Hsiao

Called guardian owls, the hsiao (sh-HOW) are giant owls with wide-feathered wings and big golden eyes, and observers often sense an air of warmth and wisdom about them. They fly silently, and their call is more like a dove's coo than an owl's hoot. They can talk but rarely do so with outsiders unless there is real need, and they carry no weapons.

Peaceful by nature, they avoid fights but don't flee from unavoidable ones. Spells come first: a hsiao casts priest spells as a cleric of level equal to its Hit Dice, usually 4th, though 25% are higher, up to 15th. In melee it bites for 1d4 and rakes with two claws for 1d6 each.

It can also cry for help from its forest allies, such as centaurs, elves, dryads, unicorns, treants and actaeons. Half the time some woodland creature answers, who shows up after 1d4 rounds; the DM picks or rolls on a woodland encounter table.

Hsiao live in deep forest, nesting high in tall trees, usually ancient oaks, in earth-and-leaf nests called households. The grandest have earthen tunnels running through several trees to link chambers far above the ground. Abandoned households are taken over by other creatures, tasloi and wood imps especially.

Families are small and matrilineal, led by the eldest female, and a mated pair, bonded for life through a rite called the Moon's Flight, lives in the female's household. A pair seldom raises more than two young. The female broods one golden egg for three months, and chicks fly within six months. Then begins up to 10 years of strict priestly schooling and constant questioning by elders.

They work to protect the wilderness from dangerous humanoids, often allying with local druids and trading favors. Visitors who harm nothing are left alone, but those who damage the forest will be corrected.

Their origin is unknown; because of their lawful nature and priestly gifts, rumor says they descend from a powerful lawful god. Their key role is guarding the forest and its creatures.