Monster Manual V

investigate, approaching from different directions. As soonas the mohrg moves in, the blackwing uses its frightfuldive against an opponent near the campfire. In subsequentrounds, it hovers over the fire, plunging the battlefieldinto darkness.Cold Vengeance (EL 10): Three blackwings patrol thearea around a lich’s lair. When they spot interlopers, twodive down to attack while the third observes the battle. Ifits companions are destroyed,the survivor retreats towarn the lich. Quickwittedand sharp-eyedPCs can locate thelich’s lair by followingthe retreatingblackwing. If thecharacters do notpursue, the blackwingand its masterappear later thatsame night, intenton revenge.ECOLOGYCenturies ago, apowerful orc tribeclaimed a ruggedmountain range,constantly warringagainst thegiant eagles andelves living inthe surroundingforests. The orcscaught and brutalizedeagles for sport untiltheir depraved mystics discoveredthe necessary ritualto create powerful undead servitors—thefirst blackwings.Environment: Blackwings guard tombs hidden highup on treacherous mountains. Such locales have only oneentrance—usually a tunnel leading from a narrow ledgedownward into the mountain’s depths. Blackwings neverenter the tomb itself, instead lairing on the ledge and in theentrance tunnel. The dismembered bodies of inquisitiveexplorers often fill a blackwing’s lair.Typical Physical Characteristics: The necromantic ritualused to create blackwings requires the intact body of a gianteagle. The process stains the creature’s feathers and plumagea deep black and imbues the creature with unnatural vitality.Feathers hang limply from lumps of dry, leathery skin, andbones are exposed in places. A typical blackwing stands 10feet tall and has a wingspan of about 20 feet. Its beak andclaws are curved and extremely sharp.BlackwingAlignment: A blackwing is corrupt to its core, tainted bynegative energy. It has no concern for law, but its actions arenot unpredictable. Blackwings are always neutral evil.SOCIETYA blackwing that is not destroyed during the despoilmentof its original lair has no true purpose, and it embarks on anodyssey of destruction. If it survives this violent rampage,the displaced blackwing settles ina new location from whichit terrorizes the surroundingcountryside.Multiple displacedblackwings mightcongregate, forming amockery of a naturalbird flock. Membersof a flock stick togethereven if they are forced toabandon a lair.TYPICALTREASUREBlackwings do not covettreasure for its value, butthey have standard treasurefor their ChallengeRating because they are attractedto shiny items. Theyprominently display suchobjects to catch sunlight filteringin from outside.In a twisted parodyof their former lives,they preen in frontof particularly reflectiveitems. Other valuableslie forgotten among theirvictims’ remains.FOR PLAYER CHARACTERSBlackwings offer a couple of prospects for characters.Creation: Blackwings are created from the corpses ofgiant eagles. The corpse must be buried within the area of anunhallow spell for at least six months. Then, a spellcaster of18th level or higher must cast create undead on the remains.Mounts: A blackwing must willingly submit to trainingas a mount. Training the creature requires four weeks ofwork and a DC 25 Handle Animal check. Riding a blackwingrequires an exotic saddle. A blackwing can fight when carryinga rider, but the rider must succeed on a Ride check toattack while the blackwing does so.Carrying Capacity: A light load for a blackwing is up to 612pounds; a medium load, 613–1,226 pounds; and a heavy load,1,227–1,840 pounds.Illus. by I. MedranoBLACKWING13