Vulture (4e Monster)

Mundane vultures are scavenging birds, feeding off of the carcasses of those who have died of natural causes or those who have been killed by other creatures. They typically flee when provoked, though they have been known to aggressively defend their meals when food is scarce. Monstrous vultures are often much more dangerous beasts, as they can readily hunt living creatures.

Vulture


Ordinary vultures aren't particularly threatening creatures even when provoked. However, they can spread disease with their bite, and many cultures view the vulture as an omen of death and misfortune. They can detect carrion from miles away, and are often found near battlefields where food is abundant.

Vulture Tactics
Vultures typically attack only to defend themselves or when a living creature is badly wounded. They will typically bite their opponent and then fly out of reach, circling overhead while the victim slowly weakens from disease and exposure to the elements.

Vulture Lore
A character knows the following information with a successful Nature check.
 * DC 15: Vultures feed on carrion and are only a threat to those who are grievously wounded and near death. They are surprisingly clean creatures, and some people keep them as pets.

Bonestripper Vulture
Large, predatory birds native to the Shadowfell, these creatures are almost identical to their mundane relatives. Bonestripper vultures will attack healthy animals without hesitation, and their powerful jaws and serrated beaks can tear all of the flesh off of a victim in minutes. Like most vultures, they spread a virulent disease through their bite.

Bonestripper Vulture Tactics
A bonestripper vultures focuses its efforts on one target at a time, biting repeatedly until the victim falls. In groups, they will typically each choose a different target, but two or more bonestripper vultures will fight over the same food if there are more of them than there are enemies. If a victim drops, every nearby vulture will move towards it and use bonestrip.

Bonestripper Vulture Lore
A character knows the following information with a successful Nature check.
 * DC 15: Bonestripper vultures are both scavengers and predators, preferring wounded or dead prey but hunting healthy animals when no other food is available.
 * DC 20: The disease a bonestripper vulture spreads is more potent than that of mundane vultures, and they can rapidly heal their wounds by feeding on victims who are near death.

Encounter Groups
Although vultures do not typically work together, they swarm towards potential meals in large numbers. They sometimes mistake undead creatures for food and can be found following them around for days.

Level 3 Encounter (XP 754) — Carrion Stalkers
 * 1 corruption corpse (level 4 artillery, Monster Manual pg. 274)
 * 2 gravehounds (level 3 brute, Monster Manual pg. 274)
 * 9 vultures (level 2 minion brute)