Monster Monday - Hirabami (Patreon)

Chill winds sent ragged banners flapping and the sorcerer pulling her cloak tighter about herself. Her usual attire wasn't entirely suited to the abandoned keep and the cloak she thought would cover it was nearly pulled from her form by the whipping winds. The ranger and druid had dressed themselves reasonably, bundling to resist the cutting cold, and the barbarian had his bluster to keep him warm. Unwilling to be the first to complain, she huffed and instead glanced about the keep - managing to catch the sight of a 'banner' slithering around a corner. She paused, squinting suspiciously before calling to her team. Her words were stolen by the wind and she called again, louder this time, but a hissing sound that rose over the wind drew her gaze upward. Crawling over the shattered castle wall was a serpentine creature with a hood that flared in the whipping winds. Its serpentine eyes fixed on her as its mouth opened into a hideously wide maw, frost rolling from its gleaming fangs.

A wielder of wintery winds, this weird wilding whacks wanderers with wowing whumpus while its whooshing wind withers those that would wound it.

We're exploring Monster Hunter Wilds once more with the next monster in the line-up! It's kind of funny to go from building the rey dau to building these smaller creatures, but the hirabami is another one of those that feels like it should be using a lower level, given their habit of hunting and fighting in groups. One thing of note that I want to point out is that, in lore, the hirabami only glides. It doesn't seem to be capable of flight on its own. However, the movement and maneuvers it pulls off in-game are pretty much flight. Since that is the case, I did end up designing the hirabami with a proper fly Speed and even designed it with an ability to aid it in floating on the winds in the form of Gliding Fins. Mechanically, this is based off of the Smooth Hover feat from the winged warrior archetype and its big boon is giving it more options to use on its turn. Something that I didn't do was incorporate abilities to aid it in fighting as a group because despite the fact that they do, they don't really do anything with that.

Combat-wise, the hirabami has this little sickle claws like it was a kamaitachi, but it doesn't actually seem to use them in combat all that much. Instead, it largely relies on its jaws and the pincers at the end of its tail. The tail is packed with a few more traits, including greater reach, which means that I decided to have that deal low damage whereas its jaws are dealing moderate damage. I debated giving it an ice blast Strike at range to accompany these, but a level seven creature that can fly and has a ranged damaging effect that also inflicts lockdown felt like too much. I know it can use this in quick succession, but I had to design Ice Cannon as a distinct action that does at least come with a low cooldown. It's actually based a bit on the Web Trap ability often seen on spiders with a high DC to initially avoid it and then a moderate DC to escape the immobilization effect it inflicts. The cooldown can be extended and that initial DC can be reduced by breaking its frost sacs Component, which requires hitting an extreme Armor Class.

One of the reasons that I didn't want to make an effect like this too powerful is that it is a rather defensible creature between its flight and high Armor Class. But it also has some solid offensive options with its Vicious Dive. While this mechanically has some resemblance to the likes Vicious Swing, it is inspired by attacks in which the hirabami does a flip or similar aerial maneuver before biting or smashing at its foe. The two extra damage dice means that it's looking at high damage on its tail and extreme damage on its jaws, which is pretty potent when it already has those high attack bonuses. The concept of it becoming prone is based on some instances where I watched it miss a bite and get its jaws stuck in the ground. That just leaves its Wild Whirl, and this was a must-have for this serpentine sort of creature. It has a number of moves where it spins around and hits foes, and this was my attempt at creating that in Pathfinder. The low radius of it and the use of its low tail damage felt like it made it balanced, and it can also be disabled by taking out its component.

ENCOUNTER HOOKS

Cold Cuts: The heroes are traveling through a mountain pass when they are hit by a snowstorm. The fierce winds and cover of snow are a benefit for the hirabami who use it as cover and to enhance their own movement. In the wild winds, the hirabami may gain increased speed and will zip in to attack foes before disappearing in the swirling snow. This may only be a single hirabami or could be the classic trio though they may specifically act to confuse their potential prey.

Frigid Fletcher: A bandit archer has partnered with a hirabami to harangue foes that intrude upon their domain. The archer prefers to fight from a high position where it allows the hirabami to freeze foes in place while it peppers them with arrows. The bandit might match the theme of their companion with an icy weapon and you don't have to limit yourself to just a bow. This sharpshooter could be armed with a crossbow, firearm, or something similar.

Have a monstrous Monday!