Magic Resistance. The achaierai has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Crane Legs. The achaierai’s body is raised from the ground by its legs, making it hard to hit by smaller enemies. Any creature of medium size or smaller has disadvantage on melee weapon attacks against the achaierai. It can however target one of its legs, each of which has an AC of 11 and 10 hit points. The achaierai will lose its grapple ability on its claw attack if one of its legs is severed and will flee if it loses 2 of its legs.
Multiattack. The achaierai makes three attacks: one with its beak and two with its claws.
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10ft., one target. Hit: 18 (4d6+4) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6+4) slashing damage. On a hit the target is grappled and restrained if its size is Medium or smaller. A grappled target may, as an action, attempt to free itself by making a contested Strength (Athletics) check against the achaierai. Only one creature may be grappled in this way at a time.
Spring Attack. Due to its four long legs, the achaierai attacks and retreats with ease. It can take the Dash action as a bonus action each round.
Black Cloud of Madness (3/day). As a potential threat approaches or attacks the achaierai releases a choking, toxic black cloud. Any creature within 10 feet that is not an achaierai immediately takes 14 (4d6) poison damage. They must also succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or suffer effects similar to the confusion spell as if cast using a 4th level slot. An affected creature can make the same saving throw at the end of their turn, ending the effect on a success. If a creature succeeds on the initial saving throw or if the effect ends for it, it becomes immune to the effects of madness, but not to the poison damage.
Description
These flightless birds hail from lawful planes of existence, but how they came to the Prime Material Plane is unknown.
Flightless Striders. Achaierai cannot fly, but their long legs grant them an excellent walking and running speed, which they use to catch smaller creatures to eat.
Grappling Claws. In combat an achaierai will try to [Tooltip Not Found] an enemy before attacking with its beak. It cannot grapple more than one creature at a time.
Roaming Flocks. Achaierai usually form small groups of 5-8 individuals. They tend to stick to dark places such as the Underdark, but can end up anywhere with ample food supply.
Black Cloud. The achaierai’s most distinct feature is their ability to expel a cloud of toxic black hallucinogenic smoke. It is released from its beak and may cause short-term madness on creatures affected by it. Theories point out that the madness caused by the smoke may be demonic in nature, but they have not been proved. Yet.
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