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    Kurangaituku

    Huge monstrosity, chaotic evil

    Armor Class 18 (natural armor)

    Hit Points 180 (19d12 + 57)

    Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft.

    STR 22 (+6) · DEX 16 (+3) · CON 18 (+4) · INT 10 (+0) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 13 (+1)

    Saving Throws Dex +7, Con +8, Wis +6

    Skills Perception +10, Stealth +7, Survival +6

    Damage Vulnerabilities fire

    Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren’t made with obsidian-edged or magical weapons

    Condition Immunities charmed, frightened

    Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 20

    Languages Common, Auran, Te Reo Māori

    Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)

    Traits

    Keen Sight and Smell. Kurangaituku has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell.

    Flyby. Kurangaituku doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks when she flies out of an enemy’s reach.

    Grasping Talons. A creature hit by Kurangaituku’s talon attack is grappled (escape DC 16). Until the grapple ends, the target is restrained, and Kurangaituku can’t grapple another creature.

    Predatory Frenzy. If Kurangaituku starts her turn with a creature grappled, she can make one Beak attack against that creature as a bonus action.

    Frightful Screech (Recharge 5–6). Kurangaituku emits a blood-freezing shriek. Each creature of her choice within 60 feet that can hear her must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to Kurangaituku’s Frightful Screech for the next 24 hours.

    Actions

    Multiattack. Kurangaituku makes two attacks: one with each Talon, or one Talon attack and one Taiaha strike.

    Talon. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d12 + 6) slashing, and the target is grappled (see Grasping Talons).

    Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage.

    Taiaha. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.

    Wing Slam (Recharge 4–6). Kurangaituku beats her massive wings. Each creature within 15 feet of her must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or take 22 (4d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. Kurangaituku can then fly up to half her flying speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

    Bonus Actions

    Predatory Frenzy. (see traits)

    • Along the route stands a sacred rock. Speaking an ancient karakia (prayer-spell) opens a narrow fissure where the party can take shelter and catch a breather if the Bird-Woman closes in too soon.

    Lore

    A supernatural being, part woman and part bird, with talons and a beak.

    In the local dialects her name literally means “Bird-Woman,” marking her as a classic Polynesian hybrid: the body and powers of an animal, the mind of a person. Beings of this type are usually cast as guardians of borders—whether physical or spiritual. Around Rotorua, though, people know her by a much simpler title: “the Rotorua Cannibal.”

    The most famous tale about Kurangaituku is the story of the young hunter Hatupatu, preserved in the oral traditions of the Te Arawa and Raukawa iwi of Aotearoa / New Zealand.

    From Oceanian Bestiary 5E, p. 40 · Fern Flower Press