Zombie Flu : This is a disease/illness spread through the pecks and spurs of the zombie chickens. If injured by the attack, the creature must make a Constitution Save DC 15. If this save is failed, the creature immediately succumbs to this infection. The creature is poisoned and suffers the pain and symptoms of salmonella, listeria, and campylobacter instantaneously. At the end of the third turn of being infected and not cured, the creature is no longer poisoned but turns into a zombie. Controlled by the same master that controls Vecnagon's Flock of Zombie Chickens. If there is no 'master' around, then this new zombie wanders around like a 'normal' zombie.
This Zombie Flu is a disease; an illness; an infection. Albeit a magical one. A combination of both Remove Curse and any spell that can "cure disease" is required to cure the infected creature of this flu. Whether it's a cast spell or magic in a bottle, the source doesn't matter. And as long as the victim of this flu has not been a zombie for more than 3 days, this can still cure them. Be warned. If this 'cure' is applied after the creature has become a zombie, this will only cure the zombieness from the creature. Not any injuries the infected creature suffered before or after becoming a temporary zombie.
If the creature is a zombie for more than 3 days the 'zombification' is permanent. When the target/creature becomes a zombie, the zombie chickens stop attacking the creature and move on to their next target or follow the next command.
Vecnagon's Flock of Zombie Chickens' stats change dependent on the size of the flock.
- The Hit Dice of Flocks are actually 1D3 per zombie chicken.
- Flock of 3: Hit Points 6 (3d3)
- Flock of 4: Hit Points 8 (4d3)
- Flock of 5: Hit Points 10 (5d3)
- NOTE: Flocks of 3, 4 and 5 are considered 'small' in size here (a lot of chickens are squeezed into tiny spaces every day) at 1/8 CR. They have this CR due to all the 'special' stuff they can do. Apologies If I got this part wrong. I'm algebra sober. Haven't touched the stuff in over 40 years. I understand what CR is, but the math of it confuses the zombie chicken out of me.
Flock number and actions:
- If Vecnagon's Flock of Zombie Chickens are not given commands they wander around just like their living counterparts. An instinctual behavior even in undeath.
- They will attack when threatened or harmed. And they do so in flocks. There is never such a thing as a lone zombie chicken.
- These zombie chickens are not "brain dead." They're actually "smart." This by no means makes them free thinkers. They will behave in 'clever' ways dependent on whatever commands they were given. For example when given the command to attack they may just lunge forward. Or given the situation their in, they may do a two pronged attack from the sides. Or, if able, "death from above." They will attack exposed flesh. If none is available They will tear through clothing to expose it. They will stick their heads, claws, and spurs between plates of armor that they can squeeze themselves inbetween. Go for the exposed joints. If commanded to 'defend,' instead of outright attacking anyone they see, they may simply follow intruders/strangers around until something is done to "defend" against or until the intruders/strangers leave.
- Diminished flocks will merge with other flocks if able.
- A flock can consist of 3-5 zombie chickens.
- A creature attuned with both Vecnagon's Obscure Eye and Vecnagon's Unfavorable Foot, using the spell A Plethora of Poultry, summons 1D6+2 flocks. They are flocks of 3 each.
- When summoned by Vecnagon's Bawk and Awe, the size of the flock is determined by the level he casts the spell. So they may be 3, 4, or 5 strong.
- If the flock or flocks are already accompanying Vecnagon (if you have the misfortune of blundering into his presence), they are flocks of 4 each.
- If somehow you wander somewhere into the presence of Vecnagon's Flock of Zombie Chickens, where for some "only the holiday gods know" reason there is no "master" present, there will be 1D6+2 flocks present. They will each start as flocks of 3.
Multitudinous Pecks and Spurs. The zombie chickens rapidly and ravenously attack their targets by a maddening amount of pecking and spur stabs. Wildly throwing themselves at a creature. In addition to the flocks melee attack, the target/creature suffers disadvantage on all ability checks (not saves). Actions that did not require an ability check now do. For example; using an item, pulling a lever or opening a door. The zombie chickens are anything if not determined and in your face.
