Stymphalian Bird

Large monstrosity, chaotic neutral

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Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 110 (13d10 + 39)
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	17 (+3)	16 (+3)	6 (−2)	14 (+2)	8 (−1)

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Saving Throws Dex +6, Wis +5
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances Piercing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities Poison
Condition Immunities Charmed, Poisoned
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 15
Languages —
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3

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Description

Bronze-feathered raptors sacred to Ares, Stymphalian Birds are winged engines of destruction that haunt remote wetlands and mountain lakes. Their feathers shimmer like burnished metal, and their piercing cries echo like war horns across the mist. When roused, they darken the skies in a storm of shrieking metallic death.

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Traits

Metallic Plumage. The bird’s feathers are razor-edged and metallic. When a creature hits the bird with a melee attack, that creature takes 3 (1d6) slashing damage from the sharp quills.

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

Aerial Agility. The bird can move through a space as narrow as 1 foot wide without squeezing, provided it isn’t wearing armor or carrying more than half its carrying capacity.

War God’s Favor (Recharge 5–6). Once per short rest, the bird can unleash a divine shriek imbued with Ares’ fury. Until the end of its next turn, its quills and beak attacks deal an extra 7 (2d6) thunder damage.

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Actions

Multiattack. The Stymphalian Bird makes two attacks: one with its Beak and one with its Talons, or two with Quill Volley.

Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage.

Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.

Quill Volley. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 60/120 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (3d6) piercing damage. The bird can launch up to 3 quills per bonus action, each at a different target.

Terrifying Screech (Recharge 5–6). The bird emits a metallic, thunderous cry. Each creature of the bird’s choice within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or be frightened until the end of its next turn. A creature that succeeds on the saving throw is immune to this bird’s screech for 24 hours.

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Reactions

Feather Shield. When hit by a ranged attack, the bird deflects part of the blow with a burst of metallic feathers, reducing the damage by 1d10 + 3.

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Legendary Actions

The Stymphalian Bird can take 2 legendary actions, only one at a time, and only at the end of another creature’s turn. It regains spent actions at the start of its turn.

• Wing Buffet. The bird beats its wings in a 15-foot radius. Each creature of its choice in that area must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or take 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone.
• Quick Quill. The bird launches a single quill at a target within 60 feet.
• Shriek (Costs 2 Actions). The bird uses Terrifying Screech.

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Tactics

Stymphalian Birds prefer to attack from above, peppering foes with quills before swooping in with blinding speed. They use their screech to scatter enemies and disrupt spellcasters, then focus on isolated targets. In groups, they coordinate through eerie calls, striking in formation to herd prey into narrow, vulnerable positions. If bloodied, a Stymphalian Bird retreats skyward, circling beyond arrow range before diving again when the moment favors it.

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Environment

Swamps, mountain lakes, or marshlands sacred to war deities.

Stymphalian Bird

Large Magical Beast, Chaotic Neutral

This bronze-feathered raptor circles remote marshes and lakes, its metallic plumage flashing in the sunlight. Its deafening screeches herald a storm of quills that can shred armor and flesh alike.

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DEFENSE

AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15 (+3 Dex, +5 natural)
hp 78 (10d10+30)
Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +4
Defensive Abilities evasion
DR 5/magic
Immune poison

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OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (good)

Melee

• Beak +10 (1d8+4)
• Talons +10 (2 claws 1d6+4)

Ranged

• Quill Volley +8 ranged touch (1d6, max 3 per round)

Special Attacks

• Quill Volley (Ex): The bird can launch up to 3 detachable metallic quills as a standard action. Each quill targets a creature within 60 ft. and deals 1d6 piercing damage.
• Terrifying Screech (Su) 1/day: All creatures of the bird’s choice within 30 ft. must succeed on a DC 16 Will save or become frightened for 1 round.
• Fear (Sp) 1/day: As fear spell (DC 16, 1st level).

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th; concentration +7)

• 1/day: Fly (self only), Shocking Grasp (1d6/level, ranged touch, 5 ft.)

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STATISTICS

Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6
Base Atk +10; CMB +14; CMD 27
Feats Weapon Focus (beak), Multiattack, Flyby Attack, Improved Initiative
Skills Perception +10, Stealth +8, Fly +10

Languages —
Challenge Rating 6
Treasure standard

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SPECIAL ABILITIES

• Metallic Feathers (Ex): Any creature striking the bird with a melee attack takes 1d6 slashing damage from its sharp feathers.
• Aerial Agility (Ex): The bird can fly through spaces as narrow as 1 ft. wide without squeezing.
• War God’s Blessing (Su) 1/day: The bird adds +2 damage to all beak and talon attacks for 1 round.

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TACTICS

The Stymphalian Bird prefers aerial harassment. It opens combat with a quill volley to soften foes, then swoops in for beak and talon attacks, prioritizing spellcasters and ranged attackers. If threatened, it uses Flyby Attack to strike and retreat. When in groups, birds coordinate attacks and screeches to scatter enemy formations before diving collectively.

Combat Strategy:

• Start with ranged quill attacks.
• Follow up with Terrifying Screech or Fear to disrupt the party.
• Engage vulnerable or isolated targets with beak and talons.
• Retreat to higher airspace if heavily damaged, then re-engage.

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ENVIRONMENT

Marshes, remote lakes, wetlands, and forested river valleys.

Stymphalian Birds

Crossing the river comes a flock of atrocious birds, like raptors from a realm of evil. They look as withered, cadaverous birds with iron-like wings, claws and beaks. Their large swollen eyes smoulder as orbs of white fire.

