These black birds hunt intelligent prey.
Nightcaller CR 1
XP 400
NE Tiny magical beast
Init +3; Senses Darkvision 60 ft.,low-light vision; Perception +2
AC 16, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dex, +1 natural, +2 size)
hp 13 (2d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +2
Speed 10 ft., fly 60 ft. (good)
Melee bite +7 (1d3-2) and 2 talons +7 (1d3-2)
Space 2 1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Str 6, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 3, Wis 14, Cha 11
Base Atk +2; CMB +3; CMD 11
Feats Flyby AttackB, Weapon Finesse
Skills Bluff +6 ; Racial Modifiers +4 Bluff, +4 Fly
SQ mimic
Nightcallers may make Bluff checks to imitate cries for help in either Common, Elf or Gnome. A successful Bluff check leaves its target flat footed until the nightcallerâs next turn. Creatures that have been attacked by a nightcaller (or have had their allies attacked by a nightcaller) are immune to a nightcallerâs mimic for 24 hours.
Environment temperate forests and hills
Organization single, murder (2-9), slaughter (10-20)
Treasure none
Nightcallers are nocturnal predators who travel together. They commonly hide in forests or hills near welltraveled roads, lying in wait for a humanoid to pass by. When someone does pass, the nightcallers begin making noises that sound like a cry for help and continue to do so until their prey comes to investigate. At that point, these devious birds fly down to attack their prey. Murders and slaughters of nightcallers tend to focus on a single target and continue to attack that target until it is dead. Once he target is doomed, the nightcallers that did the most damage to the creature begin to feast on their meal while the remaining nightcallers attack a new creature. These birds are quite cowardly. It is a rare occasion for nightcallers to attack when outnumbered. Should a lone nightcaller lose half its hit points, it will fly away. When fighting in a group, they will fight until half of their kind are dead.
A nightcaller stands about foot tall and is covered with black feathers. Its legs are a shade of brown similar to tree bark. Their eyes are black and lifeless.
Book of Beasts: Monsters of the River Nations, copyright 2010 Jon Brazer Enterprises; Author Steven Helt.