Piasa Bird

Somewhat like a manticore, the Piasa has a black bear's head with a man's face, huge teeth, elk antlers and a beard-like mane. Its lion- or bear-shaped body is covered in fish scales, its bear legs end in eagle talons, and bat wings spread from its shoulders. A tail of 50 feet or more coils thrice about its body and ends in a spearhead poking backward between the hind legs. It is black with red horns, over 7 feet tall and 20 feet long.

It dives on prey, usually opening with a shriek: creatures under 5 HD within 15 feet save vs. spell or suffer as from a fear spell. Then it rends with claws and bite, using horns and tail as needed, and can spread attacks among several foes. A natural 20 on the bite swallows the target, and the Piasa immediately flies home to eat it fresh. The victim survives for now, takes 1-4 damage a round, and can attack from inside at -4.

Only one has ever been seen, and whether today's beast is the one from an old tribal legend or its offspring is unknown. It goes through active and dormant spells that can last years, laired in caves along the Mississippi bluffs, especially north of St. Louis near modern Alton.

It eats only fresh kills, preferring people, especially children and young adults, and settles for big game otherwise. It provides nothing useful, though a live one would earn a fortune from a shady zoo. Scientists call it myth or extinct; occultists say it was once only legend until a creeping supernatural evil made it flesh.