Pack Tactics. The Cockatrice Matron has advantage on attack rolls if an ally is within 5 ft. of it during the attack.
Multiattack. The cockatrice makes a bite attack and then a spine attack or two spine attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., 1 target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) [piercing] damage. The creature must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be restrained by their limbs slowly being petrified. The creature must make another Constitution saving throw at the end of its turn, freeing itself on a success and becoming petrified for 24 hours on a failure.
Spine. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft or range 20/60 ft, 1 target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) [piercing] damage.
Petrifying Shriek (3/day). The Cockatrice Matron lets out a flurry of hideous caws, shrieks, and screams. One creature of the Cockatrice Matron's choice that can hear it must make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. While frightened in this way, the creature's speed is also zero. The creature may repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns or when it takes damage. Any creature that has succeeded on the saving throw is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours.
Aggressive. As a bonus action, the Cockatrice Matron can move up to its speed toward a hostile creature that it can see.
Description
They call those who are overly protective of their children mother hens, and Cockatrices fit that description perfectly. Female cockatrices are born with vibrant colorations that make them stand out in the wild and to other males. Just like albinism, this makes them highly vulnerable and rare to a certain extent. But those females that reach adulthood are the biggest, strongest, and scariest members of their packs. These are the matrons.
Infinite Patterns. Born with colors akin to birds of paradise, females often struggle to survive. Whether poached by humanoids or eaten by predators, running and hiding is never an option for them, their colors giving them away every time. They can be found in any pattern or color, but combinations of yellow+black, blue+black, red+blue+black, red+yellow, and red+orange+yellow.
Only the strong Survive. Because it is impossible for them to flee, only the strongest females can survive. Every hostile encounter must be resolved through brute strength, bestial cunning, or intimidation. This means that all that reach adulthood are abnormally large, strong, and smart for cockatrices.
Life Among the Pack. Matrons do not only need to worry about outside threat, but threat within their own pack. Other females constantly battle for leadership over the pack, and no Matron is not covered in battle scars. Their hide becomes tougher and thicker than leather in response, and immunity to the petrifying effects of each other's bites is a given. Males, too, constantly battle females in an attempt to mate or surpass them. Cockatrice nests are often piles of filth, scrubs, and the remains of petrified victims, where diseases of all kinds fester and breed.
Mating and Motherhood. Matrons only mate with the strongest male in the pack, leaving the other males for her subordinates. The strongest male is the only male that can defeat the matron or battle to a stalemate with her. After mating, the female will lay a clutch of 6 to 18 eggs, only half of which often survive to hatching, and half of that will live to adulthood. The matron defends her nest with her very life, often refusing to leave for days or weeks. The mated male will hunt for them, bringing back petrified prey for later consumption. If the male were to die on a hunting trip, the mother will starve herself to death, continuing to defend her clutch. In the most extreme case, he clutch will hatch under dead body and have it as their first meal. Otherwise, the mother will have stockpiled enough petrified food to last until the hatchlings are big enough to leave the nest and hunt on their own.
Comments