Scarlet Ibis

Medium monstrosity, neutral

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 135 (18d8 + 54)
Speed 20 ft., fly 40 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
13 (+1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 15 (+2) 18 (+4)

Saving Throws Wis +5
Skills Arcana +3, Insight +8
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Common, Sylvan
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

  • Death Curse. When the scarlet ibis dies, all curses currently inflicted by the ibis become permanent and can be removed only by the remove curse spell or other magic. In addition, the creature that dealt the killing blow must succeed on a DC 14 Charisma saving throw or become cursed with every option listed in the ibis’s beak attack. A creature casting remove curse on a creature cursed in this way must succeed on a DC 14 Charisma saving throw or suffer the curses it just removed.

ACTIONS

  • Multiattack. The scarlet ibis makes three attacks: one with its beak and two with its talons.
  • Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 11 (2d8 + 2) piercing damage. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Charisma saving throw or become cursed. While cursed, the target has disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls, or saving throws (the scarlet ibis’ choice). Alternatively, the ibis can choose for the target’s enemies to have advantage on attack rolls against the target. A creature can have no more than one of each kind of curse on it at a time. The curses last for 24 hours or until removed by the remove curse spell or similar magic.
  • Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) slashing damage.

ABOUT

This gigantic marsh bird has blood-red feathers and a scythe-like beak. Its eyes shine with intelligence as it scans its surroundings.

Accursed Bird. Scarlet ibises are not inherently malevolent, and many visitors to the swamp assume they are natural, if overly large, birds. However, their beaks bestow unluck on those touched or struck by them. The ibises usually reserve their cursed attacks as retribution for themselves, but swamp dwellers sometimes plea for the birds’ intercession on those who have wronged them. Scarlet ibises have keen judgment to determine the worthiness of these requests. Those who know about scarlet ibises and their terrible curses avoid killing the birds and typically warn others about the consequences of killing them. Less scrupulous folk instead encourage naïve travelers to destroy a scarlet ibis then pick off the travelers suffering from the aftereffects of combat with the birds.

Dream Portent. The scarlet ibis is a symbol of ill omens that appears in dreams. This omen precedes a setback-such as inclement weather, a tremor, the group getting lost, or a lame mount or pack animal-but it can also indicate a doomed mission. After a series of unfortunate incidents, the scarlet ibis makes a physical appearance, signifying the bad luck has ended. This sometimes incites the unfortunates to avenge themselves on the bird under the mistaken belief the ibis is the cause of the problems.

Egret Harpy Friends. Scarlet ibises congregate with egret harpies (see page 195) and enjoy mutual protection. Uninformed observers believe the ibises are the harpies’ pets, at least until they witness conversations between the two. Egret harpies never ask the ibises to curse enemies regardless of circumstances, but ibises who witness or know of attacks on egret harpy companions take it upon themselves to inflict bad luck in revenge.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Tome of Beasts 2. © 2020 Open Design LLC; Authors Wolfgang Baur, Celeste Conowitch, Darrin Drader, James Introcaso, Philip Larwood, Jeff Lee, Kelly Pawlik, Brian Suskind, Mike Welham.

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