Library / Bestiary

Vulture, Giant

CR 4.00 Animal N Large HD 5

A wickedly hooked beak and an immense bald head draw attention from this enormous scavenger's vast wingspan.

Description

Larger even than condors, giant vultures dwell only in regions where carrion is both large and plentiful, such as the primeval wildernesses where megafauna roam. They also flock to regions torn by war, feasting on the dead with no concern for allegiance or race. Giant vultures rarely wait for wounded creatures to finish dying before they feed, and are much braver than most wild animals. A giant vulture, for example, wouldn't think twice about swooping down on a heavily armored column of soldiers just to snatch up a few wounded stragglers from the end of the line.

A giant vulture stands more than 13 feet tall, has a wingspan of over 30 feet, and weighs 500 to 600 pounds.

Combat Stats

42 (5d8+20)

17, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+2 Dex, +6 natural, -1 size)

Init

Speed

10 ft., fly 50 ft. (average)

Fort

+10

Ref

Will

+3; +4 vs. disease

CMB

+10

CMD

Melee: bite +9 (2d6+9 plus disease)
Space: 10 ft.
Reach: 5 ft.
Racial Modifiers: +8 Perception

Ability Scores

str

dex

con

int

-4

wis

cha

-2

Special Qualities

Diseased — Due to their filthy eating habits and constant exposure to decaying flesh, giant vultures are harbingers of disease—much more so than the standard vulture. Any creature bitten by a giant vulture has a 10% chance of being exposed to filth fever, blinding sickness, or a similar disease. Once this check is made, a victim can no longer be infected by this particular giant vulture, though attacks by different giant vultures are resolved normally and may result in multiple illnesses. While vultures aren't immune to all diseases, they do gain a +4 racial bonus on all saving throws against such ailments.

Feats

Great Fortitude, Toughness, Weapon Focus (bite)

Special Abilities

Universal Monster Rules

Disease (bite) Ex from Universal Monster Rule

A creature with this ability causes disease in those it contacts. The effects of the disease, including its save, frequency, and cure, are included in the creature's description. The saving throw to negate the disease is usually a Fort save (DC 10 + 1/2 the infecting creature's racial HD + the creature's Con modifier; the exact DC is given in the creature's descriptive text). Disease can be removed through remove disease and similar effects.

Special Abilities

Diseased from text

Due to their filthy eating habits and constant exposure to decaying flesh, giant vultures are harbingers of disease—much more so than the standard vulture. Any creature bitten by a giant vulture has a 10% chance of being exposed to filth fever, blinding sickness, or a similar disease. Once this check is made, a victim can no longer be infected by this particular giant vulture, though attacks by different giant vultures are resolved normally and may result in multiple illnesses. While vultures aren't immune to all diseases, they do gain a +4 racial bonus on all saving throws against such ailments.

Feats, Traits & Items

Great Fortitude from Feat

You get a +2 bonus on all Fortitude saving throws.

Calculated: +2 Fort

Toughness from Feat

You gain +3 hit points. For every Hit Die you possess beyond 3, you gain an additional +1 hit point. If you have more than 3 Hit Dice, you gain +1 hit points whenever you gain a Hit Die (such as when you gain a level).

Calculated: +3 Hp Bonus

Weapon Focus (bite) from Feat

You gain a +1 bonus on all attack rolls you make using the selected weapon.

Calculated: +1 Attack Bonus

Skills

Fly +7, Perception +14

Details

Type: Animal
Alignment: N
Size: Large
Environment: warm plains or hills
Organization: solitary, pair, or flock (3-8)
Treasure: none
Senses: low-light vision, scent; Perception +14
Source: Bestiary 3

Rules