THAPTOR

FREQUENCY: Uncommon NO. APPEARING: 2-24 ARMOR CLASS: 6 MOVE: 18" HIT DICE: 4 % IN LAIR: Nil TREASURE TYPE: Nil NO. OF ATTACKS: 3 DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4/1-4/2-8 SPECIAL ATTACKS: Berserk SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard INTELLIGENCE: Animal ALIGNMENT: Neutral SIZE: L (6'+ tall at the shoulder) PSlONlC ABILITY: Nil Attack/Defense Modes: Nil Thaptors resemble hippogriff, save that they have no wings, and their hind quarters are avian, rather than equine. They are fast runners with keen eyesight and aggressively hunt during daylight hours. They also have great endurance and will pursue their prey for hours or even days. They are vicious beasts, and even domesticated thaptors sometimes (1 on a d20 chance per day) have been known to attack their handlers if they are not constantly kept by a firm hand and well fed. Wild thaptors find the smell of fresh blood maddening and should be treated as being berserk around anything or anyone with an open wound. They usually travel or hunt in packs, and if they have one weakness, it is that if any of their own fall to or below 50% of their max HP, the rest will often (1-14 on a d20) turn on that member of the pack and attack it until it is dead. (Check once per pack member in the same round that they drop below 50% max HP, but do not check again if the others fail to turn, unless another member's HP drops as well. If one turns, they all will, to the exclusion of other enemies.) A thaptor has an equine body, the head and legs of an eagle, a strong neck, and a heavy, sharp beak and talons.