Greatswan

Greatswans are huge, elegant swans with long necks and pure white feathers, that elves breed and train to stand sentry and carry warriors into battle. Like ordinary swans they have fierce tempers, and they share the same terms: males are cobs, females pens, and young cygnets. They have no language. One can carry two elf-sized riders, roughly 240 pounds.

Gentle as they seem, greatswans fight hard with a beak strike for 1d6 and a wing buffet for 2d6. The buffet has a 50% chance to leave the target blinded and confused for one round, and a 25% chance to knock a foe of man size or less 2d10 feet backward. A mounted swan cannot buffet while flying, but its elven rider can send it into a power dive in which both the elf's weapon and the beak get +2 to THAC0 and deal double damage. Most riders favor medium lances for this.

Keen senses let them notice 75% of intruders, invisible ones included, so they make superb sentries; on spotting one they honk loudly and charge with wings thrashing. All poisons are harmless to them.

Greatswans travel with elves of every kind across the void between worlds. Elven men-o-war carry them 25% of the time (2d6 birds) and armadas 50% of the time (4d6), each with as many elven swanriders. The riders always have the Airborne Riding proficiency, are at least 3rd-level fighters, and carry a charging weapon like a spear, pike or lance plus a long or short bow along with their usual melee weapon. A greatswan will never carry anyone but an elf.

Unlike mundane swans they are not territorial, turning hostile only when strangers come within 30 feet of a nest or guard post. Each answers to the name its trainer chose and as many commands as they have points of Intelligence. Strong swimmers, they are handy when elves explore water worlds. They need little air: one lungful lasts a day, and the air their personal gravity drags along keeps two elf-sized riders breathing for 5d10 turns. Greatswans met without elves are mated pairs, each with 1d2 cygnets and 1d4 eggs.

Elves keep the birds strictly within their own lands and cities, fearing their appetites could upset the balance of nature elsewhere. Their diet is greenery, aquatic plants above all, plus vast quantities of insects, even venomous ones, without harm. Space moths are a favorite treat, and trainers use them to reward cygnets. Elven mages craft winged boots, wings of flying and feather tokens from the plumes.