Buy me a coffeePiasa, The Winged Doom
“The terrifying Piasa: a mythical beast part bird, part dragon, and entirely nightmare-inducing!”
The Piasa is a hybrid monstrosity of staggering proportions, blending features of multiple fearsome creatures. It has the body of a scaled serpent or dragon, the taloned legs of a giant bird, and a head often described as lion-like, complete with sharp fangs and glowing eyes. Large, bat-like wings extend from its back, allowing it to soar over the rugged cliffs and rivers of its territory. Its tail is long, barbed, and whip-like, capable of striking with deadly precision. Colorful yet menacing patterns adorn its scales and feathers, giving it an almost otherworldly aura.
Behavior:
The Piasa is notoriously aggressive and territorial, often preying on unwary travelers and hunters who venture too close to its domain. It is known for ambushing its prey, swooping down silently from the skies or leaping from rocky perches. Despite its size, it moves with alarming speed and agility, making it an apex predator in its environment. The Piasa rarely attacks in daylight, favoring twilight or moonlit nights to strike fear into its victims.
Habitat:
This fearsome creature is said to inhabit the limestone bluffs and forested regions along the Mississippi River, particularly around present-day Alton, Illinois. Its lair is typically described as a dark cave or a hidden cleft in the rock face, high above ground level to provide an unobstructed view of the river valley below. The surrounding area is often eerily devoid of other animals, likely due to the Piasa’s hunting dominance.
Modus Operandi:
The Piasa is a relentless predator, targeting both animals and humans alike. It uses its keen eyesight and acute hearing to detect movement from great distances. When hunting, it employs a combination of stealth and sheer brute force: gliding silently above its prey, it strikes with razor-sharp talons or ensnares its victims in its powerful tail. Legends speak of it carrying prey back to its lair to feast. In some tales, it uses its fearsome roar to paralyze victims before attacking.
Motivation:
The Piasa’s motivations are primal and predatory, driven by hunger and a fierce need to assert dominance over its territory. In Native American lore, it also embodies supernatural retribution, sometimes targeting individuals or groups deemed unworthy or corrupt. It may also act as a guardian of sacred lands, with its attacks serving as warnings to those who would desecrate its home.
The Piasa remains an enduring symbol of mystery and danger, its legend perpetuated by the haunting murals and chilling stories passed down through generations.
Piasa 5e
Piasa Pathfinder
Piasa 3.5 Homebrew
Piasa
Gargantuan Monstrosity (Mythic), Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class: 20 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 310 (20d20 + 100)
Speed: 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 (+7) | 18 (+4) | 20 (+5) | 12 (+1) | 16 (+3) | 14 (+2) |
Saving Throws: Dex +9, Con +10, Wis +8
Skills: Perception +8, Intimidation +7, Athletics +12
Damage Resistances: Fire, Necrotic
Damage Immunities: Poison, Psychic
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned
Senses: Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 18
Languages: Understands Common, Sylvan, and Draconic but cannot speak
Challenge: 18 (20,000 XP)
Traits
Legendary Resistance (3/Day):
If the Piasa fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Apex Predator:
The Piasa has advantage on attack rolls against creatures with fewer hit points than itself.
Frightful Presence:
Each creature of the Piasa’s choice within 120 feet and aware of it must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
Magic Resistance:
The Piasa has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Winged Terror:
When the Piasa flies over creatures during its movement, it can force all creatures within 10 feet directly below it to make a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Actions
Multiattack:
The Piasa makes three attacks: one with its Bite, one with its Talons, and one with its Tail.
- Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 25 (4d8 + 7) piercing damage. - Talons: Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 20 (3d10 + 7) slashing damage. - Tail Whip: Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target.
Hit: 18 (3d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked back 10 feet.
Wing Buffet (Recharge 5–6):
The Piasa beats its massive wings. Each creature within 20 feet of it must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 21 (6d6) bludgeoning damage on a failed save or half as much on a success. Creatures that fail the save are also pushed 15 feet away and fall prone.
Breath of Terror (Recharge 5–6):
The Piasa exhales a cone of shimmering, otherworldly energy in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in the area must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 36 (8d8) necrotic damage and is frightened for 1 minute. On a successful save, the creature takes half damage and is not frightened.
Legendary Actions
The Piasa can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature’s turn.
- Wing Strike: The Piasa makes a Talons attack.
- Dreadful Gaze (Costs 2 Actions): The Piasa targets one creature it can see within 60 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or become paralyzed until the end of its next turn.
- Aerial Dodge (Costs 2 Actions): The Piasa moves up to half its flying speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Tactics
The Piasa is a cunning and brutal predator that uses its size and flight to dominate the battlefield.
- Opening Strategy: The Piasa begins combat with Breath of Terror to scatter and frighten enemies, softening up groups for follow-up attacks.
- Mid-Combat Tactics: It stays airborne whenever possible, using its Wing Buffet to disrupt and knock down opponents while focusing on the most vulnerable targets.
- Against Spellcasters: Its Magic Resistance makes it bold against magical threats, and it prioritizes disabling spellcasters with Dreadful Gaze.
- Territorial Fighter: If defending its lair, the Piasa uses the terrain to its advantage, herding enemies into narrow spaces where its cone-shaped Breath of Terror is most effective.
Piasa
Originally Posted by Avolakian of the Wizards Community forums
Piasa are great majestic dragons turned cruel man-hunters after they found out there liking for humanoid flesh. There thick scales are a foul mixture of black, red, and green. They posses two pairs of claws equip with sharp, black, talons, a long serpentine tail, a pair of antlers, and the face of a person.
