PERYTON
Although this monstrous carnivore feeds on
any creature, it prefers humanoids, especially
elves, half-elves, and humans. Whe n it kills a
humanoid, a peryton rips out its prey's heart and
takes it back to its nest to be devoured.
The peryton is a bizarre creature that blends the
body and wings of a bird of prey with the head of a
stag. Its strangest feature is its shadow, which appears
humanoid rather than reflecting the creature 's physical
form. Sages postulate that the first perytons were
humans transformed by a hideous curse or magical
experiment, but bards tell a different tale of a man
whose infide lity caused his scorned wife to cut out the
heart of her younger, more beautiful rival and consume
it in a ritual intended to forever win he r husband's
heart. The ritual succeeded until the woman's villainy
was exposed. She was ha nged for he r crime, but the
lingering magic of her foul ritual caused the carrion
birds that feasted on her corpse to trans form into the
first perytons.
Unnatural Hunger. A peryton's re productive cycle
depends on the heart of a freshly kille d humanoid. The
organ must be consumed by a fe ma le peryton before
she can reproduce. When a peryton consumes a heart,
its shadow changes for a brief time to reflect its true
monstrous form.
Whe n attacking a humanoid, a peryton is single-
minded and rele ntless, fighting until it or its prey dies.
If a peryton is somehow driven away, it stalks lost prey
from afar, attacking again when the opportunity arises.
Bane of the Mountains. P e rytons roos t atop
mountain ridges and lair in high caves. They prey on
creatures living or wandering in the vales below, and
travelers on lonely mountain roads learn to keep a
wary eye on the sky. Because norma l weapons are less
effective against perytons, the folk of the mountains
know to avoid confrontations with these mons ters
at a ll costs.
Establis he d settlements are attractive to perytons
as a renewable food source. As such, village councils
and local nobles' ofte n hire adventurers to eliminate
peryton nests..
PERYTQN
Medium monstrosity, chaotic evil 'Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 33 (6d8 + 6)
Speed 20ft., fly 60ft.STR
16 (+3)DEX
12 (+1)Skills Perception +5CON
13 (+1)
INT
9 (-1)WIS
12 (+1)CHA
10 (+0)Damage Resistances bludgeoning, pie rcing, and slashing from
nonmagical wea pons
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages understands Common and Elvis h but can't speak
Challenge 2 (450 XP)Dive Attack. If the peryton is flying and dives at least 30 feet
straight toward a target and then hits it with a melee weapon
attack, the attack deals a n extra 9 (2d8) damage to the target.
Flyby. The peryton doesn't provoke an o pportunity attack when
it flies out of an enemy's reach.
Keen Sight and Smell. The pe ryton has advantage on Wisdom
(Pe rce ption) checks that rely on s ight or smell.ACTIONS
Multiattack. The peryton makes one gore attack and one
talon attack.
Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit , r each 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) piercing damage.251