To support the “Ecology of the Tengu” article in the just released Kobold Quarterly #14, we bring you more feathery goodness.

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“There are masters of combat, and there are masters of one’s own destiny; I know which I am but I am unsure of you. Choose a masterly path wisely.”

The winged karasu is an esteemed combatant and spiritual guide for many, including the lesser tengu of the material world. Over 5 ft. tall and around 140 lb., this being is nimble on both the ground and in the air although it prefers combat on the ground, especially melee combat using bladed, sword-like weaponry in honorable opposition.

Winged Karasu Greater Tengu (CR 4)

Black feathers cover the creature’s entire body and a raven-like beaked face like that of a bird, and it flexes sharp talons on its hands and feet. It wields the twin blades of the samurai—a masterwork set katana and wakizashi…

XP 1,200
LN Medium outsider (air, extraplanar, lawful, tengu)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception +10

DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+2 armor, +3 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 22 (4d10)
Fort +1, Ref +7, Will +7
DR 4/bludgeoning, silver, and chaotic; SR 14

OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., fly 75 ft. (good)
Melee katana +9 (1d10+3/19–20/x3; +1 attack and damage to sunder), wakizashi +9 (1d6+3/18–20; +1 attack and damage to sunder), bite +4 (1d3+1)
Ranged shuriken +8 (1d2+2; 10-ft. range increment)
Special Attacks wing baffle
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th; concentration +5)
At will—alter self, ghost sound, major image
3/day—gaseous form, hold person
1/day—hold monster, plane shift, shout

STATISTICS
Str 14, Dex 16, Con 11, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 14
Base Atk +4; CMB +6; CMD 19
Feats Dodge^B, Mobility^B, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (katana)
Skills Acrobatics +10, Bluff +7, Diplomacy +8, Fly +12, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (planes) +6, Knowledge (religion) +6, Linguistics +11, Perception +10, Perform (singing) +10, Sense Motive +9, Stealth +10; Racial Modifiers Acrobatics +2, Fly +4, Linguistics +4, Perception +2, Perform (singing) +2, Stealth +2
Languages Auran, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Elven, Goblin, Infernal, Sylvan, Tengu
SQ skilled linguist, tengu mimicry

ECOLOGY
Environment any; forests, mountains, and sky
Organization solitary, pair, murder (3–6), or troop (2–5 winged karasu greater tengu, plus one yamabushi greater tengu)
Treasure NPC gear (leather armor, masterwork katana and wakizashi samurai blade set, 25 masterwork shurikens, other treasure)

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Skilled Linguist (Ex): As the tengu racial trait (see Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary).

Tengu Mimicry (Ex): As the feat, Tengu Mimicry (see Kobold Quarterly +14). This ability is usable at will and subject to the same rules as the feat, and the winged karasu need not fill the skill rank requirements to use it.

Wing Baffle (Ex): A winged karasu uses its wings even in combat, though not to make slam attacks; it supplements its melee combat with the slaps and whips of its wings to buffet and disorient its opponents. Each round, in addition to its normal attacks, a tengu may make a Bluff check against an opponent’s Sense Motive roll while in combat. If the check is successful, the tengu gains a +2 circumstance bonus to attack rolls for 1 round.

(Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatible)