Bird (Mystara), Magpie (giant) [2012]

Climat/Terrain	Any temperate
Organisation	Solitary
Fréquence	Rare
Diète	Insectivore
Cycle d'activité	Day
Intelligence	1 - Intelligence animale
Trésor	See below
Alignement	Neutre Absolu
Nombres	1-4
Classe d'armure	6
Mouvement	Au sol : 3'' Vol : 33" - Classe de vol : B Nage : Enfouissement : Web :
Dés de vie	1+1
Thac0	19
Nbre d'attaques	1
Dommage / attaques	1-4 (beak)
Attaques spéciales	Nil
Défenses spéciales	Nil
Résistance à la magie	Nil
Taille	- S-M (3-5’ long)
Morale	8-10 - Moyen
Valeur en XP	65 xp

Commentaires : Magpies are notorious for stealing bright objects. Two varieties make their home in Mystara: common and giant. The common magpie is 14 to 18 inches long from its head to the tip of its tail. The body and tail are mostly black (often shot with metallic blue, green and lavender), and the shoulders and belly are white. The giant magpie sports similar colors, but measures 3 to 5 feet from beak to tail.

Combat : Common magpies fight aggressively if provoked, causing 1 point of damace with each peck. Since they are able flyers, though, it is usually easy for them to escape danger. The beak of the giant magpie inflicts 1d4 points of damage

Habitat / Société : Magpies have a well-deserved reputation as thieves, and may attempt to steal any shiny or brightly colored object that’s unsecured. A common magpie can steal objects weighing up to 3 or 4 ounces (for example, a coin, gem or ring), while the giant magpie can manage objects up to 2 pounds (for example, a piece of jewehy, a dagger, a wand, or a potion bottle). If people are nearby, a magpie may swoop down to take an object without landing, and has a 30% chance of picking it up cleanly and making off without dropping it. If the bird can land unseen, however, its overall chance of success increases to 60% Stolen objects are taken to the bird’s nest. Finding the nest in order to retrieve a lost item may be a difficult task, perhaps even perilous if the search leads to the territories of dangerous creatures. The search may also be rewarding, however, since the nest might also contain 1d6 coins (30%), 1d2 small gems (3%), a piece of jewelry/art object (3% – giant magpie only), or even a small magical item (1% – giant magpie only). The magpie’s nest is woven of sticks, straw, and mud. Magpies often weave thorny twigs into the roof of the nest to keep predators from attacking the abode. The nest is fairly large and round,with only one entrance. A typical clutch contains 5 to 6 greenish blue or yellowish eggs.

Ecologie : Both common and giant magpies prefer to live in cool or temperate habitats, making their homes in woodlands, agricultural land, and even towns. Occansionally a magpie serves as a wizard’s familiar. Magpies eat insects and grain. Those dwelling in settled areas often make their nests near granaries, which offer plentiful meals of spilled grain. According to folklore and common superstition, the number of magpies one sees at a time can help foretell the future. Seven magpies are a portent of great evil.