Homa

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3E Material
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Medium Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 7d10+7 (45HP)
Initiative: +4
Speed: Fly 100’ (20 squares, average maneuverability)
Armor Class: 20 (+4 Dex, +6 natural); touch 14; flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +7/+13
Attack: Talons +13 melee (1d6+3)
Full Attack: 2 Talons +13 melee (1d6+3)
Space/Reach: 5’/5’
Special Attacks: Command
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60’, Magical Beast traits, Shadow of Fortune, Soar
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +4
Abilities: Str 23 (+6), Dex 18 (+4), Con 13 (+1), Int 5 (-3), Wis 14 (+2), Cha 10 (+0)
Skills: Listen +7, Spot +8
Feats: Alertness, Flyby Attack, Hover B, Improved Initiative
Environment: any (Siraaj)
Organization: solitary, pair, formation (3-9), or flock (10-40)
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: N/A
Alignment: often Chaotic Good
Advancement: 8-14HD (Medium), 15-21HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: N/A

Combat
A homa will not readily start a fight, usually opting to fly away from a skirmish before it begins. It will battle, however, to protect its young, defend a mate, save its own life, or to secure food in desperate times. A homa will usually try to close the distance with an enemy so that it may employ its Command ability. If that fails (or if there are multiple opponents), it will attempt to charge into melee with its talons, using Flyby Attacks as often as possible.

Command (Su): A homa can make another creature within 20’ do its bidding via telepathy; the targeted creature must succeed on a Will save (DC15) or be affected as though by a dominate monster spell for 1d6+4 rounds; the save DC is Wisdom-based; this is a mind-affecting compulsion effect; a homa can use this ability as often as it wishes, but can only Command one creature at a time.

Magical Beast traits: All creatures with the Magical Beast type possess the following traits:
  • Darkvision out to 60’.
  • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
  • Proficient with no armor.
  • Magical Beasts eat, sleep, & breathe.

Shadow of Fortune (Su): A homa can bring good luck to any creature its shadow falls upon; if a creature is directly underneath a homa for at least one round, it will receive a +2 luck bonus to all skill checks & saving throws for 24 hours

Soar (Ex): A homa does not have to land, even when it is wounded or grappled; regardless of circumstances or conditions, a homa cannot come within 5’ of the ground, although it can still attack anything within its reach, so it may just barely scratch the ground if it wishes; a homa that is forced to descend will still hover 5’ off the ground, as if it were levitating; a homa’s feathers are not affected by this effect, so they will fall to the ground if separated from the bird’s body; even a homa that has been killed will fade away rather than fall to the ground.

Homa Lore
Characters that have ranks in Knowledge (Arcana) can learn more about homas. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DC’s.
  • DC15: “Legends tell of a magical bird that is always on the wing, never landing.” A character making this check recalls all magical beast traits.
  • DC20: “This magnificent creature is known as a homa, & no force on Siraaj can make it touch the ground.” A character making this check knows the workings of the Soar ability.
  • DC25: “A homa, despite the luck it may bring, can force another being to do whatever it wants, acting on its behalf.” A character making this check remembers the mechanics of Compulsion & Shadow of Fortune.
  • DC30: “A homa’s feathers are a valuable material component in flying spells, & are worth a small fortune.” A character making this check is familiar with where homas can usually be found.

Homa Egg
  • 3HP
  • Hardness: 1
  • Value: 50,000gp

Homa Feather
  • 2HP
  • Hardness: 0
  • Value: 2,000gp

4E Material
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Flying over the world below is a large avian form. The feathers on top of the regal being are a dull mottled brown, but the ventral feathers are a vibrant sky blue. It glides upon the winds, flying swiftly despite the fact that it never flaps its wings.

Soaring majestically above the concerns of the world, the Homa bird is a rare marvel to behold, like a grand jewel in the sky. These stately creatures are the envy of all, lord & serf, man & beast, bird & land-bound. They are said to never touch the ground, living their entire lives at one with the skies, riding upon the wind from their initial hatching until their final fading.

Preferring to live off of carrion, a homa (HOE-mah) will only kill if it must to survive or feed its young. They are uncommon enough that they are somewhat legendary; one such tale states that a homa’s shadow brings good luck to everyone that it falls upon. Also known as the Bird That Never Lands or the Shuqa Udal (“Wing of Eternity”), a homa is as valuable as it is rare. Its feathers have been used in the turbans of great sultans of ages past, such as King Manas & the pharaoh Ak-Khyriash II. As a living embodiment of royal splendor, a homa’s head would be worth its weight in gold, & a single live egg could be traded for a king’s ransom.

A homa is about 4˝’-5’ long, with a 9’-10’ wingspan, & weighs around 80-120 pounds. They do not speak, but they can understand Common & respond to simple questions or commands.

Plot Hooks
  • A wealthy noble is obsessed with standing in the shadow of a homa, & is desperate to find one.
  • A local scholar is seeking homa feathers to use in some mysterious research.
  • A homa egg was discovered in a reopened mine, & several groups are vying to take possession of the rare find.