Cockatrice Monster Card art by Sadie Entwisle

Cockatrice Culture, Psychology, & Lore

by Vassar Oenbring

“Dumb as boulders, and just as dangerous, Cockatrices were imported from Karag-Bjerg during the reign of Cragking Jarl Kothharn III. He kept them as pets and as instruments of torture, but they escaped captivity and spread to the far corners of the world. Now they menace wild places everywhere.”

– Thurm Shardsight, Stone Giant Sage

Culture and Psychology

Despite their fragile bodies and walnut-sized brains, Cockatrices are profoundly dangerous. They are competent flyers, reproduce rapidly, have an insatiable taste for flesh, and are infamous for their ability to temporarily turn flesh to stone. Cockatrices were originally kept as pets by Stone Giants, who used them to torture prisoners and to create legions of temporary statues for display during feasts and celebrations. Today, eyries of Cockatrices can now be found almost anywhere, from snow-swept mountains to arid deserts.

Much like the birds they superficially resemble, Cockatrices lay eggs in nests, most often located in the crevices of cliffs or betwixt the limbs of great trees. As many as 6 young may hatch in a clutch, and most broodlings survive until adulthood. Cockatrices are indifferent, selfish, and easily distracted parents, but broodlings seem able to survive on little more than pebbles, foliage, and insects. It has been speculated that a hungry Cockatrice can draw sustenance from nearly any form of matter.

During winter mating season Cockatrices form seasonal mating pairs. These pairs are extremely territorial from winter to spring, when their young hatch. After the hatch, adult Cockatrices lose interest in their broodlings and leave them to fend for themselves, a task to which they seem well-adapted. Adults roost together in small flocks and carry on loud, repetitive, and squawking conversations, perform strutting dances, and wake sentient beings for miles around with their incessant crowing at sunrise.

Adult flocks are not particularly aggressive, but will indiscriminately attack living creatures when hungry. In this regard they are remarkably unpredictable, sometimes showing fear of animals as small as badgers and at other times mercilessly attacking those as large as elephants. Numerous adventurers recount encounters with Cockatrice flocks in which some attacked, others fled, and still others cavorted about or seemed totally oblivious to the intruders.

This chaotic nature leads to strange tales. One incident in the Gnomish hamlet of Under-the-Wayside involved an inexplicable gathering of Cockatrices who were stricken with the smelters and forges of that unfortunate town. The citizens of Under-the-Wayside who managed to escape with their lives described an irresistible flood of the creatures that fluttered over walls, down corridors, and invaded the ironworks of every home and business. They flung the forge coals about wildly, then used their wings to fan the blaze. The flock feasted on those who fled the fire, and left the town utterly destroyed.

Other unhappy anecdotes include adventurers returning to their campsites after a hard day’s work to find Cockatrices nesting inside tents or tearing apart packs to get at rations.

Special Tactics

When flocked together, Cockatrices swarm those who threaten them in clouds of feathers and beaks. They use their flying ability to outflank their prey, with some swooping in to attack from behind while others charge forward along the ground.

During combat, Cockatrices attack the creatures they believe to be most dangerous, attempting to petrify them before attacking less threatening prey.

They are often cowardly and easily distracted, and will usually retreat if injured.

Qualities

Babblers. Cockatrices often mumble and croak to themselves, particularly while preening. Those attempting to locate or track Cockatrices gain Advantage on Perception and Survival checks.

Birdbrain. Without much in the way of intelligence, patience, or sympathy, Cockatrices are easily befuddled by life’s basic intricacies. They roll Saves at Disadvantage against Illusion spells, traps, and puzzles.

Flock Mentality. While moving together, Cockatrices gain +10 Speed as long as there are at least 6 Cockatrices in the flock.

Obstinate. Once Cockatrices decide that they very much want to take an action or process a thing, which is constantly, they are enormously difficult to dissuade.

Weapons

Melee 1. Claws. (1d4+2 slashing, DC 10 CON Save or Poisoned.) A slashing and cutting attack made with noxious, filth-encrusted claws.

