Vultures were a common species of bird.[2]
Description[]
Vultures were large birds with filthy feathers. Their main distinguishing feature was their featherless pink head.[2]
Behavior[]
Vultures were considered to be cowardly animals.[2] Upon sighting anything on the ground that appeared injured or dead, a vulture would quickly swoop down to investigate.[3]
Biology[]
Vultures had an acute, long distance vision.[4] Their keen eyesight is comparable to that of any eagle, falcon, or hawk.[3] Being carrion eaters, they developed the ability to consume infected, poisoned or rotting meat safely.[2]
A female vulture could lay up to four eggs at a time. These eggs were incubated over a period of two months until they hatched. A young vulture could fly at four months of age.[2]
Combat[]
Vultures were scavengers, attacking prey only once it has died or collapsed from exhaustion. Vultures only attacked moving prey if in a group, and only if the prey was already near collapsing.[2]
Species[]
- Bone vulture
- A relative of the common desert vulture, this species had feathers that were as white as bones. They were endemic to the Western Heartlands battlefield, Battle of Bones.[5]
- High Ice Condor
- Otherwise known by locals as "great soarers," were a species of vulture native to the arctic region High Ice. They were largely identical to their temperate cousins, though were covered in white feathers.[6]
- White-bearded vulture
- These great vultures were native to Anauroch desert and were called "N'asr's children" by the Bedine.[7]
Ecology[]
Vultures typically lived in flocks.[2]
Diets[]
These creatures were carrion eaters. They fed upon creatures that were either injured or already dead. Though they were also liable to attack creatures that were unconscious, restrained, or sleeping.[3]
Habitats[]
Vultures typically inhabited high altitudes, such as mountains, within temperate or tropical regions.[3] They were usually encountered in warm areas, floating on updrafts over open spaces.[2]
In the Hordelands they could be found in the Katakoro Plateau, the Raurin and Quoya Deserts, and among its many mountain ranges.[8]
In the Zakhara region's Crowded Sea, they could be found on the island chain of Nada al-Hazan[9] and the archipelago of Jazayir al-Sartan.[10]
Beyond the Prime Material plane, vultures could be found in the plane of Acheron.[11]
Relationships[]
Vultures were a symbol and favored animal of Thasmudyan, the god of undeath in the Zakharan pantheon.[12] Evil swanmays sometimes shapechanged into the form of a vulture.[13]
Bedine believed that vultures served N'asr. They spied on his behalf and ferried spirits to the Camp of the Dead.[7] Even non-Bedine could experience a brief connection to the Fugue Plane when staring into the eyes of a vulture.[14]
Usages[]
The bones and feathers of a vulture were used as material components in the casting of some spells.[15][16]
Appendix[]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Comics
The Grand Tour
Gamebooks
Knight of the Living Dead
Video Games
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Aethalynmur's Wings
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 339. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 David Cook, Steve Winter, and Jon Pickens (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Three Forgotten Realms Appendix (MC3). (TSR, Inc), p. 62. ISBN 0-88038-769-6.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 125. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ David Howery (December 1993). “Familiar Faces”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #200 (TSR, Inc.), p. 33.
- ↑ Donald J. Bingle (April 1995). “The Battle of Bones”. In Elizabeth T. Danforth ed. Elminster's Ecologies Appendix I (TSR, Inc), p. 6. ISBN 0-7869-0115-2.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (November 1991). Anauroch. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 63. ISBN 1-56076-126-1.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ed Greenwood (November 1991). Anauroch. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 70. ISBN 1-56076-126-1.
- ↑ David Cook (August 1990). “Volume II”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), pp. 118, 125, 127. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ David Cook (October 1992). “Nada al-Hazan”. In Bill Slavicsek ed. Golden Voyages (TSR, Inc.), p. 2. ISBN 978-1560763314.
- ↑ David Cook (October 1992). “Al-Sartan”. In Bill Slavicsek ed. Golden Voyages (TSR, Inc.), p. 2. ISBN 978-1560763314.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 124. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
- ↑ Steve Kurtz (April 1, 1995). The Complete Book of Necromancers. (TSR, Inc), pp. 74–75. ISBN 0-7869-0106-3.
- ↑ Paul Culotta (June 1995). “The Ecology of the Bird Maiden”. In Wolfgang Baur ed. Dragon #218 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 76–80, 94.
- ↑ Troy Denning (July 1991). The Parched Sea. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 7. ISBN 1-56076-067-2.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), pp. 88–89. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 79. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.