Stymphalian Birds were man-eating birds and sharp metallic feathers they could launch at their victims they resembled a crane with an unusually long beak of bronze and long, swift legs with claws of brass. These hunt in a five mile radius of their lair, attacking creatures that they encounter, and also they were Ares‘ pets. Furthermore, their dung was highly toxic. They had migrated to Lake Stymphalus in Arcadia to escape a pack of wolves, and bred quickly and took over the countryside, destroying local crops and fruit trees. Ridding the land of these birds was one of Heracles’ Twelve Labors, and some sources claim the Stymphalian birds were the same avians that attacked the Argonauts.

Stymphalian birds are supernatural raptors roaming the near lower planes, although they sometimes seek their prey in the world of mortals. They frequent places were water is abundant and light scarce, such as underground rivers and lakes. Stymphalian birds appear as Large, emaciated cranes whose serrated beaks and claws have the look and consistency of bronze. Their wings and feathers are also sharp and glistening as if they were made of metal and can in fact be used to attack. Stymphalian birds speak Auran and Infernal.

Monster Encyclopaedia II: The Dark Bestiary
Author J. C. Alvarez
Publisher Mongoose Publishing
Publish date 2005

Stymphalian Bird
Large magical beast
Hit Dice	4d10+8 (30 hp)
Initiative	+4
Speed	20 ft. (4 squares), Fly 80 ft. (average)
AC	21 (-1 size, +4 Dexterity, +8 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 17
Base Attack/Grapple	+4/+14
Attack	Bite +9 melee (1d8+6) or wing +9 melee (1d6+6) or talons +9 melee (1d6+6)
Full Attack	Bite +9 melee (1d8+6) and wing +4 melee (1d6+6) and talons +4 melee (1d6+6)
Space/Reach	10 ft. /5 ft.
Special Attacks	Feather darts, impale
Special Qualities	Damage reduction 5/adamantine, Darkvision 60 ft., Low-Light Vision, resistance to cold 10 and fire 10
Saves	Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +2
Abilities	Strength 22, Dexterity 19, Constitution 15, Intelligence 10, Wisdom 13, Charisma 8
Skills	Hide +6, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +5
Feats	Flyby Attack, Hover
Environment	Rivers and underground
Organisation	Flock (11-20)
Challenge Rating	3
Treasure	None
Alignment	Usually chaotic evil
Advancement	5-8 HD (Large), 9-12 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment	+3 (cohort)

Combat

Stymphalian birds hide in trees or caves near their river lairs, flying out in a savage flock as soon as an intruder appears. They attack everyone they can as best they can, preferring to use their bite attacks but often cutting enemies with their wings as well. When a Stymphalian bird uses its talons, it combines both talons into a single attack.

Feather Darts (Ex): As a full-round action, a Stymphalian bird may unleash a volley of slashing feathers on a 10 foot square area no more than 30 feet away. The Stymphalian bird may then make a separate ranged attack against each creature in this area; each successful attack deals 1d4+3 points of damage to the target.

Impale (Ex): If a Stymphalian bird makes a successful bite attack, it immediately deals an additional 1d8+6 points of damage as its serrated beak impales the target. 

Skills: Stymphalian birds gain a +2 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks.

Flock of Stymphalian Birds

Huge swarm of Large monstrosities, chaotic neutral

When dozens of bronze-feathered warbirds take wing together, the sky itself turns to metal. Their synchronized screeches echo like a god’s trumpet, heralding a storm of razors and thunder.

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Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 180 (19d12 + 57)
Speed 30 ft., fly 80 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
19 (+4)	18 (+4)	17 (+3)	6 (–2)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)

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Saving Throws Dex +8, Wis +6
Skills Perception +6, Stealth +8
Damage Resistances Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities Poison
Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned, Prone, Restrained
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages —
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +4

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Traits

Swarm form. The flock can occupy another creature’s space and vice versa, and it can move through any opening large enough for a Small creature. The flock can’t regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.

Razor rain. When the flock enters or ends its turn within 10 feet of a creature, that creature must succeed on a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or take 10 (3d6) slashing damage.

Coordinated assault. When a member of the flock hits with a beak or quill attack, another within 30 feet can use its reaction to make one quill attack against the same target.

Metallic barrage (Recharge 5–6). The flock releases a storm of bronze feathers in a 30-foot-radius sphere centered on itself. Each creature in that area must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw, taking 27 (6d8) piercing damage on a failed save or half as much on a success. The area becomes lightly obscured until the end of the flock’s next turn.

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Actions

Multiattack. The flock makes two swarm strike attacks or one metallic barrage if available.

Swarm strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target in the swarm’s space. Hit: 21 (6d6) slashing damage, or 10 (3d6) if the flock has half its hit points or fewer.

Thunderous screech (Recharge 6). The flock emits a bone-rattling chorus. Each creature of the flock’s choice within 60 feet must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be deafened and frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effects on itself on a success.

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Legendary Actions

The flock can take 3 legendary actions, only one at a time, and only at the end of another creature’s turn. It regains spent actions at the start of its turn.

• Move. The flock moves up to half its flying speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
• Razor burst (2 Actions). The flock flares its feathers in a 20-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or take 14 (4d6) slashing damage.
• Coordinated dive (3 Actions). The flock dives as one, crashing down in a 15-foot-radius circle. Each creature in the area must make a DC 16 Strength saving throw or take 18 (4d8) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone.

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Tactics

The flock begins combat with thunderous screech to scatter enemies, then circles at 40–60 feet altitude, performing razor rain fly-bys to soften the field. It focuses on exposed spellcasters and archers, driving them into melee where visibility is obscured by metallic downpour. When heavily damaged, the flock ascends beyond ranged reach, regrouping before plunging again in a synchronized coordinated dive.

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Environment

Marshes, mountain lakes, or secluded highlands sacred to gods of war.