Agile Flyer. The great cockatrice can fly in spaces that would allow a creature of Medium size to do so. While it is airborne its AC increases by 2 and if the cockatrice is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails.
Fragile Inner Ear. The cockatrice's balance can easily be thrown off by loud sounds. If the great cockatrice takes thunder damage, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or its flying speed is reduced to 0 feet until the end of its next turn. An airborne cockatrice affected by this effect descends at 60 feet per round until it reaches the ground.
Paralyzing Gaze. If a creature starts its turn within 60 feet of the great cockatrice and the two of them can see each other, the cockatrice can force the creature to make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw if the cockatrice isn't incapacitated. On a failed save, the targeted creature is paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Multiattack. The cockatrice makes three melee attacks: one with its beak, one with its talons and one with its wings and tail.
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw against being magically petrified. On a failed save, the creature begins to turn to stone and is restrained. It must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn. On a success, the effect ends. On a failure, the creature is petrified for 24 hours.
Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 16 (3d6 + 5) slashing damage.
Wings and Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 9 (1d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage and the target has disadvantage on attack rolls based on Strength and Dexterity until the end of its next turn.
Description
"Had meself eight heifers, five of 'em milchers. Then this cockatrice sprung up nearby, and now all's I got left's dried patties in an empty field."— Jethro, peasant from Pindal
Greater Cousin. The great cockatrice is a large creature with the body of a beast and the head and legs of a rooster. Supposedly, they are born of eggs laid by roosters consorting with other roosters, the eggs must then be incubated for forty-four days by a toad. Asserting such claims proves difficult at best. Scholars cannot help but notice the similarity with their smaller cousins and instead theorize that the great cockatrice is the true form of the species, while the more common variation a diminished, flawed, subspecies. Great cockatrices do lay eggs of their own, but for some puzzling reason, only small cockatrices ever hatch from them. Regardless, the eggs hold great value as alchemical components, for they are the prime ingredient of an ointment that can cure petrification.
Recklessly Agressive. Great cockatrices are extremely aggressive, attacking anything that comes in their sight with furious cackles, even without any provocation. These omnivores have a diet that consists of large quantities of berries, corns, fruits, and animals such as cattle, deer and the occasional lost shepherd. If left unchecked, they also greatly appreciate feasting in orchards, corn fields or any place where food is abundant. Cockatrices thrive in dark caves, abandoned ruins, cobwebbed dungeons and old basements. Though small compared to griffins and manticores, they are more than capable of killing anyone who stumbles across them in a dark corridor.
Deadly Gaze. Folktales claim that cockatrices hate everything that lives so fiercely that its glance turns the living to stone. This is not actually true, but the eyes of the beast can paralyze anyone that look at it, which might be where the confusion in the myth is coming from. However, one should watch out for its sharp beak which carries the murderous effect, turning a man into stone with a simple scratch. It is also thought that a cockatrice will die instantly upon hearing a rooster crow, which is pure nonsense, but the cockatrice seems to hate the sound nonetheless.
Agile Flyer. Cockatrices do not shun direct fights, in which they strike furiously with wings and tail in an attempt to exhaust their foes. However, the cockatrice isn’t a stupid adversary, it is quite aware of the chaos its gaze and its beak can cause in a fight. Against multiple adversaries, it will weaken its foes with its gaze and dive attacks first, before landing and engaging in melee. When fighting them one should target their delicate wings, for they are extremely agile flyers, capable of maneuvering in tight spaces and feats of agility that most creatures of their size are incapable of.
Crow of the Rooster
The cockatrice has an irrational hatred for the rooster's crow. The song of the bird will make it mad with anger and the creature will charge in the direction of the noise, furiously cackling its discontentment and ravaging anything that stands in its path. For this reason, villages around a cockatrice hunting ground tend to have no chicken, for fear of angering the monster. Clever adventurers can use this hatred to their advantage, forcing the monster to show on a battlefield of their choice or distracting it during a fight.
Great Cockatrice's Eggs
The eggs of a greater cockatrice are known to be one of the few remedies besides magic that can cure petrification. Combined with other rare ingredients and plants, it can be used to make a ointment that will return a creature to its true form.
Stone to Flesh Ointment: A character that has proficiency with Alchemist's Tools or Herbalism Kit, and access to the proper equipment, can prepare an ointment with the great cockatrice egg. The ointment has a value of 200gp when it comes to crafting (see crafting rules p.187 of the Player's Handbook). Once applied to the skin of the petrified creature, the ointment will be turning it back to flesh in an hour.
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