Omnikar Bestiary: Banshee-Bird

 BANSHEE-BIRD, for Lamentations of the Flame Princess

HD: 2*

AC: 12

Speed: 130'

Morale: 7

#Appearing: 1d4

Habitat: Mountains

XP value: 50

Special Traits:

    •Hypersensitive Hearing. The banshee-bird can pick up soft sounds at a distance, and has             only a 1-in-6 chance of being surprised.

    •T-Rex Vision. Banshee birds cannot see anything that is not moving.

Actions:

    •Screech, in order to echolocate. The sound of a banshee-bird's screech forces animals and         NPC's of level 2 or less to make morale checks.

    •Leap up to 30'. If the banshee-bird would land on a creature, that creature is pinned unless it         succeeds on a save vs paralysis.

    •Peck attack for 1d6 damage, +1d4 extra damage if the target is pinned.

These giant, flightless raptors dwell in the mountains of Omnikar and Elfland. They somewhat resemble vultures, but they have compound eyes like insects, and their beaks glow faintly red. Banshee-bird pelts are useful for making warm coats.

Their phosphorescent beaks may be powderized and used as an ingredient in potions which enhance the senses.

Although they are not intelligent enough to speak, a banshee-bird's voice sounds exactly like a woman's. They shout when angered, whine when injured, moan when pleased, and yell when startled. Some folks even claim to have heard banshee-birds singing lullabies.

Banshee-birds can barely see, but they are capable of echolocation by screaming. Their screams sound like women in terrible agony, and this sound is magnified by the echoes of their mountain environment. Most animals flee from a banshee-bird's scream, which is to the bird's benefit, since they have an easier time seeing moving targets.

They are obligate carnivores. When a banshee-bird encounters a mixed group of other creatures, it will always target the largest, most appetizing creature first. So, they are more likely to attack your horse than you, until you make it clear that you pose a threat.

Omnik folklore has it that banshee-birds are possessed by the vengeful spirits of elves who were killed by the Omniks' invasion of their land. The elves know that this is nonsense, since the banshee-birds were here long before the Omniks came.

Rumor has it that a spell exists to tame banshee-birds. The Omnik whisper that, deep in the Black Mountains, there exist evil witches who use these raptors as mounts.