Talking owl
| Talking owl | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Size: | Small |
| Alignment: | Lawful Good[1] |
| Type: | Magical beast |
Talking owls are very rare magical creatures found in the Flanaess.
Ecology
[edit | edit source]Like regular owls, talking owls prey on frogs, insects, rodents, toads, and daylight birds. They are hunted in turn by wyverns.[1]
Environment
[edit | edit source]Talking owls can be found anywhere you might find a regular owl, though at a far rarer frequency. They tend to be active primarily at dusk.[1]
Typical physical characteristics
[edit | edit source]Talking owls are physically identical to a variety of large mundane owls, with an average wingspan of 6ft. They differ, of course, in their ability to speak.[1]
Society
[edit | edit source]Talking owls usually live solitary lives, and lack hierarchical social structures of their own, but they delight in observing those of others. On rare occasion, these magical birds will lend their services to humanoid organizations.[2]
When they do socialize, talking owls are generally soft-spoken and humble, rarely looking down on others, and even openly admiring those who risk their lives to combat the forces of evil. Towards individuals they truly like, talking owls act sagely, kind, and generous, while offering wise guidance and advice.[2]
Language
[edit | edit source]Most talking owls are capable of speaking Common and up to six additional languages.[1][2]
Religion
[edit | edit source]Though they don't universally associate with any specific deities, most talking owls serve a good-aligned religion or deity of their choice.[2]
Relationships
[edit | edit source]Talking owls of the Gnarley Forest are allies of Serendya and her sisterhood of Swanmays.[3][3]
Abilities
[edit | edit source]Talking owls can detect good at will, and can't be surprised. Additionally, they have a 20-25% resistance to magic and are immune to being charmed or frightened.[1][2][4]
Activities
[edit | edit source]In the Gnarley Forest, talking owls are known to act as spies for the Swanmays and the denizens of Corustaith.[3][5]
In the Welkwood, talking owls make up part of the defense network for Oakvein, alongside Brownies, Pixies, Treants, and Unicorns.[5]
Upon encountering adventurers, a talking owl will sometimes feign a broken wing to see how they treat it, and gauge their goodness of heart. If they impress the creature, it may offer its aid to them for up to three weeks.[1]
Rumors and legends
[edit | edit source]It is believed that talking owls are sent by divine powers to aid great heroes in their struggles against evil.[2]
References
[edit | edit source]Citations
[edit | edit source]Bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Monstrous Compendium Volume One (TSR, 1989)
- Rabe, Jean. Vale of the Mage (TSR, 1990) ISBN 0-88038-816-1
- Sargent, Carl. From the Ashes Campaign Book (TSR, 1992) ISBN 1-56076-341-8
- Wyatt, James. "Animal Henchmen" from Dragon Magazine #269 (March 2000)
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird, Talking Owl | Monster | Dragon magazine #269 | 32 | |
| Bird, Talking Owl | Monster | From the Ashes: References Card | #14 | |
| Bird, Talking Owl | Monster | MC1 - Monstrous Compendium Volume 1 | Insert (Owl) | |
| Bird, Talking Owl | Monster | WG12 Vale of the Mage | 28 | |
| Talking Owl | Monster | Reference | SEE Bird, Talking Owl |