Peryton's

PERILOUS PERYTON
Table Of Contents

Quest Hooks and Encounters

When a peryton survives long enough to perfect its hunting You can use the following ideas to introduce perilous perytons
style, when it consumes enough hearts, it becomes something to your campaign.
far deadlier—a perilous peryton. Veterans of many kills, these The Master’s Pet. A paranoid mage hires the party to pro-

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winged predators have learned to turn the sky into a killing tect their mountain observatory from “assassins.” In truth, the
ground, mastering every cruel trick their kind is capable of. mage simply wants a chance to test their newest “pet”—a per-

Perch
Intelligent and cunning, perilous perytons sometimes serve ilous peryton bound by a fragile magical pact. If the fight goes
those who can feed their hunger for humanoid hearts. Evil poorly for the creature, the mage might intervene.
casters, warlords, and monstrous cults have been known to A Pound of Meat. Weeks after the party defeats a perilous

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keep them as living weapons. Such alliances last just as long as peryton, not knowing to burn its heart, they wake to the beating
the flow of prey never stops; and when it stops, the peryton of mighty wings. The one they killed has returned, but this time,
moves on (sometimes after claiming the former master as the it doesn’t attack right away. Instead, it follows the adventurers,
last payment). teases and harasses, and strikes when they are most vulnerable,
The Winged Whirlwind. A perilous peryton never stops becoming an ever-increasing danger until it finally claims a heart.
moving in a fight. It strikes like a gale, scattering prey with The Feeding Grounds. A remote cliffside village pays trib-
powerful wingbeats, snatching foes into the air with its talons, ute to a hidden master—a perilous peryton who keeps lesser
then dropping them into the chaos below. Its deafening perytons and eyasses in its eyrie. The villagers lure travelers to
screeches disorient, and its glare can freeze even the bravest the edge of the peryton’s hunting range, ensuring they never
heart with terror. return, robbing the dead afterward.

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smaller creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving
Perilous Peryton throw or be pushed up to 10 feet away from the peryton.
Large Monstrosity, Chaotic Evil
Armor Class 14 (natural armor) Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit Points 67 (9d10 + 18) Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) slashing damage, and the target is Grappled (es-
Speed 20 ft., fly 60 ft. cape DC 13) if it is a Medium or smaller creature. Until this

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STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA grapple ends, the peryton can’t use its talons on another target.
SKIES DARKEN. WINGS BEAT. HEART SKIPS. HUNT BEGINS.
16 (+3) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) Powerful Wings. The peryton flaps its wings. Each creature
Skills Perception +6, Stealth +5 in a 15-foot cone must succeed in a DC 15 Strength saving
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from throw or be knocked Prone.
nonmagical attacks Screech. The peryton emits a piercing screech. Each creature
Senses passive Perception 16 in a 10-foot radius must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution sav-
Languages understands Common and Elvish but can't speak ing throw or become Deafened for 1 minute.
TABLE OF CONTENTS A peryton is a monstrous fusion of a stag and a bird of prey: the Challenge 4 (1,100 XP) PB +2 A Deafened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of
Perilous Peryton ........................................................................................ 2 body and antlers of a big deer with the wings, talons, and its turn, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Dive Attack. If the perilous peryton is flying and dives at least 30
Quest Hooks and Encounters............................................................... 2
Perilous Peryton .................................................................................... 2
Peryton Eyass ............................................................................................. 3
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predatory eyes of a raptor, casting a humanoid-shaped shadow
as it circles overhead. With antlers jagged like broken spears, its
very presence carries the dread of a hunter that kills for hearts.
feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a melee weapon
attack, the attack deals an extra 9 (2d8) damage to the target.
Flyby. The peryton doesn't provoke an opportunity attack
Legendary Actions
The perilous peryton can take 3 legendary actions, choosing
from the options below. Only one legendary action can be
used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn.
Quest Hooks and Encounters............................................................... 3 The origin of perytons is a subject of debate among both when it flies out of an enemy's reach.
Peryton Eyass ......................................................................................... 3 scholars and hunters. However, their innate ability to under- The perilous peryton regains spent legendary actions at the
Keen Sight and Smell. The peryton has Advantage on Wis- start of its turn.
stand Elvish and Common, as well as the mismatched shadow, dom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell.
strongly suggests a magical influence in their creation. Piercing Screech. The peryton uses its Screech.
Rejuvenation. A destroyed perilous peryton gains a new body
CREDITS Big aerial predators need wide, open skies, and perytons are in 24 hours if its heart is intact, regaining all its hit points and Winged Fury (Costs 2 Actions). The peryton moves up to
half its flying speed and then uses Powerful Wings.
Sa
Author: Konstantin Kitmanov, under the invaluable mentor- most often encountered in highland or mountain regions. becoming active again. The new body appears within 5 feet of
the heart. To prevent this, the heart must be destroyed by fire. Heart-Seeking Glare (Costs 2 Actions). The peryton targets
ship of TJ Phoenix However, they range far in search of prey, both to feed and to
Production & Design: Hogart the Rogue keep the location of their nests hidden. Heart Tracker. The perilous peryton knows the direction one creature it can see within 30 feet of it. The target must
and distance to the beating heart of any creature that failed its succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or take 6 (2d6)
Cover Illustration: Ede Laszlo Perytons might appear to be merely another strange preda- saving throw against the peryton’s Heart-Seeking Glare, as necrotic damage and be Frightened of the peryton for
tor of the wilds, but their most insidious trait is this: they re- long as that heart continues to beat and both are on the same 1 minute. On a successful save, the target takes half as much
Licensing quire a humanoid heart to complete their reproductive cycle. plane of existence. damage and isn’t Frightened.
Perilous Peryton is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content A Frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end

