Deep crow

Deep crow

(Creature)

Type

Magical beast

CR

14

Environment

Underground

Alignment

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Source: Endless Night, pg(s). 80–81

Deep crows are fierce aerial predators of the Darklands, stalking even the powerful races of the underground like drow, deros, and xulgaths. They reside in the largest caverns where they can take advantage of their flight. Even without the benefits of flight, deep crows are formidable opponents.

Appearance

While it does resemble a crow, a deep crow also has the predatory four-legged stance of a stalking jungle cat, but each of its four legs ends in an eagle-like talon capable of rending through rock and stone. On its back are a pair of huge crow-like wings covered in oily black feathers.

Its face combines that of a flesh-hungry crow with a monstrous arachnid. It has eight huge dark eyes facing in all directions, and its mouth not only has a sharp rending beak but also has a pair of spider-like mandibles.

Deep crows are nearly 20 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 7,000 pounds.

Habitat and ecology

Deep crows always lair deep underground in the Darklands. Their nests are always high up and inaccessible. Despite their fearsome appearance, deep crows are social creratures and establish a natural pecking order amongst their own kind. Much like normal animals they can be communicated with by druids and rangers. Those brave warriors of nature who have communicated with deep crows claim them to be imperious in personality but open to communication. They will not be tamed by humanoids but do occasionally allow those who they deeply respect to ride them.

Deep crows hatch from enormous black eggs that are laid by the most ancient of the deep crows. Each hatchling normally has between one and four brothers or sisters. They are taught how to hunt and live in the Darklands by their parent, with who they usually stay for about a year before they leave to find their own lair. Like dragons, deep crows grow larger and more powerful with age. Their vast hunger sometimes drives deep crows upwards in search of more food, to locations just below the reach of the sun.

Abilities

The caw of a deep crow causes a deep-seated primal fear in all creatures. Deep crows can blend into shadows allowing them to completely conceal themselves within the darkness.

For some unknown reason deep crows show an unnatural fear of magic that shakes them if they see visible magical effects.