Today's monster is a bit based on creatures like the harpy and siren of Greek and Roman myth with features of the Swan maiden of Northern European lore. I started thinking about what kind of creature this could be. Some sort of bird-woman, either cursed or can transform via a cloak of feathers (like Swan Maidens or Freya), but also would have lived in the environs of the area I am using; the Black Forest region.
This got me thinking about how scary the forest would have been to a pagan in the 6th or 7th centuries. All sorts of monsters live there. Certainly witch-like monsters. So I decided to adapt another idea I had had. Something of an "Owl Witch" or a Strix. The name is Latin in origin, and the concept is largely a Norse/Germanic one.
Strix
The Strix are a type of evil witch that lives alone in dark woods. They have the ability to transform into large owls. This ability comes from a magical cloak of feathers they can don. Typically they do this at night to hunt for prey; their favorite food is children that wander too close to the forests.
STRIX
FREQUENCY: Very Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 9 [5]
MOVE: 12" [6"/24"]
HIT DICE: 6+12 (39 hp)
% IN LAIR: 90%
TREASURE TYPE: B
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2 talons or Spell
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1d6, 1d6 or by Spell
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Scream
SPECIAL DEFENSES: None [+1 or better weapon to hit]
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Very
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Evil
SIZE: M (5')
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Strixes are witches that can assume the shape of a large owl via the use of a magical cloak of feathers. The witch is connected to the cloak, and only she can use it. Numbers in brackets [] indicate her stats in owl form.
The Strix in owl form can attack via two talons on a single target. Three times per day, they can also scream for 4d8 hp of damage, save vs. Spells for half. In this form, she can't use magic.
In her human form, she can cast spells as a witch (or magic-user) of the 5th level. In this form, she can only scream once per day.
It is said that if a man can steal the Strix's cloak of feathers, then she will be forced to marry him. She will be a dutiful wife as long as the feather cloak stays hidden. If she finds it she will devour her children and fly off, never to be seen again. Any children who manage to live to adulthood will become powerful wizards or shamans.
Links
- One Man's God Special: Syncretism Part 3, the Roman-Norse Pantheon
- The Monsters
- The Gods
- Unser Vater, Father of the Gods
- Sisters of the Dawn, Liebhaberin and Ôstara
- The Mother Goddesses Herde Oberin, Mutter Natur, and Großmutter
- The Divine Twins
- Hüne Vater, Großvater, and Großmutter
- Ides, Demi-Goddess of Protection and War
- Helga, Goddess of Magic, Ghosts, and Witchcraft
- Hüter, Lord of the Dead