Perilous Peryton
Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used Superstitious mountain folk leave heart-shaped offerings at Actions of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. cliffside shrines—bread loaves and pies, carved charms, or even Multiattack. The peryton makes one Gore attack and one If a target’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for
“Peryton's Perch” © 2025, Hogart the Rogue, animal hearts. Some perytons exploit the fear they instill to Talons attack. it, the target is immune to the peryton’s Heart-Seeking
Author Konstantin Kitmanov their advantage. Glare for the next 24 hours.
Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Creatures without a beating heart are immune to this effect.
Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage. If the target is a Medium or
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 PERYTON EYASS
Peryton Eyass

Quest Hooks and Encounters

Young perytons have been called many things by those who en- You can use the following ideas to introduce peryton eyasses to
counter them—cubs, calves, chicks, younglings. Among pro- your campaign.
fessional hunters, however, the most common term is bor- The Eyrie Approach. The party’s path takes them close to
rowed from falconry: eyass (pronounced /ˈaɪəs/, like eye-us), a a sheer cliff dotted with caves. From within, high-pitched
name for a bird of prey taken from the nest before it can fly. screeches echo — the cries of eyasses in the nest. The parent
The term carries a reminder that even an immature peryton is peryton swoops in to drive the intruders away before they can
a predator to be treated with caution. get any closer, using the younglings’ calls as a lure for distrac-
Smart Hunters. Adult perytons are intelligent enough to tion or intimidation.

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know better than to risk their young against dangerous prey. Last Hunt of Summer. A famine in the highlands has
They will not bring eyasses to attack a well-armed party unless driven prey into hiding. Desperate, an adult peryton takes its
desperation leaves them no choice—or unless their nest is eyass on a hunt for the first time, hoping to secure a kill before
threatened. winter. The eyass attacks recklessly, giving the party chances to

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Reckless Youth. While smaller and less practiced than their turn the fight.
parents, eyasses make up for their lack of experience with reck- The Trophy That Screams. A poacher boasts of capturing
less boldness. They dive too soon or overcommit to attacks, a “peryton chick” alive and offers to sell it for a fortune. The
and leave themselves open—but the very same lack of restraint buyer is an ambitious noble who plans to raise it as a hunting
can make them unpredictable and dangerous, especially when beast. The party is hired as bodyguards or a neutral observer,
backed by the watchful eyes of a perilous parent. either by the poacher or the noble. The eyass’ parent tracks the
offspring just as the deal is being made.

Peryton Eyass
Small Monstrosity, Chaotic Evil
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 28 (8d6)
e Keen Sight and Smell. The eyass has Advantage on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell.
Reckless Dive. When the eyass moves at least 20 feet straight
toward a creature and then makes a melee attack against it on
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Speed 15 ft., fly 50 ft. the same turn, the eyass can make the attack roll with Advan-
tage. Until the start of the eyass's next turn, the next attack roll
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA made against it has Advantage.
14 (+2) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 8 (-1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0)
Actions
Skills Perception +2
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
from nonmagical attacks Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.
Senses passive Perception 12 Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
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Languages understands Common and Elvish but can't speak Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Challenge 1 (200 XP) PB +2
Flyby. The eyass doesn't provoke an opportunity attack when
it flies out of an enemy's reach.
Sa

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