Pegasus

A pegasus looks like a fine Arabian horse, a little larger than usual, with two great feathered wings. Most are white, some are brown, and black ones are rumored; color has no bearing on temperament, as all are chaotic good. At 17 hands, or 5 feet at the withers, they top 1,500 pounds. No pegasus tolerates a saddle; riders go bareback.

Pegasi have their own language, can talk with horses, and understand the common tongue well enough to follow orders given in it.

It fights with hooves and teeth. A kick backward with the hind hooves deals 2d6 against a foe behind it, but uses up its other attacks that round. Diving from 50 feet or more, it strikes with its hooves at +2 to hit for double damage.

When facing something larger, like a dragon, a pegasus tries to draw them into cramped spaces, then climbs above them while they struggle to turn and pounds them from overhead. Against foes its own size, like griffons, it relies on its greater speed. If griffons come near a nest, especially one with young, one parent charges at them to catch their attention, then leads them on a long chase to wear them out before circling home.

Pegasi are mammals that lay eggs. A lair holds one nest per pair, and each nest has a 20% chance of holding 1-2 offspring, which are eggs 30% of the time and young at 20-50% of maturity otherwise. Sold openly, eggs fetch 3,000 sp each and foals 5,000 sp.

Used as a warhorse, a male bears loads as a medium warhorse does (220/330/440), a female as a light one (170/255/340). At will, out to 60 yards, a pegasus can detect evil and detect good, and it always tests anyone hoping to mount it, throwing off any rider who is not good. Provoked, they readily attack creatures they sense as evil.

To tame one, a good character who knows airborne riding must track down a herd and creep up on a pegasus after dark. The proficiency roll takes a +10 penalty, since pegasi hate being tamed, a penalty that a specially enchanted bridle cancels. Success wins a mount that obeys for life, provided the master stays good.

Pegasi graze on grass, fruit and other plants. Their natural foes are hippogriffs and griffons. They live about 40 years.

Old tales hold that beheading a slain medusa gives a 5% chance of a greater pegasus leaping fully grown from the stump of her neck. It shares the ordinary kind's speed and attacks, but has 6 Hit Dice, 20% magic resistance and +1 morale. Herd leaders are greater pegasi 5% of the time. Only the noblest of heroes can tame a greater pegasus, which lives 100 years.