Found underground as well as above, these exquisitely plumed birds are most often encountered singly. Appearing unfrightened and curious, the dove will observe for a few minutes before flying off to the largest natural predator nearby. Predators have learned that blood doves mean prey and will follow them wherever they lead. If the predator is successful in scoring a kill, the blood dove will dart in to eat scraps and bathe in the blood of the slain prey. Their iridescent red feathers are rare and valuable.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Deadly Distraction - Blood Dove
Found underground as well as above, these exquisitely plumed birds are most often encountered singly. Appearing unfrightened and curious, the dove will observe for a few minutes before flying off to the largest natural predator nearby. Predators have learned that blood doves mean prey and will follow them wherever they lead. If the predator is successful in scoring a kill, the blood dove will dart in to eat scraps and bathe in the blood of the slain prey. Their iridescent red feathers are rare and valuable.
Very nice! I'm totally going to have to save this for future use!
ReplyDeleteThe real question - assume a character "knows" about them, and the suspense being trying to kill it, then wondering what doom it's bringing if it escapes? Or not telling the players a thing, and let them figure it out on their own?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking I'd try to follow it in the hopes it would lead the party to some kobolds. Or does it not work both ways? :P Love the image of a dove bathing in blood btw haha..
ReplyDeleteThanks David.
ReplyDeleteChris, that's exactly what I was thinking, let them encounter a weird, pretty dove the first time, but after it returns with a cave bear next time they see the bird everyone will be like "KILL IT!"
ze Bullette: Only if there are enough koboldies to possible slaughter the party, these birds are hungry!
I think ze bullet is thinking "the dove wants the PCs to slaughter the Kobolds." Which is genius way to first introduce the bird. "Hey, these birds lead us to easy pickings! There's another! Wait... what's that behind it?"
ReplyDeleteAha, thanks Chris I was being a little dense.
ReplyDeleteIs there a bounty on these to prevent them from luring monsters to the unwary (especially children)?
ReplyDelete