iconic flying beasts/steeds

[Greybar]

This is a "in my campaign" question, but might provoke some fun thought for others. My world is not generally a hugely-varied world of races and monsters where the 500+ beasts from the Monster Manuals and their variants all have little niches. I do have some contesting nations, and I want to have winged beasts as a fairly rare and high-prestige steeds and monstrous warriors.

* The good paladins of the Goddess of War and Fire have an elite group of griffon-riders.
* Our heroes have flown near the Gnoll capital city and been harrassed by Wyverns (some of half-fiendish nature and oversized growth). As such, I really enjoyed seeing the "Elite Wyverns" on the WotC site, which inspired this question.

Now I need another set of opposite groups or so. One nature-focused, one perhaps lawful-evil-war focused, one orcish-ogrish-chaos focused, and one goblin-sorcery-focused. Or heck, what cool flying thing have you made up?

I've avoiding dragons since as far as the players know, there are precisely four dragons that have every been - one was slain in legendary times and one they have briefly seen and fled from (while swearing to come back later...)

anyway, what kind of flying beasties do you enjoy using? That scream airborne danger to you?

john

 

[caudor]

A cow shot from a catapult screams airborne danger to me If you throw on an occasional sheep or donkey, the screeching sounds are nothing if not disconcerting as well. Just kidding.

On a more serious note. Flying apes (evil ones that carry people away to eat) have a creepy tone to them. I know I read about such in creature in one of my sourcebooks. I'll have to dig around to find it...

 

[Piratecat]

How about evil, black pegasi?

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Giant Eagles/Hawks/Owls (nature group) & hippogriffs ( I can see hippogriffs for the LE bunch).

Stereotypical, but spider-eaters are great for the goblins (nothing like giant wasps to give you the creeps). Or maybe giant bats.

Orcs/Ogres? Tough one. How about chimeras or manticores?

 

[shilsen]

How about evil, black pegasi?

That simple? Tsk, tsk - where's the RBDM-ness we know and love?

How about shining white pegasi bearing warriors in glowing silver mail, who just coincidentally happen to be blackguards after a really good laundry day?

 

[CCamfield]

IMCW, one nation (LN in general outlook, but LE wouldn't be a stretch) is ruled by an overclass of arrogant, status-oriented warriors who ride giant hawks in battle, with large aeries in the mountains. Somewhat inspired by Dave Duncan's novel Shadow.

 

[Ace]

IMCW, one nation (LN in general outlook, but LE wouldn't be a stretch) is ruled by an overclass of arrogant, status-oriented warriors who ride giant hawks in battle, with large aeries in the mountains. Somewhat inspired by Dave Duncan's novel Shadow.

Or Gorean Tarn riders ACK

Hypogriphs are popular flying mounts in a few campaigns I have to been in, peagsi of course popular as are Dragons

 

[Richards]

I recalll an early Dungeon adventure involving a pair of ogre brothers riding a roc.

Johnathan

 

[d4]

Stereotypical, but spider-eaters are great for the goblins (nothing like giant wasps to give you the creeps). Or maybe giant bats.

or pterodactyls!

 

[Allanon]

Giddyap, ya floatin' eye thingie

Beholders , you can use the eyestalks to hold on.
They may not go fast but you'll surely go in style