Vrock [True Tanar'ri]

Vrocks look like big, sinewy men crossed with vultures: lean limbs sheathed in fine gray feathers, a long bare neck, a hooked beak and savage talons. They communicate telepathically.

A vrock is never surprised and always acts first in melee. It has Strength 19 (+7 damage) and 120' infravision, and nonmagical weapons cannot hurt it. Its agility lets it make five attacks a round and aim each at a different enemy: two hand claws for 1d8 each, a 1d6 beak, and two foot talons that deal only 1d4 because kicking throws it off balance.

Every third round it can spray stinging spores from glands on its body, automatically dealing 1d8 to every foe within 5 feet. The spores burrow under the skin and sprout, inflicting 1d2 per round for 10 rounds, by which point the victim is smothered in thick vines. Bless, neutralize poison or similar magic, or a dousing of holy water, kills the spores; slow poison halts their growth.

Once per fight a vrock can let out a piercing screech that deafens all within 30' and stuns them for 1 round unless they pass a Constitution check. It usually saves this for desperate moments, screeching just before teleporting away. Its 10th-level powers, besides the tanar'ri basics, are telekinesis, mass charm, mirror image, dispel magic, detect magic and detect invisibility. Once daily it may try to gate 1 nalfeshnee, 1-6 ape demons or 2-20 manes, with a 50% chance.

Five or more vrocks together can perform the dance of ruin, linking hands in a ring and whirling, shrieking and chanting in old tongues. After three rounds, crackling energy lashes the air like lightning, and everyone within 100 feet, vrocks included, takes 2d20 damage, halved by a successful save. If any dancer suffers 20 or more damage during those three rounds, the dance fails and must begin again.

Vrocks are elite troops in the endless war between demons and devils, sent into key battles and on infiltration and other covert missions. They roam in bands of up to eight, more when going to war, and fight with flawless coordination.

Born ready to fight, vrocks stay fiercely loyal to their own kind and eat the enemies they kill.