The Giant Falcon

Large beast, unaligned

Armor Class 15 Hit Points 75 (10d10 + 20) Speed 60 ft., fly 100 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	18 (+4)	14 (+2)	2 (-4)	14 (+2)	6 (-2)

Skills Perception +4 Senses passive Perception 14 Languages understands Common but can’t speak

Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

Keen Sight. It has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Dive Attack. If it dives at least 30 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a talon attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 14 (4d6) slashing damage.

Multiattack. It 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: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.

Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage.

Predatory Dive (Recharge 5-6). It makes a dive attack against a target. If the attack hits, the target must make a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Flyby. The Giant Falcon doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.

Actions

Aerial Supremacy (Recharge 6). It emits a deafening screech that strikes fear into the hearts of its enemies. Each creature of The Giant Falcon’s choice within 60 feet of it that can hear the screech must succeed on a DC 15 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 itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to The Giant Falcon’s Aerial Supremacy for the next 24 hours.

Reactions

Evasion. When subjected to an area effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take half damage, The Giant Falcon instead takes no damage on a success and half damage on a failure.

The raptor swoops through the air with grace and power, a perfect predator.

Source: Pathfinder d20pfsrd.com

Giant falcons are birds of prey that build their nests high atop mountains, cliffs, or other places, inaccessible to most other creatures. They are nocturnal hunters that enjoy swooping down on unsuspecting prey, scooping it up, and flying back to their nest to dine on the meal.

Giant falcons prey on animals such as birds (normal and giant), reptiles, and rodents. Prized meals include snakes (both normal and giant), dire rats, and small humanoids. Prey is captured and carried to the nest, where it is devoured later or fed to the young. Mating season for giant falcons varies, but typically occurs during the summer months. The female lays 1d4+2 eggs which hatch about two months later. Within 40 days, the young falcons are fully feathered and capable of hunting. Many leave the nest for good and go out on their own.

A typical one stands nine feet tall and has a wingspan of up to 18 feet. Feather coloration varies, but typically ranges from brownish-red to brown. Its eyes are brown and its wings are tapered. The giant falcon has a short, slim tail consisting of brown, white, and black feathers. Most giant falcons have a light-colored chest with white predominant on the neck and throat and slowly fading as it reaches the abdomen.

Giant falcons are generally solitary hunters, though excursions consisting of up to four of these creatures are not unheard of. Such hunting teams communicate with each other, relaying their position as well as the position of their target through vocalizations consisting of loud squawks and cries. A giant falcon attacks by swooping down on its foe and raking with its talons and stabbing with its beak.

Giant Falcon CR 2

XP 600 N Large animal Init +3; Senses Low-Light Vision, Scent; Perception +13

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dexterity, +3 natural, -1 size) hp 16 (3d8+3) Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +2

OFFENSE

Speed 10 ft., Fly 80 ft. (average) Melee 2 talons +4 (1d6+3), bite +4 (1d8+3) Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft. Special Attacks rend (2 talons, 1d6+3)

STATISTICS

Strength 17, Dexterity 17, Constitution 13, Intelligence 2, Wisdom 12, Charisma 6 Base Atk +2; CMB +6; CMD 19 Feats Flyby Attack, Skill Focus (Perception) Skills Fly +5, Perception +13; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate mountains Organization solitary, team (2-5), or pack (4-7) Treasure none

Training a Giant Falcon

A giant falcon must be trained before it can bear a rider in combat. To be trained, it must have a friendly attitude toward the trainer (this can be achieved through a successful Diplomacy check). Training a friendly giant falcon requires six weeks of work and a successful DC 25 Handle Animal check. Riding a giant falcon requires an exotic saddle. A giant falcon can fight while carrying a rider, but the rider cannot also attack unless he or she makes a successful Ride check.

Giant falcon eggs are worth 1,500 gp each on the open market, while young bring the sum of 3,000 gp apiece. Professional trainers charge up to 1,000 gp to rear or train a giant falcon.

Carrying Capacity: A light load for a giant falcon is up to 258 pounds; a medium load, 259-519 pounds; and a heavy load, 520-780 pounds. It can drag up to 3,900 pounds.

Section 15: Copyright Notice – Tome of Horrors Complete

Falcon, Giant from the Tome of Horrors Complete, Copyright 2011, Necromancer Games, Inc., published and distributed by Frog God Games; Author Scott Greene.