The origin tale of the rock owl is one of sorrow. The earth god, aiming to impress the god of air, crafted beautiful birds from clay adorned with rocks and stones. Infusing them with precious metals like mithril, he brought them to life. The birds flew around the tallest mountain, singing in harmony as if the earth and sky were united. However, the god of air chose another, leaving the earth god heartbroken. His creations fell like tears, forming veins of rare metal where they landed.
This myth has made rock owls targets for treasure hunters, lured by the desire for the minerals within. Relentless hunting has pushed rock owl numbers to the brink, earning them endangered status among conservation-focused druid circles.
Despite their plight, rock owls aren’t defenseless. They boast stony feathers and a sharp beak and excel at hiding in rocky terrain. A strike from their beak is likened to an arrow from an expert archer. Similar to their earth elemental cousins, rock owls are devastated by earth-shattering thunder.
Rock owls prefer mountainous regions, nesting on mountain peaks. Their eggs have a distinct metallic appearance and are valuable even if damaged. Territorial and protective of their young, the best advice when encountering a rock owl is simple: turn around and go the other way.
Rock Owl
Tiny Elemental, Unaligned
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 14 (4d4 + 4)
Speed 5 ft., fly 60 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (-3) | 16 (+3) | 12 (+1) | 4 (-3) | 13 (+1) | 7 (-2) |
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +5
Damage Vulnerabilities thunder
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages —
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2
Flyby. The owl doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.
Keen Hearing and Sight. The owl has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or sight.
Stone Camouflage. The owl has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in rocky terrain.
Actions
Stone Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage. If the owl moved at least 20 feet straight toward the target immediately before the hit, the target takes an extra 7 (2d6) piercing damage.
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Further Reading
A mission to save the rock owls from extinction could be the first part of a quest to obtain the fist of the elements.
Rock owls could serve as scouts for an ancient vault containing the wall breaker.
Imagery created with Midjourney.
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