Strix
- Armor Class
- 8 [11]
- Hit Dice
- 1+1
- Attacks
- Bite (1d3 plus lasting wound)
- Special
- fear scream, poison curse, disease transformation, darkvision, daylight blindness
- Move
- Fly 18
- HDE/XP
- 3/60
Description
Strix are abominations that appear as grotesque flying heads with slithering tentacles writhing in place of hair, and with wings like those of a bat. They lair in the dark places below the earth, or in those ruinous buildings which stand far away from the sun. Strix hate light, and so are only seen above ground between dusk and dawn. They will attack light sources, knocking torches to the ground, and smashing lanterns. They will retreat from any light brighter than that, and daylight blinds them. Strix have exceptional Darkvision out to 90 feet.
A strixs’ scream is so terrifying that when heard all within 120 geet must make a saving throw against magic or be paralyzed with fear for 2d4 rounds. The bite of a strix is vicious and destructive. A saving throw against poison must be made for each bite inflicted. Failure means that hit points lost are permanent and cannot be healed except through powerful magic such as a heal or wish spell.
Strix reproduce through kissing paralyzed victims who must make a saving throw against poison or be subject to a macabre transformation. Initially no ill effects will be felt, but after 1d6 hours they will fall into a deep sleep. This lasts for 24 hours minus the victim’s CON. They then awake, and all seems well. Then, on the first night after wakefulness they will begin to scream deafeningly. Their head will begin to pull away from their body, and as it detaches, the head will bathe in the blood issuing from the neck, sprout wings, and seek out its first victim as newly-risen strix. A Cure (Cause) Disease spell prior to this will prevent the transformation, but once the head is detached the victim is dead.
Strix don't covet treasure of any type so any found in the lair will be incidental.
Source note: This creature is converted from The Basic Fantasy Field Guide of Creatures Malevolent and Benign – Omnibus Edition, 1st Edition Release 4, © 2010–2025 Chris Gonnerman, R. Kevin Smoot, James Lemon, Matt Sluis, and Contributors. The Basic Fantasy Field Guide textual material is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International; this page adapts that creature to White Box.