Fantasy Monster: Shadow Griffon

You can now support Shaper Of Worlds on Patreon.

Shadow Griffon

A black-feathered composition of a bird of prey, large cat, and writhing darkness, with bones shining here and there, and shadows seeping out of its wings.

CR 7; XP 3,200
CE Large Undead

Init +9; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +17

Defense
AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 15 (+5 Dex, +6 natural, –1 size)
hp 90 (12d8+36)
Fort +7; Ref +9; Will +10
Defensive Abilities shadow streak; DR 10/magic; Immune falling damage, undead traits

Offense
Speed 30 ft., fly 80 ft. (poor)

Melee bite +13 (2d4+5), 2 claws +13 (2d4+5)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (15 ft. after shadow streak)

Statistics
Str 20, Dex 20, Con —, Int 13, Wis 15, Cha 15
Base Atk +9; CMB +15; CMD 30 (34 vs. trip and overrun)

Feats Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Flyby Attack, Improved Initiative, Nimble Moves, Toughness

Skills Acrobatics +20, Fly +14, Knowledge (religion) +16, Perception +17, Stealth +16

Language Abyssal, Common

Ecology
Environment temperate hills, corrupted wastelands
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure standard

Special Abilities

Shadow Streak (Su) As a full-round action, shadow griffon can glide as a tangle of shadowy strands up to 80 feet, reforming on the ground at the end point. While moving in that way, the shadow griffon is treated as incorporeal (no damage from nonmagical attacks and half damage from most magical ones)—loses its natural armor bonus but gains +2 deflection bonus and +4 bonus to AC against attacks of opportunity as if it had Mobility feat effectively retaining its AC. After using this ability, the shadow griffon extends its reach by 10 feet until the beginning of its following turn as its body remains malleable and capable of stretching farther than usual.

Shadow griffons are cruel and dangerous amalgams of dead griffons and unnatural, corrupting darkness. They are more intelligent and aggressive than their living counterparts though they seem to spend more of their time on ground—usually desolated wastelands of their former homes.

Unlike living griffons, they can speak, and occasionally do toy with their sapient prey, mocking them or pretending to make deals. Rarely, they actually do make deals, though only if the other party seems to be capable of enforcing them.