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           V  

Documentation Area

Document Path: /doc/monsters/pegasus

Name:
	Pegasus  (Magical Creature)

Stats:
	No. Appearing  : 1-10
	Climate/Terrain: Temperate and subtropical forests
	Frequency      : Very rare
	Organization   : Herd
	Activity Cycle : Day
	Diet           : Herbivore

Description:
	Pegasi are magnificent, winged steeds that often serve the cause of
	good. These intelligent creatures are very shy and wild, not easily
	tamed. They serve only good characters, and when they do, they will
	serve their master with absolute faithfulness for the rest of his life.

	A pegasus is a thorughbred which resembles an Arabian horse (though
	slightly larger) with two large feathered wings. Pegasi are usually
	white, but brown pegasi are not unknown, and rumours persist of black
	pegasi. As should be expected, alignments do not vary according to
	colour (all pegasi are chaotic good). Pegasi are 17 hands tall (5 feet
	at the shoulder) and weigh over 1500 pounds. Pegasi must be ridden
	bareback; they will not acept saddles.

	Pegasi speak their own language and can communicate with horses. They
	can understand common, and will obey their master's commands if they
	are given in that language.

Combat:
	A pegasus attacks with its hooves and teeth. It can attack an opponent
	who is behind it with its rear hooves, but it cannot use any of its
	other attacks in that round. A pegasus can also dive at an opponent
	from hights of 50 feet or higher and use its hoof attacks; each attack
	then does double damage.

	In battle, a pegasus will try to lure opponents (such as dragons) into
	tight spaces. As the opponent struggles to maneuver info attack range,
	the pegasus climbs and attacks with its hooves from above. Against
	creatures of their own size, such as griffons, pegasi use their superi-
	or speed to outrun them. If griffons are close to a pegasus nest (es-
	pecially if there are young present), one parent will attack aggres-
	sively, get the griffon's attention and then fly away. By doing this,
	they hope to lure enemies away from the nest and tire them out over a
	long distance before returning home.

Habitat/Society:
	Pegasi are egg-laying mammals. If encountered in their lair, there will
	be one nest for every pair of pegasi. There is a 20% chance per nest
	that there will be 1-2 eggs (30% chance) or young (70%) of 20-50% ma-
	turity. Each egg is worth 3000 silver pieces, while the young are worth
	5000 silver pieces per head on the open market. A pegasus can be used
	as a warhorse; a male can carry weight as a medium warhorse, while a
	female can carry weight as a light warhorse.

	Pegasi are intelligent creatures. They can detect good and detect evil
	at will (60 yard range). They use these powers on those who would ride
	them; they try to throw anyone of non-good alignments who would tame
	them. If provoked, pegasi will not hesitate to attack creatures whom
	they perceive as evil.

	To tame a pegasus, a person of good alignment must locate a pegasus
	herd. Then, at night, he can try to sneak up on a pegasus and surprise
	it. The character must have the airborne riding proficiency. Pegasi do
	not like to be tamed, a magical bridle enchanted for the purpose will
	remove this penalty and the pegasus can be tamed. A tamed pegasus will
	obey the commands of its master for as long as it lives, if the master
	remains of good alignment.

Ecology:
	Pegasi feed on grass, fruits, and other plants. Griffons and hippo-
	griffs are the natural enemies of a pegasus. Pegasi have a lifespan of
	about 40 years.

	Legend has it that if a medusa is slain and beheaded, there is a small
	(5%) chance that a greater pegasus will be born, springing fully born
	from the medusa's cloven neck. These pegasi have the same attacks and
	movement rate of a normal pegasus but have more hit points and have 20%
	magic resistance. They also have a bonus to their morale rating. There
	is a 5% chance that the leader of a herd of pegasi will be a greater
	pegasus. Greater pegasi can be tamed only by the noblest and greatest
	of heroes, and have a lifespan of 100 years.