Roc

Rocs are colossal eagles, 60 feet from beak to tail with wings spanning up to 120 feet. Most are dark brown or entirely golden. Rare rocs of solid red, white or black are reported now and then and are widely taken as evil omens.

A roc patrols at about 300 feet, scanning for prey, then dives without a sound, giving its targets -5 on surprise. It rakes with both talons for 3d6 each. If both strike, it carries off the victim 95% of the time; with only one hit it typically releases, circles and tries again. Captured prey that struggles is pecked for 4d6 per hit. A seized human, demihuman or humanoid has a 65% chance of having both arms pinned, preventing melee attacks and spells with gestures. Losing 25% of its hit points makes it drop its catch. Two victims standing no more than 10 feet apart can be snatched together.

Rocs build immense nests of trees and branches on the tallest peaks of warm mountain ranges, seldom closer than 20 miles to a neighbor. A nest has a 15% chance to hold 1d4+1 eggs, worth 2d6 x 100 gp each to exotic-goods dealers; parents fight to the death in defense, at +1 to attack. Treasure lies scattered around and beneath the nest as leftovers from victims, and a roc that preys on pack trains may have trade goods such as spices, rugs, perfume, fine clothes or jewels.

They hunt three times daily, at midday, an hour after sunrise and an hour before dusk, adding a fourth flight about two hours past noon when feeding chicks.

Cloud and storm giants sometimes tame rocs, and good giants keep theirs away from settlements and livestock. Their wide spacing prevents them from stripping regions of game, and they check dangerous predators, relishing ankhegs, purple worms and harpies. Reputedly their feathers are used to make feather tokens, flying brooms and wings of flying.

Mountain dwarves hate them, for rocs fiercely defend territory around remote mines. Taming attempts have always failed, so dwarves kill the birds and smash their eggs, and may hire adventurers as roc hunters, a job best kept hidden from druids.