Lesser Phoenix
by Jamie BatyMA, RC 200
Medium Magical Beast (Extraplanar, Fire)
Hit Dice: 10d10+10 (65 hp)
Initiative: +8 (+4 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative)
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), fly 130 ft. (average)
Armour Class: 21 (+4 Dex, +4 natural, +3 deflection), touch 17, flat-footed 17
Base Attack/Grapple: +10/+10
Attack: Claw +10 melee (1d6)
Full Attack: 2 Claws +10 melee (1d6) or bite +10 melee (2d6)
Space/Reach: 5 ft. /5 ft.
Special Attacks: Ring of fire
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 10/cold iron, darkvision 60ft., immolation, immunity to mind-affecting spells, low-light vision, planar travel, telepathy, uncanny dodge
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +11, Will +8
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 18, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 17, Cha 19
Skills: Knowledge (arcana) +17, Knowledge (history) +17, Listen +16, Search +17, Sense Motive +16, Spot +16
Feats: Flyby Attack, Improved Critical (claw), Improved Initiative, Iron Will
Environment: Plane of Fire
Organisation: Solitary, or Pair
Challenge Rating: 9
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral good
Advancement: 11-20 HD (Medium); 21-30 HD (Large, "Greater")
Level Adjustment: -
The Mystaran variant of the phoenix is a native of the Plane of Fire. It appears as all others of its kind do: as a red-orange eagle surrounded in flames. It stands about 5ft tall with a 10ft wingspan, though the most powerful of its kind are 10ft tall with a 25ft wingspan.
It is quite rare on the Prime Plane, but may be found in any climate. It will never willingly go underground.
Except for a wish spell, there is no known way to permanently destroy a phoenix, and its method of reproduction is unknown.
A lesser phoenix can communicate with any non-avian creature through telepathy, and communicates normally to other avian creatures.
Combat
Completely peaceful creatures, a phoenix will not attack unless attacked first. When provoked it slashes with its claws and pecks with its beak. If forced to immolate, it will flee from its attackers when reborn.
Ring of Fire (Su): A lesser phoenix surrounds itself with a 10ft ring of fire (a large phoenix radiates 20ft out). This ring give the phoenix a +3 deflection bonus to AC (increases to +5 for a large phoenix), and causes all foes within the ring 3d6 fire damage per round (no save, increases to 6d6 for a large phoenix). This fire damage bypasses all resistances to fire other than 100% fire immunity. This ability is always in affect.
Damage Reduction (Su): A lesser phoenix has damage reduction of 10/cold iron. A large-sized phoenix has DR 15/cold iron.
Immolation (Su): When it knows death is near, a lesser phoenix immolates itself as a full-round action. This produces a cloud of flame in a 10ft high, 10 ft radius spread (20ft x 15ft for a large phoenix). Each creature in the area takes 5-50 points of damage (10-100 for a large phoenix). A successful Reflex save vs DC 16 (Con based) halves the damage. Half of this damage is fire, the other half is divine and not subject to reduction by mortal magic. This action kills the original phoenix and produces a new one, fully grown and unharmed, from the ashes. This new bird arrives at the end of the round.
Immunity to Mind-Affecting Spells (Ex): A lesser phoenix is immune to all mind-affecting spells and spell-like abilities.
Planar Travel (Sp): A phoenix can enter and exit the Astral Plane, Plane of Fire, or Ethereal Plane at will and navigate through these planes without error or risk.
Telepathy (Sp): A lesser phoenix can communicate telepathically with any other non-avian creature within 60 feet that has a language. It is possible to address multiple creatures at once telepathically, although maintaining a telepathic conversation with more than one creature at a time is just as difficult as simultaneously speaking and listening to multiple people at the same time.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): A lesser phoenix can react to danger before her senses would normally allow her to do so. She retains her Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if she is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, she still loses her Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilised.
Fire Subtype: A lesser phoenix has immunity to fire. It has vulnerability to cold, which means it takes half again as much (+50%) damage as normal from cold, regardless of whether a saving throw is allowed, or if the save is a success or failure.