Weekly Beasties: Drought Hawk (d20)
Wherever water sources have dried¸ plants are withered¸ and the heat of the sun becomes unbearable¸ the Drought Hawks to flourish. Their hideous forms and bloodshot are stark reminders that local wildlife is just as dangerous as dehydration itself.
Commoners consider them blights on the landscape¸ cursed beasts which drains moisture from the earth as their numbers grow. Most wise men and soothsayers dismiss this as nonsense¸ but even they acknowledge that Drought Hawks are a sign of arid days to come. All agree that individual Hawks should be attacked on sight¸ as they attract persistent flocks
These featherless¸ dwarf-sized birds are often found in dry or desert climates. Players can identify them quickly by their yellow leathery skin¸ bloodshot eyes¸ and impressive wingspan resembling that of a small dragon.
Drought Hawks have a seemingly unnatural sense for when droughts are settling into a region. They tend to migrate to a community just before or at the cusp of disaster¸ seeking out weak and dehydrated targets. While typically scavengers¸ they become surprisingly bold in the company of other Drought Hawks. Once most defenseless targets are killed or have fled a region¸ Drought Hawks form flocks that hunt targets within their combined challenge rating.