Bird (Mystara), Piranhabird (lesser) [2013]

Climat/Terrain	Nonarctic forest
Organisation	Flock
Fréquence	Rare
Diète	Carnivore
Cycle d'activité	Night
Intelligence	2-4 - Semi intelligence
Trésor	Nil
Alignement	Chaotic Neutre
Nombres	1-4 wings of 1-4+2 birds
Classe d'armure	7
Mouvement	Au sol : Vol : 36'' - Classe de vol : A Nage : Enfouissement : Web :
Dés de vie	1-4 hp
Thac0	20 1 (per wing)
Nbre d'attaques	1 (per wing)
Dommage / attaques	1-4 (bite)
Attaques spéciales	+2 to attacks
Défenses spéciales	Nil
Résistance à la magie	Nil
Taille	T - tiny ( 2' tall or less) (1’ long)
Morale	8-10 - Moyen
Valeur en XP	15 xp

Commentaires : This vicious creature gathers in flocks that rapidly tear apart prey, much like the fish after which the piranha bird is named. Both varietes of piranha bird (lesser and greater) are garishly colored. Individual birds may have green, blue, red, brown, black, or occasionally purple feathers – the entire spectrum of colors is usually displayed in a single flock. Lesser piranha birds grow to a maximum of 1 foot long. Greater piranha birds, on the other hand, average over twice that length. The whistles of greater piranha birds are lower and more melodic than those of lesser piranha birds.

Combat : Piranha birds have gaping mouths full of slashing teeth. These are razor-sharp, so that the bird can easily bite into flesh and rip away a mouthful while on the wing. These creatures can fly with hummingbirdlike maneuverability. They can make sudden changes in direction, or even hover in midair. When one catches sight of a potential meal, it utters a high-pitched whistle, alerting the whole flock. These birds only attack warm-blooded creatures. Lesser piranha birds attack in groups. A flock divides itself into one or more “attack wings” of 3 to 6 individuals (1d4+2). Each “wing” attacks as though it were a single monster, attacking with a +2 bonus and inflicting 1d4 points of damage per hit. If a flock is reduced to fewer than three piranha birds, they lose their attack bonus and must make a successful morale check or scatter. The greater piranha birds, on the other hand, attack individually, each bite inflicting 1d6 points of damage. If half of their flock has been killed or incapacitated, they must pass a morale check or flee. If they pass, they go into a blood frenzy that gives them a +2 to all attacks.

Habitat / Société : Piranha birds do not like bright sunlight, but may he found in warm climates, except areas barren of any shade. They live in regions of dense forest. Underground varieties have developed limited infravision (up to 30 feet). At night or on overcast or foggy days, piranha birds may fly far from their nests in search of prey. Piranha birds reproduce every spring. Each female lays 2 to 5 eggs. She warms them until hatching, and then rejoins the hunt to feed the young. Piranha birds are especially voracious at this time – first the males, which must bring hack enough food to the nests to feed the females; then male and female alike, as they strive to feed their offspring. A flock of piranha birds has no leader as such, hut does have a pecking order that dictates which bird gets first pick of fallen prey for itself, its mate and its young.

Ecologie : Piranha birds, both lesser and greater, are always hungry for fresh meat. They have no interest in treasure; in fact, they tend to avoid shiny objects.