Peck and Spur: Melee Weapon Attack: +3/4/5 to hit, reach 5 ft., 1 target. Hit: 3/4/5 piercing damage. All dependent on the size of the flock. (3/4/5)
Normal Actions. The zombie chickens are able to do the following actions, within what makes reasonable sense. Attack, Dash, Disengage, Dodge, Help, Hide, Ready, Search, and Utilize. For example: a large straight lever needs to be pushed/pulled down to make something else happen. One or more flocks can perch on that lever to bring it down with their weight: "helping" each other or someone else "utilizing" the lever. As stated actions within reason.
Merge: When one of Vecnagon's Flock of Zombie Chickens become injured and not destroyed/killed, they may merge with another flock of zombie chickens. Whenever one flock merges with another, the size of that new flock increases by one and it is at full health. They can not make a flock larger than 5. So if an injured flock of 3 merges with another flock of 3, together they become a single flock of 4. An injured flock of 3 or 4 merging with another flock of 4, together become a single flock of 5. The merge usually occurs between two injured flocks. Only one flock needs be injured to merge with another.
Note: When using Merge, you are trading two flocks for one. Two injured flock 3s will give you one flock 4 at full health. You decide whether this a good option or not.
Really Fast Sons of Birdies: When injured or restrained(non magically), Vecnagon's Flock of Zombie Chickens can really kick it into gear. As a reaction to being injured or restrained(non magically), they move. Fast. To where is up to you.
For this reaction:
- The Flock of Zombie Chickens move up to their full allotted speed value.
- Their movement is unaffected by Difficult Terrain.
- They are immune to attacks of opportunity.
- Their flight speed is now equal to their walk speed.
- In addition, they can spend 5 feet of movement to automatically escape from nonmagical Restrained conditions, such as manacles or a creature imposing the Grappled condition on it.
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Description
When Vecnagon was fighting to survive, the local farms' poultry was his main source of healing and sustenance. With his studying of the dark grimoire and his deep hatred of the humanoids of the village, the idea of 'raising' the humans sickened him. He wanted nothing to do with them except make them suffer. All humanoids. Everywhere. But he still needed a fighting force against this village. And the idea of ironic revenge formed in his mind. What better way to get revenge, than by having what sustained the village, destroy the village. With help from the dark grimoire, he created new abilities. He taught himself how to raise the beasts as undead; Animate Beast. Like Animate Dead but bringing back the beasts instead. Not too difficult a task for him. He also tweaked Create Undead and Summon Undead to be only in beast forms. Of course the chickens were the primary test subjects. So Vecnagon has a thing for the zombie chickens. They are probably the only creatures he trusts most in all the worlds. There is only one beast he refuses to bring back in this way: dongs. Any dog. He only wishes them death.
His crowning achievement though was the Zombie Flu. A despicable disease. With a horrible method of transmission. Vecnagon's Flock of Zombie Chickens. These creatures would be underestimated. They may be undead but they're still chickens. Who is truly afraid of chickens. Alive or undead. And within their constant pecking the infection would be spread. These undead beasts, not perceived as a horrifying threat in and of themselves, are relatively ignored. But the deathly gift they would spread is another matter entirely. The horror the victims would have watching themselves and those they care for turning into these monstrous things. Oh the delicious taste of such pain and suffering.
Those who know of this magical ailment (and that's not many...at all) have surmised it's even worse than it appears. Some of these studious members of the macabre believe that the victims of this flu are not truly dead or undead. They believe that these victims are actually alive. Existing with an awareness of what is happening to them. The decay. The lack of free will. The physical pain of decomposing. The hunger. The suffering. And all of it........never ending. This "flu" needs some time to gestate. And during this "gestation period" the flu can be stopped, "cured." Because they believe that the victims are actually alive, they have also come to the conclusion that the "gestation period" of this "flu" is actually a form of ritual spell casting. Which is why the "infected" have a chance at being cured. Effectively the ritual is interrupted and the spell is ended. The only one who can say whether or not this is the case, well, he's not about to reveal the truth of it.
Lair and Lair Actions
Vecnagon's Flocks of Zombie Chickens do not have a lair per se. They can be found wandering near or within many if not all of the Hollow on the Hills. But they will be anywhere that they have been raised and/or summoned. So technically they can be found anywhere.
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