Air Elemental Beast [Dark Sun]

Formed only from the purest air, this beast is normally invisible on its home plane. On the desert world, though, sand and silt get caught in the swirling currents that make up its body, which hurts it terribly and outlines its true shape: a vast 8-foot head with wings sprouting from the back, a wide mouth lined with rows of needle-sharp teeth, and eyes that glitter with pain and spite. The winds within it whistle and howl constantly.

Like an air elemental, it rules the sky, gaining +1 to hit and +4 to damage in aerial combat, though these bonuses never apply against natives of its own plane. It bites for 2d6 (2-12), and attacking while unseen gives its first strike +4.

On a natural 20 against a foe of medium size or smaller, it clamps the victim in its jaws. A grounded victim is carried 50 feet up and dropped for 5d6 (5-30). A flying one is rushed at full speed toward the ground or a boulder and released at the last moment as the beast, with class A maneuverability, veers away instantly; the victim takes 3d6 (3-18) and is left reeling for 1d6 rounds unless it makes a system shock roll.

Taking in enough dust, sand or dirt drives it berserk. Each round it spends within 10 feet of loose debris brings a cumulative 5% chance of this. The rage lasts 1d8 rounds, until it expels the material, and gives +2 to all its attacks but a -2 penalty to AC from its recklessness.

Some spells affect it oddly. Control weather aimed at it deals 8d8 (8-64), save for half. Gust of wind instead feeds it, granting 2 extra Hit Dice for 1d4 rounds, with even odds of also sparking its fury; during that time damage comes off the bonus Hit Dice first, and it attacks as a 10+3 HD creature (THAC0 11).

The beast is only at ease on its home plane, though there are rumors of sightings near sandstorms and tornadoes. It lives alone and keeps company with no other creature, not even its own kind.

It plays no part in the desert world's natural order. Among the winds of home it is fairly common, and djinn prize it as a guardian, a tracker and a hunter, or keep one as a pet.