General Rules: Monsters - Carrion Crow

Carrion Crow (from the Unholy Warrior's Handbook)
Large Magical Beast

Hit Dice: 6d10 + 18 (51 hit points)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 20 feet, fly 80 feet (average)
Armor Class: 15 (+2 Dexterity, -1 size, +4 natural)
BAB/Grapple: +6/+14
Attack: claw +9 melee (1d6 + 4, piercing and slashing, 20 x2)

Full Attack: 2 claws +9 melee (1d6 + 4, piercing and slashing, 20 x2) and bite +4 melee (1d8 + 2 plus disease, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing 20 x2)

Space/Reach: 10 feet by 5 feet/5 feet
Special Attacks: Disease, improved grab, ominous presence
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 feet, low-light vision, evasion, keen sight
Saves: Fortitude +8, Reflex +7, Will +3
Abilities: Str 18, Int 7, Wis 12, Dex 14, Con 17, Cha 8
Skills: Balance +6, Listen +10, Spot +10
Feats: Flyby Attack, Skill Augmentation (Listen and Spot)
Environment: Any land
Organization: Solitary, pair, clutch (2 - 5), or flock (7 - 25)
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always evil
Advancement: 7 - 12 Hit Dice (Large), 13 - 18 Hit Dice (Huge)

Carrion crows populate the infernal forests. Most commonly, they seek the tender morsels, such as eyes and organ meat of the fallen warrior in the eternal conflict between the planes. Their hunger draws them to battlefields across the planes. From the battlefield of Gehenna to the wars on the slopes of the heavenly mountains, carrion crows are a regular fixture. In the Three Worlds, these birds emerge at especially large feasts, where demonic or otherwise evil armies have decimated whole cities. Even in these instances, carrion crows are rare in the mortal realms except when in the service of an unholy warrior.

Similar to, but larger than, their mundane cousins, they have oily black feathers covering their bodies, sepia beaks, and gleaming green eyes that glow like a cat's in the darkness. Large, wicked talons curl from their scaly digits, which are razor sharp for slicing into the guts of the dead. Carrion crows speak an odd croaking mimicry of common human tongues such as Sorglish or Rhadynnic, but have perfect understanding of Infernal. They despise giant eagles and attack them on sight.

Combat
In combat, carrion crows prefer to swoop down, raking their foes with their talons. If they grapple their opponents, they peck at the face and eyes. Normally, carrion crows do not attack large groups of the living, preferring instead to target the lone straggler.

Unholy warriors devoted to Halpas may select a carrion crow as their dark ally.

Disease (Su): Carrion crows are carriers of both Filth Fever and Demon Fever. Victim's of the carrion crow's bite attack must attempt Fortitude saves against DC 12 and 18, respectively, to avoid contracting these plagues.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the carrion crow must hit an opponent no more than one size category greater than itself with both claw attacks. After dealing normal damage, the carrion crow may start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it gets a hold, it deals automatic claw damage each round the hold is maintained, and may make bite attacks with a +4 circumstance bonus. The carrion crow may maintain the grapple as normal.

Ominous Presence (Su): The mere appearance of these creatures evokes fear and confusion in their enemies. All those seeing a carrion crow must attempt a Will save (DC 11) or suffer a -2 penalty to all attack rolls, skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws for the remainder of the encounter. A failed or successful save grants immunity to this ability for 24 hours.

Evasion (Ex): A carrion crow can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If it makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, it instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the carrion crow is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless carrion crow does not gain the benefit of evasion.

Keen Sight (Ex): Carrion crows can see twice as far as normal.

Home     Three Worlds     Monsters