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Axe Beak (Phororhacos)

Phororhacos, Axe Beak
Life restoration by Charles R. Knight, 1901

The Axe Beak – This stout flightless bird stands upon two long, taloned legs, but it is its axe-shaped beak that looks the most ferocious.

Axe Beak CR 2

XP 600
N Large animal
Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +9

DEFENSE

AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 11 (+3 Dex, +2 natural, -1 size)
hp 22 (3d8+9)
Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +1

OFFENSE

Speed 50 ft.
Melee bite +5 (1d8+6)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks sudden charge

STATISTICS

Str 18, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 10
Base Atk +2; CMB +7; CMD 20
Feats Run, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Perception +9

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Sudden Charge (Ex)

When making a charge attack, a terror bird makes a single bite attack. If successful, it may also attempt to trip its opponent as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the axe beak cannot be tripped in return.

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate plains
Organization solitary, pair, or flock (3-6)
Treasure incidental

Keen-witted and powerful avian predators, terror bird compete with wolves and hunting cats for prey upon vast, open steppes and prairies. Although feared for their boldness and territorial natures, these giant birds prove eminently tamable, making useful guardians, hunters, and even steeds when kept well fed. Terror birds are relatively social creatures, forming small groups in which both males and females hunt together.

They nest in immense mounds made of sticks, branches, leaves, and whatever else they can scavenge (including the bones and equipment of previous meals), with each nest used by a large group of terror bird. Females typically lay clutches of 1d4+1 eggs once per year, which the parents take turns keeping warm for 2 months before they hatch. Mature axe beaks stand 9 feet tall and weigh as much as 500 pounds. Their plumage varies widely, from gray to brown to black in temperate climes, but taking on exotic shades of gold, red, blue, and other vibrant hues in more tropical environs. Phororhacos have lifespans of up to 50 years.

A terror bird requires training before it will bear a rider. Taming an axe beak requires 6 weeks of work and a DC 25 Handle Animal check, after which it can be taught tricks as normal. Riding an axe beak requires an exotic saddle. Axe beak eggs are worth 1,000 gp apiece on the open market, while young are worth 1,500 gp each. A light load for an axe beak is up to 200 pounds; a medium load, 201-400 pounds; and a heavy load, 401-600 pounds.

Other types of large, predatory flightless birds exist such as the diatryma and terror bird but the axe beak is but the most commonly encountered and well known of this breed of predator.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3, © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors Jesse Benner, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, James Jacobs, Michael Kenway, Rob McCreary, Patrick Renie, Chris Sims, F. Wesley Schneider, James L. Sutter, and Russ Taylor, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.

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