Skullbird

The bird's head resembles a skull wrapped in tight, glossy black skin, with dark glittering eyes sunk deep in the sockets and a needle-sharp jet beak. Greasy black feathers, razor talons and a charnel reek complete the picture. It has two calls: a shrill screech for living food and a deep, ominous croak for carrion.

Skullbirds prefer the dead, but one that has not eaten well for several days (50% chance) attacks the living readily. Each set of talons rakes for 1d8, and a beak strike for 3d4 finishes struggling prey.

A victim weighing under 200 pounds may be carried off. Both talons must hit in one round; the grip is Strength 17, and a Strength check breaks it. Fail, and the bird climbs away at top speed; if the captive struggles beyond one round, it is dropped so the fall can kill it.

Slick oil coats the bird, imposing -4 on grappling attempts and making blows skid off, hence its good AC. That oil burns readily: the bird saves at -4 against fire and suffers +2 hit points per die of fire damage. A round of torch-waving or other open flame forces it to check morale.

Leaderless, non-territorial flocks nest in derelict starships and the decaying hulks of giant void creatures. Females lay 1d4 inedible eggs every three months (25% chance a nest holds some), and the nearly skeletal chicks croak for food from hatching like a chorus of bullfrogs. The oily plumage traps enough air to last a bird a full day, which matters because skullbirds do need air.

Spacefarers shun skullbirds and anyone wearing parts of one. Encountered away from home, a flock swoops out of nowhere and tries to perch on the masts, the worst omen there is, foretelling the ship's destruction. Quick characters get one round to drive the birds off, after which the flock may attack (50%). Average or green crews seeing them roosting check morale at once with a -1 penalty; failures panic, hiding below or leaping overboard, until the birds are gone. Seasoned crews skip that check but suffer the -1 on morale in later battles.

Their single redeeming trait is a fondness for hunting space moths.