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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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PFS StandardThunderbird

Thunderbirds bring storms on their wings. In times of drought, they are welcomed. Other times, they are offered gifts in hopes they might leave before flooding begins. When angered, they call down hurricanes and lay waste to entire villages, so many settlements conduct extensive rites to appease and honor local thunderbirds.

Thunderbird parents carry their newly hatched offspring to hidden mountaintop nests, where the young are struck by their first bolts of lightning and learn the mysteries of the storm.

Recall Knowledge - Beast (Arcana, Nature): DC 30
Unspecific Lore: DC 28
Specific Lore: DC 25

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

ThunderbirdCreature 11

Legacy Content

Uncommon N Gargantuan Air Beast Electricity 
Source Bestiary 2 pg. 259 2.0
Perception +22; darkvision, stormsight
Languages Auran, Common
Skills Acrobatics +22, Athletics +23, Intimidation +20, Nature +20
Str +8, Dex +3, Con +7, Int +3, Wis +5, Cha +3
Stormsight Wind, precipitation, and clouds don't impair a thunderbird's vision; it ignores the concealed condition from storms, mist, precipitation, and the like.
AC 31; Fort +24, Ref +20, Will +22
HP 200; Immunities electricity; Resistances sonic 10
Storm Aura (air, aura, evocation, primal, water) 100 feet. The thunderbird is surrounded by a cyclone of wind and driving rain. This area is greater difficult terrain for flying creatures, who must successfully Maneuver in Flight (DC 27) or be blown 30 feet away from the thunderbird. Creatures on the ground must succeed at a DC 27 Reflex save to perform any move action and are knocked prone on a critical failure. The driving rain in the storm aura imposes a –2 circumstance penalty on Perception checks and extinguishes smaller flames. A thunderbird can deactivate or activate the storm aura as a free action with the concentrate trait.Reactive Shock [reaction] Trigger A creature enters the thunderbird's reach or uses a move action within their reach; Effect A lightning bolt dancing on the thunderbird's body leaps onto the creature, dealing 8d6 electricity damage (DC 30 basic Reflex save).
Speed 25 feet, fly 80 feet
Melee [one-action] beak +24 [+19/+14], Damage 2d6+12 piercing plus 3d6 electricityMelee [one-action] talon +24 [+20/+16] (agile), Damage 2d8+12 slashingRanged [one-action] thunderbolt +23 [+18/+13] (range 200 feet), Damage 3d6 electricity and 3d6 sonic plus thunderstrikeRituals DC 30; 8th control weather (does not require secondary casters)
Lightning Blast [two-actions] (evocation, primal) The thunderbird spreads their wings and blasts their foe with thunderous bolts of lightning. Each creature in a 30-foot emanation takes 6d6 electricity damage and 6d6 sonic damage (DC 30 basic Reflex save). The thunderbird can't use Lightning Blast for 1d4 rounds.Stormflight A thunderbird can move in wind with ease. They don't treat wind as difficult terrain or need to Maneuver in Flight in high winds.Thunderstrike A creature that takes damage from a thunderbird's thunderbolt Strike must succeed at a DC 28 Fortitude save or be knocked prone and deafened for 1 round.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Thunder and Fire

Thunderbirds have a complex relationship with phoenixes, whom they regard as too kindly and patient with human civilizations, even as they admire phoenixes' beauty and mastery over elements that thunderbirds cannot control. Often, encounters with phoenixes escalate into violent arguments, but it's rare for one of these meetings to end in a thunderbird's death, and even rarer for a phoenix to be significantly threatened by the upstart challenger.