The turkatrice is a hybrid of the dreaded cockatrice, crossed with a farm turkey. The turkatrice typically has a large plump body with iridescent feathers that scintillate in the light, except of course its mostly bald head.
Turkratrices are highly territorial creatures, often found in remote forested areas, lairs of mad wizards or on abandoned farms. They are carnivorous and use their petrifying gaze to capture prey. When not hunting, they are known to roost in the treetops, remaining hidden from potential threats. Their eggs are remarkably delicious and considered a kingly delicacy. A roasted turkatrice consists of a flavor that appeases the taste buds in the prime material plane AND the ethereal realm. Some who have consumed the birds spend the remainder of their lives disappointed in the flavor of all foods from thereafter.
The bird, at first, appears to be blind, its’ eyes are a milky white void. It can see in utter darkness and into the ethereal realm at the same time. The gaze of the bird doesn’t turn victims to stone, but instead encases victims in a salty savory brine that forms into a hardened cocoon over the course of the following 24 hours.
Spicy Gaze – Victims catching the gaze of the turkatrice must make a saving throw to avoid recoiling to a fetal position and having their flesh turn into a salty mix of 11 herbs and spices. The smell of the encasement, once complete, causes all omnivores and carnivores within 40’ to become hungry and salivating (Save also applies to avoid considering cooking and eating the victim).
Venomous Peck – The turkatrice’s beak is toxic. Those failing their saving throw after a successful peck become paralyzed in place and thereafter cannot avoid the turkatrice’s gaze when it looks upon them.
Gobble of Doom – The turkatrice vocalizes its’ gobble through the ethereal and material realm. Those within hearing range who fail their saving throw become stricken with fear and suffer a -2 to hit and damage.
Hit Dice: 2
Armor Class: 4 [15]
Attacks: Bite (1d4) + venom
Saving Throw: 17
Morale: 8
Special: Gaze, Venom, Gobble of Doom
Move: 6 / 12 flying
Alignment: Chaos
CR/XP: 4/120