Buy me a coffeeFiendish Giant Crane
“Beware the skies: Encounter the Fiendish Giant Crane, a winged menace with talons of terror and a hunger for havoc!”
Appearance: A Fiendish Giant Crane stands as a twisted fusion of elegance and terror. Its feathers, once pristine white, now bear the stains of malevolence, taking on a shadowy hue that seems to absorb the very light around it. Its wingspan, vast and foreboding, casts a haunting shadow upon the land, while its beak, sharper than any natural counterpart, gleams with an otherworldly malice. Fiery, malevolent eyes pierce the darkness, betraying a malevolence that belies its graceful exterior.
Behavior: This monstrous crane exhibits an eerie intelligence that defies the natural world. Preferring solitude, it stalks the skies with a calculated patience, observing its prey from above before descending with a sudden, deadly strike. Despite its seemingly serene demeanor, the Fiendish Giant Crane is driven by a sadistic desire to instill fear, reveling in the panic it induces in those unfortunate enough to be caught in its talons.
Habitat: The Fiendish Giant Crane makes its home in desolate and remote landscapes, perching upon craggy peaks and haunting cliff sides. It shuns areas touched by civilization, favoring the isolation of towering mountain ranges or desolate moors where its ominous silhouette can be silhouetted against the desolation.
Modus Operandi: Master of the ambush, a Fiendish Giant Crane patiently circles above, blending seamlessly with the clouds. When the moment is ripe, it plummets with a terrifying speed, its talons extended to snatch unsuspecting prey. It employs a chilling precision, targeting isolated travelers or smaller creatures with a cold and calculated efficiency. Its attacks are not mere acts of survival but rather orchestrated performances of cruelty.
Motivation: Driven by a malevolent force or ancient curse, a Fiendish Giant Crane’s motivation lies in sowing chaos and fear. Some believe it to be a guardian of forbidden knowledge hidden in remote, desolate landscapes, while others think it to be a manifestation of vengeful spirits seeking retribution for the disruption of natural harmony. Whatever the origin, its relentless pursuit of terror fuels its existence, leaving a trail of nightmares in its wake.
Fiendish Giant Crane
Fiendish Giant Crane 3.5
Fiendish Giant Crane
Huge monstrosity, chaotic evil
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 120 (12d12 + 40)
Speed 30 ft., fly 80 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 (+5) | 14 (+2) | 18 (+4) | 8 (-1) | 14 (+2) | 10 (+0) |
Saving Throws DEX +5, WIS +6
Skills Perception +6
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages —
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Keen Sight. The fiendish giant crane has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Shadowy Plumage. In dim light or darkness, the fiendish giant crane gains a +2 bonus to its AC and Dexterity saving throws.
Actions
Multiattack. The fiendish giant crane makes two attacks: one with its beak and one with its talons.
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (2d10 + 5) piercing damage.
Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d8 + 5) slashing damage. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 16).
Aerial Assault (Recharge 5-6). The fiendish giant crane takes flight, moving up to its speed without provoking opportunity attacks. During this movement, it can make one talons attack against a creature it flies over.
Legendary Actions
The fiendish giant crane can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The fiendish giant crane regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Wing Buffet. The fiendish giant crane beats its wings, forcing all creatures within 10 feet of it to make a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be pushed 10 feet away and knocked prone.
Cruel Swoop. The fiendish giant crane makes one talons attack.
Frightening Presence (Costs 2 Actions). The fiendish giant crane emits an aura of malevolence in a 20-foot radius. All creatures of its choice within that aura must make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of their next turn.
This white-feathered bird stands nearly seven feet tall, with its legs counting for nearly half its height. Its head bears a red crown, and its bill is long and pointed. Its face, wingtips, and legs are black.
Originally Posted by BOZ of the En World forums.
Giant Fiendish cranes are omnivorous avians found in marshes and swamps. They hunt in water no deeper than their long legs, preying on fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects and plants. Giant Fiendish cranes regularly attack and fight with Pygmies as they wintered near the source of the Nile.
An adult giant crane stands 7 feet tall with a wingspan of 10 feet or more. They weigh only 25-30 pounds.
| Giant Fiendish Crane | |
| Medium Magical Beast (Extraplanar) | |
| Hit Dice | 3d8+3 (16 hp) |
| Initiative | +3 |
| Speed | 20 ft. (4 squares), Fly 50 ft. (poor) |
| Armor Class | 16 (+2 size, +3 Dexterity, +1 natural), touch 15, flat-footed 13 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +1/+3 |
| Attack | Bite +4 melee (1d6+3) |
| Full Attack | Bite +4 melee (1d6+3) |
| Space/Reach | 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Smite Good 1/day |
| Special Qualities | Low-Light Vision, Darkvision 60 ft., Resistance to cold and fire 5, Spell Resistance 6, wading |
| Saves | Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +4 |
| Abilities | Strength 14, Dexterity 17, Constitution 12, Intelligence 3, Wisdom 16, Charisma 6 |
| Skills | Hide +5, Listen +8, Move Silently +5, Spot +12 |
| Feats | Alertness, Stealthy, Weapon Finesse[b] |
| Environment | Any marsh on evil-aligned plane. |
| Organization | Solitary, pair, flock (10-30) or great flock (31-50 plus 3-12 fledgelings) |
| Challenge Rating | 1 |
| Treasure | None |
| Alignment | Always evil (any). |
| Advancement | 4-6 HD (Medium); 7-9 HD (Large) |
| Level Adjustment | Same as the base creature +2. |
COMBAT
Giant Fiendish cranes are aggressive.
Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal to its HD total (maximum of +20) against a good foe.
Wading (Ex): Although it does not have a Swim speed, a giant crane suffers no movement penalty when walking through water less deep than half its height.
Skills: Giant cranes receive a +4 racial bonus on Spot checks.