dragon-magic-oef

CHAPTER 4
DRACONIC
BEASTS
Flight of the Drakkensteed (EL 7): Four drakkensteeds
pause by a lake to drink, resting their wings between legs of a
long journey. Three of the drakkensteeds quench their thirst,
while the fourth keeps watch. If anyone intrudes upon them
and fails to remain hidden, the drakkensteeds immediately take
wing and fly away. If a creature or character approaches within
30 feet of the drakkensteeds before being noticed, all four
drakkensteeds attack and attempt to trample the intruders.
ECOLOGY
Most people consider drakkensteeds nothing but a myth.
Descendants of an ancient blending of dragon and horse
blood, drakkensteeds are intelligent and easily frightened,
preferring to stay far from humanoids for fear that they
might be captured or harmed. Few live drakkensteeds have
ever been seen up close, and the beasts remain a mystery to
most natural scholars.
Drakkensteeds live in small, wild herds away from the
reaches of civilization, but they are inherently social animals.
Their herds move as one, sleep as one, graze as one, and are as
tightly knit as some humanoid families. Some rumors suggest
that drakkensteeds will take revenge for a fallen member of
the herd, though more likely this is just the result of their
protective nature. Drakkensteeds fly from danger whenever
they can, but if threatened, they can be more dangerous than
a charging bull.
Most drakkensteeds are content to live simple lives, moving
from one location to another to graze. Competition for mates
within a herd is usually fierce and violent, frequently leaving
potential male suitors dead or mortally wounded. Female
drakkensteeds are equally fierce in their choice of mates,
sometimes joining in a fight for dominance to assist the male
that they consider the worthiest.
Environment: Drakkensteeds typically live in secluded
areas, far from civilization of any kind. One of their favored
homes is a forgotten garden or forest, an area of untamed
wilderness that has passed beyond the memories of mortals.
A very few drakkensteeds will live near druid circles, but
only if those circles are isolated from the rest of the world.
Typical Physical Characteristics: Drakkensteeds are
huge by animal standards, combining the size and shape of
a warhorse with the wingspan of a dragon. Drakkensteeds
stand taller than most humans and have a wingspan of
roughly 15 feet, allowing them to fly with ease. They also
possess a long, dragonlike tail that they use in self-defense
and to balance their large bodies during flight. This tail is
typically 5 to 7 feet long, though it usually remains curled
around the drakkensteed’s hindquarters when not in use.
the drakkensteed detects the character, it flees immediately.
If the character manages to approach within 30 feet, she can
then attempt a DC 25 Handle Animal check to convince the
drakkensteed to allow her to come close enough. Paladins
who have drakkensteed mounts need not make these checks
on their own mounts.
Captured and domesticated drakkensteeds are extremely
rare; a trained young specimen can cost up to 15,000 gp. The
few trainers who can tame such a beast usually charge around
3,000 gp for their services.
HUITZIL
“Upon further research, it has become quite evident that huitzil
make challenging familiars due to their tendency to hoard any spell
components that reflect too much light.”
—Naelan, half-elf wizard and Lord of the Uttercold
This small flying creature resembles a tiny dragon with short
forelimbs and a potbelly. Its leathery wings beat quickly to keep it
afloat, and it flutters about with casual, yet quick movements. Its
jagged beak features a slight underbite, and a single horn protrudes
from its snout, jutting straight up from the beak. The creature has
a very short neck that almost puts its head directly attached to its
upper body.
Huitzil CR 1/3
Always N Tiny animal (dragonblood)
Init +2; Senses low-light vision, Listen +0, Spot +2
AC 17, touch 14, flat-footed 15
(+2 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural)
hp 4 (1 HD)
Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +0
Speed 10 ft. (2 squares), fly 60 ft. (average)
Melee bite +4 (1d3–3) and
talons –1 (1d2–3)
Space 2–1/2 ft.; Reach 2–1/2 ft.
Base Atk +0; Grp –11
Atk Options distract
Abilities Str 5, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 8
Feats Hover, Weapon Finesse B
Skills Hide +10, Listen +0, Search +0, Sleight of Hand* +6,
Spot +2
* Huitzils have a +4 racial bonus on Search and Sleight of
Hand checks.
Distract (Ex) Huitzils are adept at making lots of noise and
getting in the way, and when their nests are threatened,
they often fly at a predator’s head in an attempt to
distract it. As a standard action, a huitzil can make a
melee touch attack with a +4 attack bonus against a
creature whose space it shares. If successful, that target
takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls for 1 round.
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DRAKKENSTEEDS AS MOUNTS
Like horses, drakkensteeds can be used as mounts. Finding
and domesticating a drakkensteed is no easy task; most are too
frightened by humanoids to allow a character to come close.
Any PC approaching a drakkensteed must succeed on both a
Hide check and a Move Silently check to avoid detection. If
Huitzils are small, mischievous drakken descended from
the ancient coupling of dragons and birds. Possessing the
curiosity and love for treasure found in both dragons and
crows, they frequently cause minor trouble for travelers in
their domains and are considered little more than an annoyance
by those they bother.