answers, he'll probably know who to ask." "My little ponies!" Grotto winnies, "The confection shop is this way! How can we expect to confront this unknown on the word of the paranoid pony? We should surely go to this confectionery and get some information from another source. Are we to trust this one only because it was the first we encountered? More information is needed! We should fill our bellies, get reliable corroborating information there! Are we to blindly trust this one to lead us to a trap in the vulnerable state we are in?!" Grotto insists. "Plus that is where these phillies are!" Grotto thinks to ...
Read more

🎶 🎶 He's a Were-House 🎶 🎶 (to the tune of "Brick House")

Image
One of my players recently tagged me in this picture, more or less daring me to see what I could come up with. There are already other versions of this concept out there (I really like this one ). I know that larger versions of Mimics exist and I could convert them to whatever edition of the game we are playing but that would be cheating and doesn't fit the "spirit" of the post. This is what I came up with... Faizard Skitterbrook the Were-House CR: 3     Medium Humanoid (Human/Shapechanger) HD: 3d4    Hp: 8 Init: +1     Spd: 30' AC: 11 (+1 Dex), t: 11, ff: 10 or 15 (+1 Dex, +4 Mage Armor spell) Attacks: (BAB+1/Grap +1) ; +1 Staff: 1d6 (20/x2) or +2 Light Crossbow: 1d8 (19-20/×2, 80') SA: Arcane Spells (CL3; DC12 + spell level; 4/3/2); Improvised Weapons SQ: Transformation Align: CN    Saves: Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4 Str: 11, Dex: 13, Con: 11, Int: 15, Wi...
Read more