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Documentation Area
Document Path: /doc/monsters/phoenix
Name:
Phoenix (Magical Creature)
Stats:
No. Appearing : 1-3
Climate/Terrain: Elysium
Frequency : Very rare
Organization : Solitary
Activity Cycle : Any
Diet : Omnivore
Description:
The phoenix is a great, extra-planar bird thought to represent the spi-
rit of freedom and rebirth. It is a mortal creature that displays the
ultimate in godlike detachment. A phoenix appears as a large bird with
a 40' wingspan and bright multi-coloured feathers. The plumage includes
bright violet, scarlet, crimson, and flaming orange. Its beak and claws
are of blue-violet. A phoenix's eyes are a deep, glowing ruby colour.
In addition to its own language, a phoenix can speak with all avians.
It otherwise communicates with a limited telepathy or by empathy.
Combat:
The phoenix is a free and benevolent spirit and does not derive plea-
sure from attacking others. But if the need for combat arises, a phoe-
nix is a swift and powerful foe. It can attack in the air with two po-
werful claws. When on the ground it attacks with its great beak. The
phoenix is an intelligent and magical beast, however, so it usually
opts for more effective measures of attack and defense.
A phoenix will always open up each round of combat with a piercing
shriek that gives the creature an edge in the combat round. The shriek
does no affect the phoenix's combat roles in any way. Every phoenix has
vast spell-like powers, at 20th level of magic use, usable once per
round, one at a time, at will: affect normal fires, audible glamer,
blindness, blink, blur, call woodland beings, color spray, continual
light, control temperature, dancing lights, detect charm, detect evil,
detect magic, duo-dimension, find traps, find the path, fire charm,
fire seeds, incendiary cloud, invisibility, misdirection, neutralize
poison, polymorph self, produce fire, protection from evil, pyrotech-
nics, reincarnate, remove fear, remove curse, snake charm, veil, wall
of fire.
Also, by spreading its wings and performing a ritual dance, the phoenix
can perform the following spell-like abilities at 40th level of magic
use: dismissal, dispel evil, dispel magic
Any of these three abilities can be used by a phoenix as many times as
desired, but can only be done one at a time and each takes a full round
to complete. No other activities - such as shriek - can be done in con-
junction with these powers.
A touch of its wing is equal to a cure light wounds spell, with 2 tou-
ches possible per individual per day per phoenix. A touch of the comb
gives an effect equal to cure disease, but only once per day per
person.
When hard-pressed, the phoenix is able to cause spilled droplets of its
own blood to act as fire seeds of the holly berry type, one being crea-
ted for every five points of damage taken by the phoenix.
In extreme situations, the phoenix can create a 40th-level combination
of fire storm (20' high x 5' wide x 8' deep) and incendiary cloud, even
if it has already used these powers previously. This destroys the adult
phoenix but leaves behind a young phoenix with all the powers and abi-
lities of its predecessor.
The phoenix can travel astrally or etherically at will. Thy are hit
only by very enchanted magical weapons. The phoenix can never be sur-
prised. It has infravision to 120 feet.
Habitat/Society:
Phoenixs are strange and enigmatic creatures. They are held in very
high re- gard in the legends of many tribes of barbarians and in other,
primitive cultures. It is said that the phoenix is the embodiment of
rebirth. This is symbolized in the classic imagery of the self-immola-
tion of the phoenix from which a new bird is formed. This is seen as
the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of good and thus the phoenix are
considered noble creatures.
Legend states that the phoenix has an extremely long lifespan. Some re-
ports claim they can live to be over 1000 years old, while other sug-
gest it to be as high as 12000 years. When it is time for the phoenix
to die, it goes far into the mountains away from civilization. At the
very top of these peaks, the phoenix builds a great nest, taking its
last look at the world it knows. Satisfied that its work in the world
is at an end, it then immolates itself in a flash of great flame and
light. When the flames die down, there in the nest, which remains un-
touched by the flames, is a young phoenix arrayed in bright colours
like its parent before it. Legend then suggests that the phoenix must
fly away to the temple of the sun and there bury the mummified corpse
of its parent.
In general, phoenixes are reclusive creatures, tending to make their
lairs away from the worlds of humanoid beings. There are many legends
of the phoenix as there are cultures, each with its own slightly diffe-
ring viewpoint. Some believe the phoenix to be the benevolent symbol of
death, only appearing when someone's time is up among the living. Other
cultures - primarily evil - see the phoenix as the symbol of destruc-
tion and rage, bringing fiery devastation in its wake. Still other
cultures record their phoenix to be a friend and benefactor of good
beings.
Although a wealth of mystery surrounds the phoenix, still there are
some things that are known for sure. It is obvious that the phoenix is
a champion of good. Although it seems these creatures do no actively
seek out evil to destroy, they will rarely pass up such an opportunity
when it presents iteself. Also, despite the vast differences in ideo-
logy, belief, and philosophy in the various cultures that revere the
phoenix, one thing remains constant: the phoenix is the symbol of crea-
tion by destruction. Some cultures believe that fire is the one great
purifier, cleaning all that it touches. Others believe that fire merely
destroys. With the phoenix, both are true. In its own reproduction,
fire destroys the old bird, taking with it many centuries of life and
wisdom, yet it creates a new phoenix with a new mind, thus purifying
the line.
Ecology:
Of all magical or enchanted creatures, the phoenix is perhaps most
sought after by alchemists and sages alike. There is almost no part of
a phoenix that cannot be used in a magical potion or for research.
The feathers of the phoenix have a great many uses. They can be used
to adorn a staff of healing, they can be used to make potions of extra
healing, and have many other healing, magic uses. The eyes, beak, and
talons of a phoenix are very valuable in the open market, often comman-
ding 5000 gold pieces and up. Of, because it is not always easy to find
a buyer on the open market, because many cultures consider it a bad
omen or taboo violation to kill a phoenix.
The exact nature of the phoenix can only be guessed at by scholars. All
phoenixes are male and the reproduction cycle consists entirely of the
self-immolation. Whether this is a natural biological reproduction cy-
cle or a magical birth is unclear.
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