Vulture Drake
Large natural beast (mount, reptile)
Level 9 Brute XP 400

Initiative +7        Senses Perception +12
HP 119; Bloodied 59
AC 21; Fortitude 22, Reflex 21, Will 21
Resist 10 necrotic
Speed 6, fly 8 (clumsy)

(⚔) Bite (standard, at-will) ✦ Necrotic

+12 vs AC; 1d8+5 damage, and ongoing 5 necrotic damage (save ends).

(⚔) Claw (standard, at-will)

+12 vs AC; 1d6+5 damage.

⚔ Swooping Charge (standard, at-will)

The vulture drake makes a charge attack, starting in the air and ending on the ground. It can make two claw attacks against the target it charges, instead of making one melee basic attack. If both attacks hit, the target is knocked prone

ᗕ Death Shriek (immediate reaction, when first damaged, encounter) ✦ Fear, Necrotic, Thunder

Close blast 5; +10 vs Will; 2d8+5 thunder damage, and the target takes ongoing 5 necrotic damage and a -2 penalty to attack rolls and saving throws (save ends both).

Death Scent

Creatures taking ongoing necrotic damage gain no benefit from concealment or total concealment when they are attacked by a vulture drake.

Shadow Mount

When mounted by a friendly rider of 7th level or higher, the vulture drake grants its rider resist 10 necrotic and a +4 bonus to saving throws against fear effects.

Alignment Unaligned        Languages -
Str 18 (+8)      Dex 16 (+7)      Wis 16 (+7)
Con 19 (+8)      Int 3 (0)      Cha 10 (+4)

Description: Vulture drakes were originally natural creatures of the world, but they have been corrupted by the dark energy of the Shadowfell. Cunning scavengers that love the taste of carrion, they are favored flying mounts of the shadar-kai and other creatures in the service of the Raven Queen.
A vulture drake is gaunt and menacing, with long, cumbersome wings. Its skin stretches taut on its skeletal frame.

Published in Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons, page(s) 194.