Vrock (3.5e Monster)

''This is a monster from Liber Demonica. You might be looking for the vrock.

''The large, avian creature that swoops past you hisses angrily as you evade its initial assault. Its dark blue skin appears almost purple in the red light of the Abyss, allowing its most bird-like features, particularly a long hooked beak and large wingspan, to be on open display.''

"When it comes to this battle, there is only one rule that matters. I can fly, and you cannot."

Even though most demons are able to fly in some regard, very few actually live in the skies. Vrocks are the exception. As the primary servants of Pazuzu, vrocks are avian raiders and vandals that are rarely subject to another lord’s will. When they can be cowed into service by more powerful demons, they usually serve eagerly until bored of their task, dispersing when able to escape unscathed.

Combat
While they have capable melee abilities, vrocks are also capable of dishing out severe impairments to foes without risking harm to themselves in melee. Because their abilities selectively affect non-demons or affect demons differently, they are often used to provide close air support for demonic armies. The usually have mirror image active at all times, and open a fight with heroism and a stunning screech. They then proceed to strip spellcasters of their spells with their spines, and attack them mercilessly.

 (Ex): Vrocks project an aura of fear. The save DC for this aura is 17.

A successful Constitution-based Fortitude save (DC 21) halves the damage. For each additional vrock participating in the dance, their ranges and damage are added together and the vrock with the highest DC is now used for all, and given a +1 bonus per additional participant. Demons within range are instead healed by one half the damage that would normally have been dealt to them, and gain temporary hit points if necessary. Killing, paralyzing, or otherwise disrupting the vrock’s ability to act disrupts its dance, but if multiple vrocks are taking part only that vrock's contribution is negated.

The save DCs are Constitution-based.

 (Ex): Vrocks have spores all over their avian forms that turn into vicious spikes when thrown. As a swift action, a vrock can unleash a flurry of three such spikes from its wings at up to three creatures within Medium range (100 feet + 10 extra feet per HD of the vrock, normally 190 feet). The vrock makes an attack roll for each spike and deals damage normally for each that hits. These spores also carry the effect of a targeted greater dispel magic spell, with the caster level check substituted by the vrock’s attack roll.

 (Ex): As a standard action usable at will, a vrock may unleash a piercing screech that forces non-demons within 30 feet of it to make a Will save (DC 21) or be stunned for 1 round. This save DC is Constitution-based.