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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Faolyn" data-source="post: 9256135" data-attributes="member: 6915329">Here’s another dragon-kin, the Japanese hai-riyo. It’s a tremendous bird with the head of a dragon. I can’t find much information on them, like, at all. There’s more info on them from various fandom pages for games or AtLA then there is in actual mythology. It seems that, much like last time’s amphitere, hai-riyo’s exist mostly as decoration rather than myth—their image can be found in a particular monastery in Kyoto. It may have been a Japanese attempt to illustrate Chinese dragons, in particular, the yinglong, which is, I believe, one of the few Chinese dragons to have wings, so I had to steal some ideas from that.In looking over the statblock again, I’ve come to realize that the hai-riyo is quite similar to the dragon turtle, just in aerial form. They fill similar game niches, at least. Although the hai-riyo starts out as legendary.[ATTACH=full]345101[/ATTACH]Hai-Riyo (Dragon-Bird)Dragon’s Bestiary, Dragon Magazine #248Creature by Gregory Detwiler; art by Terry DykstraHai-riyo have the body of a great eagle and the head that resembles that of a whiskered dragon. Its feathers are gleaming copper in both color and hardness, and its scales on its head and legs are verdigris-colored. They consider themselves highly and always attempt to act courteously and properly and despair over the uncouth manners of practically every other creature they meet.Gourmands. These dragons love to eat. Whether it’s an animal or monster they catch and devour, or a well-presented plate of gourmet “human food, they love it all. And like many dragons, hai-riyo require vast amounts of it, even when in humanoid form. The primary difference between them and many other dragons is that hai-riyo have impeccable table manners.Gods of the Storm. With their powers over the weather and their bred-in-the-bone sense of superiority, hai-riyo have been known to set themselves up as masters of rain and sky. They often create alliances with mortal nations, supplying them with good weather in exchange for being honored and placated with flattery and gifts, especially food.Status Quo. A hai-riyo spends much of its day soaring over its territory, making sure all is going according to its plan. To their mind, they own everything they see, and are simply polite enough to allow other creatures to live there. They like their lands the way they are and dislike anything that might change them. It doesn’t matter whether the change would come from within or without—unless the dragon’s permission is granted beforehand, it will find the change to be a great insult. Most hai-riyo are willing to accept minor differences, such as building a few new houses at the edge of an existing village or deciding that the town will be ruled by a council instead of a mayor, but others demand that even the slightest alteration be presented to them first.Climate/Terrain: temperate; mountainsLegends and LoreWith an Arcana check, the characters can learn the following:DC 10. Hai-riyo resemble eagles with the head of dragons. They are able to shapeshift into humanoid form.DC 15. Hai-riyo are sticklers for manners and can become hostile should a nearby creature display poor manners. They believe that they own everything in their territory and typically demand that nothing harms or alters anything there.DC 20. Hai-riyo use magic to control the weather, and often strike deals with people who live in its territory in provide good weather in exchange for tribute.Hai-Riyo EncountersChallenge Rating 17-22 hai-riyoTreasure: 4,500 gp, diamond (5,000 gp), 5 spinels (500 gp each), peridot ring carved with a family crest (750 gp), deed to a nearby fort (2,500 gp), portrait of the hai-riyo in humanoid form (750 gp), figurine of wondrous power (bronze griffon), 2 skull liqueurs, +2 glaiveSigns1. A sudden change in weather: calm to stormy or vice versa.2. A procession of villagers bringing tribute to the mountains.3. A sudden fog4. An abandoned and ruined building that had been under constructionBehavior1. In humanoid form, enjoying a meal; asks the characters to join it.2. Sleeping in its lair in a cave, exhaling vast clouds of mist as it sleeps3. Demanding tribute from a town in its territory4. With a storm in its wake, on its way to attack a foeNamesArashi, Sunset-Over-Clouds, Tempest, TsubameHai-RiyoLegendary gargantuan dragon; Challenge 20 (25,000 XP)AC 19 (natural armor)HP 315 (18d20+126; bloodied 157)Speed 30 ft., fly 120 ft.STR 24 (+7) DEX 14 (+2) CON 25 (+7)INT 10 (+0) WIS 17 (+3) CHA 15 (+2)Proficiency +6; Maneuver DC 21Saving Throws Dex +8, Con +13Skills History +6, Perception +9, Persuasion +8, Stealth +8Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning, thunderSenses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 19Languages Auran, Common, DraconicAir Mastery. The hai-riyo’s movement and vision isn’t hindered by cold, wind, or storms.Innate Spellcasting. The hai-riyo’s spellcasting trait is Charisma (spell save DC 16). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:3/day each: call lightning, control weather, daylight, fog cloud (as 9th-level spell), sunburstKeen Sight. The hai-riyo has advantage on Perception checks that rely on sight.Legendary Resistance (3/Day). When the hai-riyo fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. When it does, some of its feathers dull and oxidize, then fall off. If it has no more uses of this ability, its Armor Class is reduced to 17 until it finishes a long rest.ActionsMultiattack. The hai-riyo attacks once with its bite and twice with its talons.Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 29 (4d10+7) piercing damage plus 11 (2d10) fire damage.Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 25 (4d8+7) slashing damage and the target is grappled (escape DC 21). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained and the hai-riyo can’t use its talons on another target, and it has advantage on talons attacks against the grappled creature.Longsword (Humanoid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (1d8+7) slashing damage, or 12 (1d19+7) slashing damage if using the sword in both hands.Steam Breath (Recharge 5-6). The hai-riyo breathes scalding steam in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 21 Constitution saving throw, taking 54 (12d8) fire damage on a failed save or half as much on a successful one. All open flames in the breath’s area are doused. Being underwater doesn’t grant resistance against this damage.Change Shape. The dragon magically takes the shape of a humanoid, or changes back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (dragon’s choice). In the new form, the dragon’s stats are unchanged except for its size. It can’t use Steam Breath or Windstorm except in dragon form.Legendary ActionsThe hai-riyo can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. It regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.Talons. The hai-riyo makes one talons attack.Fly. The hai-riyo flies up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.Howling Winds (Costs 2 Actions). Each creature of the hai-riyo’s choice within 60 feet that can hear it must make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. When it succeeds on a saving throw or the effect ends for it, it is immune to Howling Winds for 24 hours.Windstorm (Costs 3 Actions). The hai-riyo beats its wings and magically surrounds itself with a 60-foot-raidus whirlwind until the end of its next turn. A creature other than the dragon that starts its turn in the windstorm or enters it for the first time on a turn must make a DC 21 Strength saving throw. On a failure, the creature takes 22 (4d10) bludgeoning damage, is pushed back 30 feet, and is knocked prone. On a success, the creature takes half damage and isn’t pushed back or knocked prone.CombatHai-riyo use their Windstorm and Howling winds to frighten, demoralize, and push back attackers, then use its magic to summon storms to make the area difficult for others to maneuver in. It will then use its Steam Breath if available and its bite otherwise. It rarely fights in humanoid form, preferring to intimidate would-be attackers with its prowess with the sword, then shifting to dragon form should the attackers persist.</blockquote>

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