Fire Falcon

The fire falcon is a small, rust-red bird of prey living far from human settlement. All it asks of large creatures, men included, is to be left alone.

Its tactics depend on the size of the foe. Rabbits, small birds and similar prey are simply seized in the talons and pecked. Bigger intruders, such as people or horses, are first harried from long range: the falcon flicks a pair of volatile, fiery globules from the tips of its wings into the trespassers' midst. They burst on contact with anything, burning everyone within 10 feet for 1d6 (no save, though magical fire resistance halves it), so no attack roll is needed to hurt a party. Each falcon can do this four times a day. A sphere that actually strikes a person or mount clings and keeps burning, dealing another 1d6 the next round and 1d3 the round after.

Physical attacks come only if fire fails to drive intruders off, and even then only when young are in the nest and the strangers are closing in. The falcon rakes with both talons for 1d3 each, then bites for 1d2 and buffets with each wing for 1d2. A mounted foe hit by the wings must pass a Dexterity check at -4 or fall, which can kill a flying rider. It aims its talons at the face and hair, so armor helps only if it includes a full-face helm, and riders lose their Dexterity bonus to AC against these attacks. Given a choice, it goes for someone with long flowing hair over someone wrapped in metal. Fire of any kind, magical or not, cannot harm it, and it is immune to magic missile.

Flocks consist of three or four families nesting high on mountains when possible, otherwise hidden in tundra grass, or on a nearby mesa in the desert. They love lining nests with shiny things, so any treasure lies there. Each eats about half its weight daily in mice, shrews, rabbits and other small animals. It flies up to forty miles a day, soars on thermals for hours without a wingbeat, and can spot a field mouse moving 4 miles away. Cruising speed is about 12 miles per hour, but a diving falcon tops 130.

Fire falcons pair for life and live about 28 years, breeding from age 3 to 27 and laying one egg a season, rarely two. Chicks spend six months in the nest being fed, then learn to fly and hunt and join the flock's work, and the whole flock guards all the young. To prevent inbreeding, females leave at two years old to find mates elsewhere, while males stay near where they hatched and wait for females from other eyries.

Only humans threaten the fire falcon. Falconers can train hatchlings, a few wizards keep them as familiars, and they are good at keeping rodent numbers in check.