Thunderbirds

Thunderbirds

"Where lightning walks the sky, the thunderbird waits."

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General Information

Type: Elemental Beast
Classification: Rare Creature
Habitat: Storm belts, mountain peaks, floating isles, and high-altitude leyline nodes
Language: Understands Auran and Primordial, does not speak
Associated Realms: The Arcadian Jetstream, Mesa Roja, Skyreach Peaks, Tempest Fringe

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Physical Description

Thunderbirds are massive, storm-forged avians that embody the fury of lightning and the breath of wind. They appear as immense raptors with storm-dark feathers streaked in crackling arcs of electric energy. Many have golden wingtips or glowing crests that serve as lightning attractors.
Their talons leave scorched craters in stone, and their wings generate sonic booms when launched from the cliffs they often call home.
Notable Features:

Wings infused with blue-white lightning

Eyes that flash with stormlight

Raucous screeches that echo like thunder across valleys

A natural resistance to wind, rain, and arcane disruption

Thunderbird by Kenneth Foote

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Ecology and Behavior

Thunderbirds are solitary hunters and fiercely territorial. They nest in high cliffs, ley-charged mesas, or ruins blessed by storms. Unlike most birds, they do not migrate—instead, they draw storms to themselves to create ideal conditions.
They primarily hunt from the air, striking down prey with bolts of lightning before feasting on scorched remains. Their appearance is often considered a bad omen by sailors and sky-navigators alike.
Some Thunderbirds form life bonds with powerful elementalists or storm druids, though only after intense trials of survival and sacrifice.

“If you hear thunder in a cloudless sky, bow your head and hold still. You are being judged.” — Captain Veilmar of the Stormcutter

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Mythological Significance

Thunderbirds are believed to be descendants or elemental echoes of Raedrak, The Storm’s Heart, a mythic beast birthed from the sky-wounding lightning strike of Voryn, The Endless Cyclone.
They are revered as divine messengers by the Skyborne clans of the Tempest Fringe and feared as harbingers of divine retribution by air cults and storm-blasted nomads.
Symbolic Roles:

Judgment from above

Cleansing force of the storm

Guardian of leyline skies

Guide to lost souls swept into the clouds

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Thunderbird (Stat Block)

Large Elemental, Neutral
Armor Class: 17 (storm-infused hide)
Hit Points: 142 (17d10 + 51)
Speed: 30 ft., fly 90 ft.
STR 19 (+4) | DEX 16 (+3) | CON 17 (+3) | INT 7 (-2) | WIS 16 (+3) | CHA 14 (+2)
Saving Throws: Dex +6, Con +6, Wis +6
Damage Resistances: bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons
Damage Immunities: lightning, thunder
Condition Immunities: charmed, frightened
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 13
Languages: Understands Auran
Challenge: 9 (5,000 XP)

Innate Spellcasting

Charisma is the thunderbird’s spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14). It can innately cast the following spells:

At will: gust of wind, thunderwave

2/day: lightning bolt, call lightning

1/day: storm sphere

Actions

Multiattack. Makes one beak and one talon attack.
Beak. +7 to hit, 2d10 + 4 lightning damage
Talons. +7 to hit, 2d6 + 4 slashing damage

Skycrack (Recharge 5–6)

Releases a cone of thunder and lightning in a 30-foot area. DC 15 Con save or take 36 (8d8) lightning/thunder damage and be deafened/pushed 10 ft.

Stormcall (1/day)

Summons a 1-minute storm in a 100 ft. radius: heavy winds, obscured vision, ranged attacks at disadvantage. At the start of each round, one target is struck by lightning for 6d6 damage (Dex save DC 15 for half).

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Variants

Tempestborn Thunderbird: Dwells in the uppermost layers of the Tempest Fringe

Skybreaker Matriarch: A CR 14+ version with lair actions and legendary resistance

Voltpulse fledgling: Younger, unpredictable version prone to uncontrolled discharges