Buy me a coffeeDire Turkey: The Feathered Menace
“Meet the Dire Turkey: A Feathered Nightmare with Talons Sharp Enough to Carve Your Thanksgiving Feast—And You!”
The Dire Turkey is an enormous, nightmarish evolution of the common wild turkey. Standing nearly 8 feet tall and weighing over 300 pounds, it dwarfs its mundane cousins. Its feathers are dark and iridescent, shimmering ominously in shades of green, black, and crimson, giving it a spectral appearance. A wickedly curved, bone-white beak protrudes from its crimson-wattled head, which is adorned with jagged scars—testaments to its territorial skirmishes. Its talons are monstrous, nearly a foot long, sharp enough to rend flesh and carve through bark with ease. Its piercing, predatory eyes glow with a malevolent intelligence, and its wingspan extends a terrifying 15 feet, creating an imposing shadow as it looms over its prey.
Behaviour:
The Dire Turkey is fiercely territorial and aggressive. Unlike the skittish nature of ordinary turkeys, this beast is bold and unrelenting, attacking anything it perceives as a threat—or a potential meal. Known for its loud, guttural gobbles that reverberate through the forest, the Dire Turkey uses its voice to both intimidate rivals and communicate with its flock. These creatures are pack hunters, operating in small groups of three to five, though a lone Dire Turkey is equally dangerous. Their highly developed social structure allows them to coordinate ambushes and outmaneuver prey.
Habitat:
Dire Turkeys inhabit dark, dense forests, particularly those with overgrown underbrush and towering trees. They favor environments where they can easily camouflage their glossy plumage among shadows and foliage. They often establish nests on rocky outcroppings or within hollowed-out trees, guarding their young with unparalleled ferocity. Rumors persist of Dire Turkey sightings in enchanted woods, ancient ruins, or cursed groves, where their predatory instincts have been honed to perfection.
Modus Operandi:
Dire Turkeys are opportunistic hunters, stalking their prey with surprising stealth given their size. They use their eerie calls to disorient and lure victims deeper into the woods, where dense foliage limits visibility and escape routes. Once close enough, they strike with alarming speed, using their talons to incapacitate prey and their beaks to deliver the killing blow. They are known to cache kills for later consumption, often hanging carcasses in trees as macabre trophies. Dire Turkeys have also been observed using rudimentary tactics, such as herding prey into natural traps or overwhelming them with synchronized attacks.
Motivation:
Driven by primal hunger and territorial instinct, the Dire Turkey’s primary motivation is survival and dominance. However, legends tell of an ancient curse placed upon their kind, compelling them to guard forgotten relics or sacred groves. Some say that slaying a Dire Turkey can yield mystical rewards, but others warn that their wrath will summon the flock. Whether it’s a product of nature’s cruelty or arcane meddling, the Dire Turkey is a creature that inspires fear and awe in equal measure.
Dire Turkey 5e
Dire Turkey 3.5
Dire Turkey
Large Beast, Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class: 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 136 (13d10 + 52)
Speed: 40 ft., fly 20 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 14 (+2) | 18 (+4) | 5 (-3) | 14 (+2) | 10 (+0) |
Saving Throws: Strength +7, Wisdom +5
Skills: Perception +6, Stealth +5
Damage Resistances: Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 16
Languages: —
Challenge: 6 (2,300 XP)
Traits
Keen Sight and Smell. The Dire Turkey has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell.
Shadowy Camouflage. While in dim light or darkness, the Dire Turkey can attempt to hide as a bonus action.
Terrifying Gobble (Recharge 5-6). As an action, the Dire Turkey lets out a blood-curdling gobble audible within 120 feet. Each creature of the Dire Turkey’s choice within 60 feet that can hear it must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Actions
Multiattack. The Dire Turkey makes two attacks: one with its beak and one with its talons.
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) piercing damage.
Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 12 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage.
Wing Buffet. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 13 (2d10 + 4) bludgeoning damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Ambush Charge. If the Dire Turkey moves at least 20 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a talon attack on the same turn, the target takes an additional 10 (3d6) slashing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 15).
Reactions
Flurry of Feathers. When a creature within 10 feet hits the Dire Turkey with a melee attack, it can use its reaction to unleash a burst of feathers. Each creature within 10 feet must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or be blinded until the end of its next turn.
Legendary Actions
The Dire Turkey can take 1 legendary action, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time, and it can only be used at the end of another creature’s turn.
- Predatory Lunge. The Dire Turkey moves up to 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks and makes a beak attack.
- Gobble Intimidation. The Dire Turkey targets one creature within 30 feet that it can see. That creature must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on its next attack roll or ability check.
Tactics
The Dire Turkey towers over most adventurers, giving it a fearsome presence without overshadowing truly massive creatures. It fights tactically, using Shadowy Camouflage to hide and ambush its prey with Ambush Charge. In battle, it employs Flurry of Feathers and Terrifying Gobble to disrupt foes, creating openings for its brutal talons. Its Wing Buffet helps control the battlefield, knocking enemies prone or scattering them to set up advantageous positioning.
By reducing its size, it retains its terror-inducing nature while fitting better into most campaigns as a high-level predator without requiring massive, open spaces for encounters.
Dire turkey
This horse-sized bird has a featherless, red head with fleshy growths. Its legs are long, ending in four-toed feet.
Originally Posted by Shade of the En World forums.
On this Thread
Dire turkeys are larger, more aggressive, and more carnivorous than their lesser cousins.
A dire turkey is 7 to 8 feet long and weighs upwards of 700 pounds. Females are generally smaller than males. Coloration varies from dark-brown to black on the body, and reddish-orange to greyish-blue legs. The feathers of males have areas of red, purple, green, copper, bronze, and gold iridescence, while those of females are duller, in shades of brown and gray. Males have red wattles on the throat and neck.
| Dire Turkey | |
| Large animal | |
| Hit Dice | 5d8+10 (32 hp) |
| Initiative | +1 |
| Speed | 10 ft. (2 squares), Fly 40 ft. (good) |
| Armor Class | 13 (-1 size, +1 Dexterity, +3 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 13 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +3/+10 |
| Attack | Claw +5 melee (1d8+3) |
| Full Attack | 2 claws +5 melee (1d8+3) and beak +3 melee (1d6+1) |
| Space/Reach | 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Pounce |
| Special Qualities | Low-Light Vision |
| Saves | Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +1 |
| Abilities | Strength 17, Dexterity 12, Constitution 15, Intelligence 2, Wisdom 10, Charisma 11 |
| Skills | Listen +6, Spot +6 |
| Feats | Alertness, Multiattack |
| Environment | Cold or temperate forests |
| Organization | Solitary or rafter (2-24) |
| Challenge Rating | 3 |
| Treasure | None |
| Alignment | Always neutral |
| Advancement | 6-10 HD (Large) |
| Level Adjustment | – |
COMBAT
A dire turkey prefers to pounce on prey, attacking with its sharp beak and talons.
Pounce (Ex): If a dire turkey charges a foe, it can make a full attack.
Based on the turkey that appeared in Dragon Magazine #186 (1992).