Axe Beak

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Axe Beak (CR 6)

Axe Beaks are massive birds, as large as or larger than ostriches but more related to woodpeckers, amazingly enough. They are omnivorous and can feed on leaves, bark, shoots, grasses and flowers as well as small game, large game, and the occasional humanoid. Axe Beaks are large creatures, standing ten feet tall and surprisingly bulky for their height. They have tremendous legs and large feet, but common axe beaks never use their feet for claw attacks.

Axe Beaks are well adapted to almost any temperate or arctic terrain. They do poorly in deserts. They thrive best in open grasslands where they can run down prey with their great speed, and in temperate forests where they can exploit the wide range of forage available.

Axe Beaks almost always travel in flocks, with at least three or four and sometimes far more in a pack. Axe beaks are sociable creatures and will stay with the same flock for life, although they do not mate for life.

GENERAL

CR 6 Hit Dice 9

XP 2,400

N, Large, Animal

Init +3; Senses low-light 120ft, Perception +12

DEFENSE

AC 24, touch 15, flat-footed 20 (+4 armor, +4 dex, +5 natural, +1 deflection)

hp 82

Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +5

Aura: -

SR: -

Special Defenses: -

Immunities: -

Weaknesses: -

OFFENSE

Speed 60 ft.

Space / Reach: 10 ft. / 10 ft.

Single Melee Bite +10 (1d8+3/x2)

Full Melee Bite +10 (1d8+3/x2), Low Snap, Trample

Ranged None, but see Fluttering Charge

Special Attacks Low Snap, Trample, Fluttering Charge

Action Points 0

STATISTICS

Str 18, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 10

Base Atk +6; CMB +10; CMD 20

Feats Run

Skills Perception +12, Stealth +9

Languages -

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Low Snap

When an Axe Beak makes a full attack action against a non-prone foe, they make their normal Bite attack but may also make a free Trip Combat Maneuver check, as they lower their great heads and snap aggressively at the legs and feet of their opponents. This Trip does not provoke, requires no separate action, and the Axe Beak cannot be tripped in return.

Trample

When an Axe Beak makes a full attack action at a prone foe, they make their normal Bite attack but also gain two claw attacks, as such: Bite +10 (1d8+3/x2), 2x Claws +10 (1d6+1/x2)

Fluttering Charge

Once per encounter, an Axe Beak may make a charge maneuver boosted by wildly flapping their vestigial wings and use Low Snap as their attack action. If they fail in the Trip maneuver, their opponent is Jostled instead.

TREASURE

sell value of approximately 1,875 gp

COMBAT TACTICS

Axe Beaks are fast, sneaky, and perceptive. Their long, strong legs allow them to move overland (outside of combat) at a tremendous pace, and their Run feat means they can race down horses and other very fast prey in a long chase.

Whenever possible, Axe Beaks will use Fluttering Charge to enter combat, hoping to knock foes prone. Any prone foe will be targeted for Trample attacks by every Axe Beak that can reach, and they will try to use Low Snap to knock down as many victims as possible.

Axe Beaks instinctively will try to use their reach and five foot steps to stay five feet away from smaller opponents so they get attacks of opportunity with their huge beaks as often as possible.

Axe Beaks are quite clever, and have been known to stalk prey until it lays down to sleep, and then creep up and begin using Trample attacks on the prone, sleeping victims. Nasty.