Birch Dove
by Jamie BatyTiny Animal
Hit Dice: 1/2d8 (3 hp)
Initiative: +9 (+9 Dex)
Speed: 10 ft. (2 squares), fly 130 ft. (good)
Armour Class: 21 (+2 size, +9 Dex), touch 21, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: 0/-12
Attack: None
Full Attack: None
Space/Reach: 2-1/2 ft. /0 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Improved Evasion, Low-light vision
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +11, Will +2
Abilities: Str 3, Dex 29, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 8
Skills: Hide +17, Listen +2, Spot +6, Tumble +14
Feats: Dodge
Environment: Any land
Organisation: Solitary, Pair, Covey (2-5), Wing (5-20), Flight (20-40), or Flock (40-200)
Challenge Rating: 1/8
Treasure: A birch dove's feathers are worth 10gp apiece. Each bird possesses 2d4 useful feathers.
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: ---
Level Adjustment: ---
These are small, 1ft white birds native to White Island in the Ierendi islands. Fluttering clouds of birch doves wheel and dive among the rocks and surf of the island's rocky coast. During the day the doves are quite active along the coastline and over the water, but at night they rest quietly in the island birches.
The feathers and heart of the birch dove have potent alchemical uses (largely for agility related items), but the doves have an uncanny ability to elude physical and magical attacks. More seriously, the Whitenight druids take swift and devastating action against those who threaten the birds.
The reason for this is that the druids believe these birds are the vessels for the souls of those druids that have passed on. A prophecy has stated that these souls will be needed in a dark day when the Lords of Death walk Mystara once more.
Combat
Birch doves are peaceful creatures and do not fight. They will attempt to escape any attacker, and if that fails, they will use the total defence option until they are able to get away.
Improved Evasion (Ex): A birch dove can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If it makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, she instead takes no damage. Even if the birch dove fails the save, it only takes half damage. A helpless dove does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.
Skills: Birch doves have a +4 racial bonus to all Spot checks.