Creature Feature (Starjammer): Gallus CR 1

Welcome to Creature Feature Starjammer! Today we present the Gallus, the chicken’s larger meaner cousin.

This sizable fowl has short wings ill-suited for flying, a sharp beak, and cruel talons.

Gallus CR 1

XP 400
Neutral Small animal
Init +1; Senses low-light vision; Perception +5

DEFENSE

AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 11 (+1 Dex, +1 size)
hp 14 (2d8+2);
Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +1

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., fly 20 ft. (clumsy); drift
Melee bite +2 (1d4+1 plus grab),
Special Attacks rake (2 claws +2, 1d3+1)

STATISTICS

Str 12, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Base Atk +1; CMB +1 (+5 grapple); CMD 12
Feats Skill Focus Stealth, Spring Attack (Bonus)
Skills Fly -5, Perception +5, Stealth +12;
SQ drift

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Drift (Ex)

A gallus flies in short bursts and can’t use its fly speed to hover. When it flies, a gallus must end its move action by landing or perching on a solid surface.

ECOLOGY

Environment warm jungles
Organization solitary or pack (2-5)
Treasure none

The gallus are voracious omnivores that superficially resemble the common chicken. Spread across many worlds, it’s not entirely clear which came first, the chicken or the gallus. Unlike their domesticated cousins, however, the gallus are efficient hunters and scavengers known for racing across the jungle floor hunting down small prey.

When threatened, or when food is scarce, gallus are known to join up in small hunting packs to hunt even larger prey than normal, though rarely targeting anything larger than a human. When smaller prey is available, they prefer to target it first and have been known to target and devour all manner of familiar and halfling.

The gallus usually begin their hunts hidden amongst the foliage, watching and observing their prey as they get into position. Their preferred tactic is to run up and bite their prey, either latching on or taking multiple passes against larger creatures. Once a gallus has managed to get a good grip on a morsel with its mouth, they turn to their talons to rend their prey apart until it stops struggling. They usually only fly to escape danger and to find better points to observe from, as they find far more success hunting prey on foot.

Exterminating the gallus has proven difficult, as most female gallus have rather subdued color patterns which make detection difficult. Even when discovered, the gallus are usually more agile than their pursuers, either running away through the foliage or awkwardly flying from branch to branch.



About Kevin Bryan

Kevin Bryan is a monster writer for the Open Gaming Network, and is looking forward to bringing all sorts of strange and bizarre creatures to life. His personal website is Kevinswriting.com.

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