Melee 2. Wing Bash. (DC 10 STR Save or knocked Prone.) By flapping its wings in its opponent’s face, a Cockatrice may attempt to knock a Medium or smaller creature prone.

Ranged 1. Drop Rock. (1d12 bludgeoning.) Flying over an enemy and dropping a rock on its head is a tried and true attack.

Ranged 2. Expel Crop. (15’ cone, 4d4 piercing, DC 13 DEX Save for half damage.) Once per day, a Cockatrice may violently expel the contents of its crop, effectively spraying everything in front of it with a nasty cloud of grit and bone.

Special Units

Alpha. Every flock of Cockatrices has a leader. The Alpha Cockatrice may command up to 1d6 other Cockatrices with clucked commands. Most often, the Alpha will command its flock to defend it while it struts about, crowing loudly.

Broodling Swarm. Small, flightless, and lacking the petrifying abilities of their larger kin, Broodlings tend to attack en masse and attempt to peck their victims to death. A Broodling Swarm is composed of 2d12 tiny Cockatrices, has the total HP and AC of one adult, and occupies a 10’ square. Any creature entering or ending their turn in a swarm takes 1d4 peck attacks automatically, with no chance of becoming petrified.

Mother Hen. Some rare Cockatrice mothers elect to stay with their hatchlings. These mothers are always accompanied by a Broodling Swarm. A Mother Hen may also cluck to draw 1d6 nearby adult Cockatrices to her aid. Mother Hens have maximum HP and fight to the death in defense of their Broodlings.

Shrieker. Some Cockatrices have the ability to utter an ear-piercing crow when threatened by using a full-round action. Any creature, aside from other Cockatrices, within 20 feet that hears the shriek must make a DC 13 CON Save or be Deafened for 1d6 rounds.

Stonescale. These tough Cockatrices have hardened scales and gain +2 AC.

Special Abilities

Confused Clucking. Once per day as a full-round action, airborne Cockatrices may swoop and cluck in a 40’ line. All creatures beneath them must Save DC 12 WIS or suffer the effects of a Confusion spell for 1 round.

Furious Flutter. At will, a Cockatrice may use a full-round action to attack twice with its Peck attack.

Squawk. Once per day, a Cockatrice may utter an ear-piercing squawk that distracts any creature withing 15’ that fails a DC 12 CON save. Affected creatures are Stunned for 1 round.

Strut. An Alpha Cockatrice may Strut and crow in place of using the attack action. All Cockatrices within 60’ of a strutting Alpha gain +2 to their attacks and Saves.

Movement

Run. Average. Cockatrices are speedy, if somewhat awkward runners.

Climb. Good. Adept at climbing with the sharp hooks on their elbows and their long claws, Cockatrices have often been found dangling upside down from cavern ceilings like bats.

Swim. Poor. Cockatrices fear and respect deep water and will often avoid flying over it. While they love to bathe and preen themselves in shallow pools, they abhor larger bodies of water and will not enter them unless forced.

Burrow. Average. A combination of sharp claws and mindless persistence allow Cockatrices to dig holes and burrows quite easily.

Fly. Good. Agile, fearless, and not particularly discerning, Cockatrices are enthusiastic if not acrobatic fliers.

Grudges

Giants and Cockatrices have a long and sordid history. It was a Stone Giant King who introduced Cockatrices to the known world, and the Cockatrices seem to have held a grudge against Giants ever since. This is not surprising, given that a common game among Stone Giant children, known as Cock-Tag, is played by pelting a live Cockatrice with stones, thereby making it chase the other contestants.

The savage humanoids, particularly Goblins, Orcs, and Troglodytes, keep caged Cockatrices for their eggs, and for sporting purposes. Cockatrices attack these cruel captors with murderous spite if they are able to escape such conditions.

Harpies and Nags often keep Cockatrices as pets, and these relationships, if not overtly affectionate, seem mutually beneficial.

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