Thanksgiving Serving #6: Turkey Familiar

It's Thanksgiving this week and what better time to fill in some gaping holes in the D&D Monster Manual. Unexplainably, the turkey was left out and adventurers everywhere have been deprived of the chance to encounter one of these beautiful birds of prey(ed upon).

Okay let’s face it; if you rolled a turkey as a familiar, you’ve done something really bad to piss off your DM. You’ve played hardball with your karma somewhere and it’s come back to smack you right in the ‘nads.

Turkey Familiar CR 1
hp 13 (HD 2d10+2 )

LG Small Magical Beast
Init +3; Senses Listen +4, Spot +5

AC 11, touch 11, flat-footed 10
Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +6

Speed 10 ft.; fly, average 30 ft.
Melee +2 (bite, 1d4-1)
Base Atk +4

Abilities Str 10, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 4
Skills Listen +16; Spot + 12

Description: A turkey familiar will be slightly larger than a normal wild turkey. It also has similar traits that make it less than desirable as a familiar. The wizard gains the following bonus points on gaining a turkey familiar:
Spot +4
Listen +4
Reflex Save +1
Intelligence -3

About the only benefit to having a turkey as a familiar is the Initiative and Listen bonus which comes from the turkey being afraid of anything that moves. The Reflex bonus is from the turkey being constantly on the lookout to spring away from danger.

On the downside your intelligence takes a big hit which just blows if you’re a wizard. Along with this comes an increased sense of paranoia and feelings of low self esteem.

Turkeys will only reluctantly go into a backpack and this is only feasible with young turkeys. Once in the bag the turkey will cluck and gobble until released. An adult turkey can be lead around on a rope and willingly follows the wizard. It will not ride a horse and is too awkward to carry for any length of time. Turkeys do not like to move when it is dark and so will likely cluck if forced to walk in a dungeon.

Combat: A turkey familiar will only reluctantly place itself in danger. If properly motivated the turkey might attack once, then flee back to its master.

DM Tips and Tricks
- Don't do it. Just don't do it.

- Okay, if you have to do it, make the turkey a familiar to an NPC. Someone rural perhaps and sedentary like a lone wizard in a tower on a hill. Hat and glasses are optional. ;)

All artwork in this series was provided by the ever-popular Devil Dan, a fan-favorite over at the Dundjinni mapping forums. Check out his recent free Monster Art Pack recently released on the download page. Although well-known for his top-down views of creatures, Devil Dan graciously produced a number of fabulous front view shots for this series.

dDemonicAngels is the online identity of Bil White, a freelance writer living in Montreal. This entry is the final turkey in the Thanksgiving Serving series and it certainly appeals to his sadistic side. A humorous, but slightly sadistic side. Bil hopes that you enjoyed this lighted-hearted look at the turkey and its various cousins. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Comments (1)

1  Written by kepli, on 23-11-2007 02:09 LOL this is the best one imo   The one that has the least usage, but is perhaps the most fun to add to an adventure

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