Giant strider

Giant striders were a species of ostrich-like, featherless and flightless birds adapted to the hottest of conditions.

Description
These creatures were covered in mottled, leathery dusky red skin. Their eyes glowed a dull red. Their beaklike jaws were lined with razor-sharp teeth and steam constantly billowed from both it and their noses. On average they stood around tall.

Behavior
These creatures had an average, animal degree of intelligence and were rather fearless.

Abilities
Giant striders were impervious to harm from elemental fire and had some magical resistance. Conversely, they were vulnerable to cold-based spells and abilities. Furthermore, exposure to flames or intense heat could heal these creatures, as though they were affected by the spell cure light wounds. And being assaulted with some intense fire, such as by the spell fireball, could heal them greatly.

Twice per hour a giant strider could emit a small fireball from ducts near their eyes. These had a range of and a burst radius of.

Combat
These creatures were capable of attacking enemies from either side of them, using vicious bites and kicks. Those domesticated by firenewts were especially trained to be highly skilled, close quarters combatants.

Habitats
Giant striders were typically found within the same range as firenewts. One of the few areas in the Realms where wild giant striders could be found was the Flame Fault on Tuern.

Relationships
Giant striders were domesticated by and the favored mounts of firenewts. They were typically trained by the priests in their society and made into very capable combatants in their own right. Within their lairs firenewts provided for them food, shelter, and breeding grounds.

Trivia
Firenewts believed that giant striders were a gift bestowed upon them by their deity Imix.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Tomb of Annihilation
 * Video Games
 * Neverwinter