Working with the Cassowary

[Acero]

In a soon to start group, my players want one ofthese (warning: bit o language) put in the world somewhere. These things sound pretty awesome, so after seeing the link they showed me, I want it in too. I just don't know how. Enemies? Animal Companions? Delicacy? I got no clue.
That's where I need some help.
Looking for ideas of use in campaign and how I'm going to stat it.

Basic info (If you don't want to follow the link)

Flightless bird
5-7 feet tall
Lives in dense forest
runs 30 mph/ 50 kph
known for running through trees
5 inch long foot spike, along w/ porcupine-like quills all over
can swim
has an armored skull
can jump 5 feet vertically

Help Wanted and gladly accepted

[Thurbane]

For overkill, you could give it Axebeak stats (Fiend Folio, from memory)...

[AslanCross]

The Axebeak is in the Arms and Equipment Guide as a possible mount option.

Cassowaries are beasts. One of them recently tore up some of our police who were on a training exercise.

(Another aside: I just realized that some of that article was plagiarized from Wikipedia, of all places. )

[Thurbane]

The Axebeak is in the Arms and Equipment Guide as a possible mount option.

Ah yes, I was thinking of Terror Bird from FF - which also might be useful stats.

Pathfinder SRD has stats for an Ostrich, which might be usable.

Cassowaries are beasts. One of them recently tore up some of our police who were on a training exercise.

Yeah, I remember seeing one at a wildlife sanctuary here in Australia, and there were warning signs up everywhere not to enter it's enclosure, as it can be aggressive and dangerous. A full grown adult is capable of maiming or even fatally woudning a human.

[AtomicKitKat]

One of the old books(Giantcraft?) had stats for "Austrich", "Wary" and "Emoo" or something like that. Might wanna see if you can find that. Or Google.

D&D Wiki

[awa]

keep in mind take anything you read on the cracked website with a grain of salt. They are a comedy website and for comedy purposes tend to pick the most sensational view of any given topic. That said cassowary are big dangerous birds if you have stats for an ostrich i would increase the kick damage to represent the animals larger claws and leave it at that.

[Acero]

keep in mind take anything you read on the cracked website with a grain of salt. They are a comedy website and for comedy purposes tend to pick the most sensational view of any given topic. That said cassowary are big dangerous birds if you have stats for an ostrich i would increase the kick damage to represent the animals larger claws and leave it at that.

Understood. My players brought me the link

[awa]

i love the site don't get me wrong i check it every day its just from what ive seen funny trumps accuracy every time.