Roc

Gargantuan beast

Armor Class: 4
Hit Dice: 6 (average 21 hp)
Movement: 60 ft / 480 ft flying
Attacks: 2 talons (1d6 each) + 1 bite (2d6)
Morale: 10
Alignment: Neutral
XP: 600

Description

The Roc is an eagle of impossible scale — large enough to carry an elephant in its talons. It nests only in the highest, most inaccessible mountain peaks and hunts across vast territory. Its eggs alone are the size of boulders.

Special Abilities

Carry Prey: A Roc can snatch creatures of horse-size or smaller in its talons and carry them aloft. Prey is dropped from great height for killing or brought back to the nest.

Young in Nest: There is a 50% chance that a Roc's nest contains eggs or fledglings. A Roc with young is automatically hostile to all intruders.

Alignment Response: Rocs attack creatures of Chaotic or Neutral alignment that intrude near their nest. They are hostile to Lawful characters only if provoked or if defending their young.

Tactics / Encounter / Notes

Rocs dive from altitude, attempting to snatch creatures in their talons. Against larger groups they may dive, grab one target, and fly away. They do not negotiate or retreat once committed.

20% chance the encounter is at their nest (high mountain peak).

Treasure

Roc nests contain Type I treasure — carried there in the belly or talons of prey brought back over generations.