Piasa are about 30 ft. long and 12 ft. tall.
| Piasa dragon-bird | |
| Large Dragon | |
| Hit Dice | 8d12+16 (68 hp) |
| Initiative | +1 |
| Speed | 40 ft. (8), Fly 80 ft. (poor) |
| Armor Class | 19 (-1 size, +1 Dexterity, +9 natural), Touch 10, Flat-Footed 18 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +8/+16 |
| Attack | Claw +11 melee (1d6+4) |
| Full Attack | 2 Claws +11 melee (1d6+4), plus bite +9 melee (1d8+2) |
| Space/Reach | 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Rend, Improved grab |
| Special Qualities | Darkvision 60 ft., Low-Light Vision, Damage Reduction 10/magic |
| Saves | Fort +9, Will +7, Ref+7 |
| Abilities | Strength 19, Dexterity 12, Constitution 14, Intelligence 11, Wisdom 12, Charisma 15 |
| Skills | Listen +14, Spot +14, Search +11, Intimidate +13, Sense Motive +12, Hide +8 |
| Feats | Improved Initiative, Alertness, Multiattack |
| Environment | Temperate Hills |
| Organization | Solitary or pair |
| Challenge Rating | 6 |
| Treasure | Standard |
| Alignment | Neutral Evil |
| Advancement | 9-16(Large);17-24(Huge) |
| Level Adjustment | — |
Combat
Improved grab (Ex): A Piasa that hits with a claw attack can attempt to start a grapple as a free action.
Rend (Ex): When it makes a full attack and hits an opponent with both claws it deals an extra 2d6+6 damage.
Piasa
CR 16
XP 76,800
CE Gargantuan Magical Beast
Init +6; Senses Darkvision 120 ft., Low-light Vision, Perception +21
Defense
AC 33, touch 8, flat-footed 31 (+2 Dex, +25 natural, –4 size)
hp 264 (23d10+138)
Fort +19, Ref +15, Will +10
DR 10/magic; Immune poison, fear; Resist fire 10, acid 10
SR 27
Offense
Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft. (average)
Melee bite +28 (4d8+10/19–20), 2 talons +28 (2d6+10), tail slap +25 (2d8+10 plus push)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 20 ft.
Special Attacks Breath Weapon, Frightful Presence, Pounce
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 16th, concentration +18)
- Constant—see invisibility, detect magic
- At will—magic missile, gust of wind (DC 15)
- 3/day—dispel magic, fireball (DC 16), wall of fire
- 1/day—greater teleport, cloudkill (DC 19)
Breath Weapon (Su):
The Piasa exhales a 60-foot cone of necrotic energy once every 1d4 rounds. All creatures in the cone take 12d8 negative energy damage (Reflex DC 27 for half). Creatures failing the save are also frightened for 1d4 rounds.
Frightful Presence (Ex):
The Piasa inspires terror in creatures within 120 feet. Creatures with fewer than 15 Hit Dice must succeed on a DC 23 Will save or become shaken for 1 minute. A successful save renders the creature immune to this effect for 24 hours.
Push (Ex):
Whenever the Piasa hits with a tail slap, the target must succeed on a DC 27 Strength check or be pushed back 10 feet.
Statistics
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 (+10) | 14 (+2) | 22 (+6) | 10 (+0) | 16 (+3) | 14 (+2) |
Base Atk +23; CMB +37 (+41 grapple); CMD 49 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Critical Focus, Flyby Attack, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Stunning Critical, Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills Fly +8, Intimidate +18, Perception +21, Stealth +4 (+12 in forests); Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth in forests
Languages Aklo, Common (understands but cannot speak)
Special Abilities
Territorial Guardian (Ex):
The Piasa gains a +4 bonus to Perception and Stealth checks in its lair or natural terrain (forests or cliffs).
Crushing Pounce (Ex):
When charging, the Piasa can make a full attack, including a bite and two talon attacks. If both talons hit the same creature, the Piasa can automatically grapple as a free action (CMB +41).
Necrotic Aura (Su):
Creatures within 10 feet of the Piasa at the start of their turn take 2d6 negative energy damage (no save). This damage heals the Piasa for half the amount dealt.
Wing Blast (Ex):
As a full-round action, the Piasa can beat its wings, creating a 30-foot cone of wind. All creatures in the area must succeed on a DC 25 Reflex save or fall prone. Flying creatures are pushed 20 feet back and descend 10 feet.
Tactics
- Before Combat: The Piasa uses see invisibility and detect magic to monitor threats, striking when foes are least prepared.
- During Combat: It begins combat with its Breath Weapon or fireball, targeting groups of enemies. It uses Crushing Pounce on isolated foes, grappling and dragging them into the air.
- Against Spellcasters: The Piasa prioritizes spellcasters, using gust of wind to disrupt concentration and dispel magic to remove buffs.
- When Wounded: If reduced to below 50% HP, the Piasa retreats to its lair, using wall of fire or cloudkill to create barriers.
Ecology
Environment temperate forests, cliffs, or river valleys
Organization solitary or paired
Treasure standard
The Piasa is a fearsome aerial predator, a remnant of ancient times, feared and revered as both guardian and destroyer. Its lairs are typically high cliffs overlooking vast forests or rivers, marked by clawed stone and shattered remains of its prey. Though territorial, it occasionally allows offerings of treasure or food to placate its wrath.