Thunder Bird, (Greater, Unique)

The skies darken and thunder booms, while lightning arcs in a dazzling display. At the center of the black clouds soars a large, multicolored bird of prey. Each flap of its wings unleashes a clap of thunder, while sheets of lightning flash with each blink of its eyes.

The Thunder Bird is an enigmatic being of great power. Legends claim that it appears to fight evil creatures, and will not leave until the battle is over. Others claim it is a messenger of the gods, while some even claim it is a god itself. No magical means have ever proven able to summon the the Thunder Bird, and many see it as a natural embodiment of free will and the fury of nature.

Although spectators have witness the apparent demise of the Thunder Bird in great battles, it always appears again to battle evil. It is believed that the Thunder Bird makes a nest atop a great mountain, and stories claim that its nest is lined with one of the greatest hordes of magic items in the mortal realm. To date, no one has ever located this nest, although not for lack of trying. The Thunder Bird is 12 feet long with a 30 foot wingspan and weighs about 500 pounds. The Thunder Bird speaks Auran, Common, Celestial, Draconic, and Sylvan.

Originally Posted by Shade of the En World forums.

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Thunder Bird
Large outsider (Chaotic, Good, Native)
Hit Dice	44d8+792 (990 hp)
Initiative	+15
Speed	40 ft. (8 squares), Fly 60 ft. (good)
Armor Class	42 (-1 size, +15 Dexterity, +10 natural, +8 armor), touch 24, flat-footed 27
Base Attack/Grapple	+44/+58
Attack	Talons +58 melee (1d8+15/19-20 plus 4d12 electricity)
Full Attack	2 talons +58 melee (1d8+15/19-20 plus 4d12 electricity) and bite +58 melee (2d6+10/19-20) and 2 wing buffets +58 melee (1d8+10 plus 4d12 sonic)
Space/Reach	10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks	Breath weapon, surrounding storm, talons of lightning, wings of thunder
Special Qualities	Damage reduction 15/adamantine (from ring of ironskin), Darkvision 60 ft., electrical and sonic healing, eyes of the storm, improved evasion, improved uncanny dodge, rebirth, Spell Resistance 39, wind tolerance
Saves	Fort +42, Ref +39, Will +39
Abilities	Strength 30, Dexterity 41, Constitution 46, Intelligence 21, Wisdom 33, Charisma 29
Skills	Balance +21, Bluff +56, Diplomacy +68, Disguise +9 (+15 acting), Heal +58, Intimidate +62, Jump +20, Knowledge (history) +52, Knowledge (nature) +52, Knowledge (religion) +52, Knowledge (the planes) +52, Listen +58, Sense Motive +58, Spot +58, Survival +11 (+17 in aboveground natural environments, +17 on other planes), Tumble +62, Use Magic Device +56
Feats	Ability Focus (Surrounding Storm), Blinding Speed, Epic Will, Fast Healing, Flyby Attack, Hover, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Critical (talons), Improved Flyby Attack, Improved Multiattack, Multiattack, Penetrate Damage Reduction (cold iron), Penetrate Damage Reduction (silver), Power Attack, Snatch
Environment	Any land
Organization	Solitary
Challenge Rating	31
Treasure	No coins; triple goods; quintuple items
Alignment	Chaotic good
Advancement	–
Level Adjustment	–

COMBAT

The Thunder Bird combines the grace and prowess of a bird of prey with the fury of a thunderstorm. It never flees from a battle, fighting to the death without hesitation.

The Thunder Bird’s natural attacks are treated as chaotic-aligned and good-aligned for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. Its attacks are also treated as cold iron and silver weapons due to its Penetrate Damage Reduction feats, and magic due to its amulet of mighty fists +5.

Breath Weapon (Su): Once every 1d4 rounds, the Thunder Bird may breath a 900 foot line of lightning that deals 24d12 points of electricity damage. Reflex DC 50 half. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Electrical and Sonic Healing (Ex): The Thunder Bird takes no damage from electricity and sonic attacks. Instead, any electricity attack (such as shocking grasp or lightning bolt) or sonic attack (such as sound burst) used against the Thunder Bird heals 1 point of damage for every 3 points of damage the attack would otherwise deal. The Thunder Bird can’t heal hit points by attacking itself.

Eyes of the Storm (Su): The Thunder Bird’s vision is never negatively affected by weather conditions.

Rebirth (Su): One year after the Thunder Bird is killed, it is reborn at full maturity and in perfect health, and it goes to the aid of besieged cultures as is its norm. The Thunder Bird is always reborn in the same location, though no one has ever discovered the place.

Surrounding Storm (Su): The Thunder Bird is constantly surrounded by an enormous black storm cloud filled with flashing lightning and crashing claps of thunder. The storm covers a 360-foot-radius centered on the Thunder Bird. Any creatures within the area must succeed on a DC 43 Fortitude save or be deafened for 1d4x10 minutes. Raining acid within the area deals 1d6 points of damage (no save), while hailstones deal 5d6 points of bludgeoning damage (no save). The Thunder Bird may call six bolts of lightning down from the cloud at any creatures within the area, but no two bolts may be directed at the same target. Each bolt deals 10d6 points of electricity damage (Reflex DC 43 half).

Violent rain and wind gusts within the storm reduce visibility. The rain obscures all sight, including Darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature 5 feet away has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker cannot use sight to locate the target). Speed is reduced by three-quarters. Ranged attacks within the area of the storm are impossible.

Spells cast within the area are disrupted unless the caster succeeds on a Concentration check against a DC equal to 43 + the level of the spell the caster is trying to cast. This otherwise functions as a storm of vengeance spell (caster level 20th). The Thunder Bird can suppress or reinstate this aura as a free action. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Talons of Lightning (Su): The Thunder Bird’s talon attacks deliver a bright shock of electricity to the target on a successful hit, dealing an extra 4d12 points of electricity damage. In addition, the victim must make a DC 50 Fort save or be blinded permanently. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Wind Tolerance (Su): The Thunder Bird is unaffected by high winds, and is never checked, knocked down, or blown away by wind conditions. It suffers no penalties to Listen checks made in areas of high winds.

Wings of Thunder (Su): The Thunder Bird’s wing attacks deliver a loud thunderclap when they make a successful hit, dealing an extra 4d12 points of sonic damage to the target. In addition, the victim must make a DC 50 Fort save or be deafened permanently. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Possessions: The Thunder Bird generally carries the following items from its vast hoard: amulet of mighty fists +5, bracers of armor +8, epic ring of ironskin, gem of seeing, ring of freedom of movement, and an assortment of rods, staves and wands (1d4 major, 2d4 medium, and 2d6 minor).

Originally appeared in Deities and Demigods (1980).