Aviarag
Aviarag
CR 8 NG Magical Beast
This creature resembles a lion, except that it has great feathered wings growing from its back and small, goat-like horns. Its tail is split like that of a swallow. Its mane and feathers are blue, and its fur is tawny in color.
Aviarags are benevolent psychic beasts. They tend to live in mountainside cliffs and caves, guarding areas of occult significance. Ley lines, portals, shrines and other such sites are of great interest to an aviarag, and they dwell nearby and roam outwards in search of food. They are omnivorous, preferring to eat small game but capable of surviving on nothing but lichens and mosses. They may be persuaded to share information about the sites they guard in exchange for shiny trinkets (even better if they have psychic significance of their own) or rare foodstuffs. Aviarags are keen judges of character, however, and if they detect treachery or hostility with their psychic senses will go on the offensive.
An aviarag’s flight is its greatest weapon in the hazardous terrain in which it lives—against truly evil foes, it may stun them when they’re hanging onto a ledge, or pick them up, carry them over a deep ravine, and simply drop them. It has a wide array of magical abilities, which it typically uses to disorient foes and strip them of their senses and skills. Once its enemies are suitably inconvenienced, the aviarag descends into melee with a flying charge, grabbing and raking at prey the way lions do.
Aviarags typically prefer solitude and contemplation to company, although if like-minded monks or occultists visit the sites they guard, they may occasionally stop to discuss philosophy. Aviarag males tend to be less inclined to family life than females, but aviarag mothers raise their cubs diligently, and may live with their adult daughters for years. Even so, the individuals hunt for prey separately, and only cooperate to strike against those that would despoil or exploit their occult realms.
Both male and female aviarags have horns and manes, but only the males have beards. They have lifespans that last roughly thirty years unless slain through violence—generations of aviarags may remain at a single site for centuries.
Aviarag CR 8
XP 4,800
NG Large magical beast
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +11, scent
Defense
AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 17 (-1 size, +4 Dex, +8 natural)
hp 102 (12d10+36)
Fort +11, Ref +12, Will +8
Offense
Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft. (good)
Melee bite +14 (1d10+3 plus grab), 2 claws +14 (1d8+3)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Psychic Magic CL 10th, concentration +13 (+17 casting defensively)
30 PE—analyze aura (3 PE), aversion(2 PE, DC 15), detect psychic significance (0 PE), detect thoughts (2 PE, DC 15), mass synesthesia (5 PE, DC 18), mental block (3 PE, DC 16), psychic crush I (5 PE, DC 18), telempathic projection (1 PE, DC 14), thoughtsense (4 PE), tower of iron will I (5 PE)
Special Attacks pounce, rake (2 claws +14. 1d8+3), roar
Statistics
Str 16, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 13, Wis18, Cha 17
Base Atk +12; CMB +16 (+18 bull rush, +20 grab); CMD 30 (32 vs. bull rush, 34 vs. trip)
Feats Alertness,Blind-fight, Combat Casting, Hover, Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack
Skills Diplomacy +8, Fly +14, Intimidate +8, Knowledge (arcana) +6, Perception +14, Sense Motive +11, Stealth +8
Languages Auran,Common
Ecology
Environment any mountains
Organization solitary or family (2-5)
Treasure standard
Special Abilities
Roar (Su) An aviarag can roar as a standard action. All creatures within 60 feet that can hear the aviarag must succeed a DC 19 Fortitude save or be stunned for 1 round. A creature that succeeds its save is immune to the roar of that aviarag for the next 24 hours. This is a sonic effect, and the save DC is Constitution based.