Vultures are birds that are related to raptors and other birds of prey, but feed mainly on carrion.
Contents
Dire vulture
This enormous bird of prey has a mottled, naked head and neck with a wicked, hooked beak. A stink of carrion surrounds the beast.
A dire vulture, like its normal cousin, is a carrion feeder. It takes a very large carcass, or many small ones, to keep such a monster fed.
A dire vulture is 8 to 12 feet long and has a wingspan of 20 feet or more.
Combat
Dire vultures are much more aggressive than mundane vultures, and one might attack a creature that is two or more size categories smaller than itself.
Dire vulture
Large animal
Init +2; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +13
Aura stench (20 ft., Fort DC 17)
Defense
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 16 (−1 size, +2 Dex, +7 natural)
hp 63 (6d8+36)
Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +4 (+8 vs. disease)
Offense
Speed 20 ft., fly 80 ft. (average)
Melee bite +10 (2d6+9 plus disease)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Statistics
Str 22, Dex 15, Con 18, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 7
Base Atk +4; CMB +11; CMD 23
Feats Flyby Attack, Skill Focus (Perception), Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills Fly +7, Perception +13, Survival +6
Morale mercenary (+0)
Ecology
Environment warm deserts
Organization solitary or flock (4d4+4)
Special Abilities
Disease (Ex)
Due to their filthy eating habits and constant exposure to decaying flesh, dire vultures are harbingers of disease. 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.
Stench (Ex)
Scraps of rotting flesh cling to a dire vulture’s feathers, and the fetid wind of its wings can fell even the hardiest opponent. A creature within 20 feet of a dire vulture must succeed on a DC 17 Fortitude save or be sickened for 1d6 rounds. A creature that successfully saves can’t be affected by that dire vulture’s stench ability for 24 hours. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Skills
Dire vultures gain a +4 racial bonus on Perception and Survival checks.