Peryton

Although this monstrous carnivore feeds on any creature, it prefers humanoids, especially elves, half-elves, and humans. When it kills a humanoid, a peryton rips out its prey's heart and takes it back to its nest to be devoured. The peryton is a bizarre creature that blends the body and wings of a bird of prey with the head of a stag. Its strangest feature is its shadow, which appears humanoid rather than reflecting the creature's physical form. Sages postulate that the first perytons were humans transformed by a hideous curse or magical experiment, but bards tell a different tale of a man whose infidelity caused his scorned wife to cut out the heart of her younger, more beautiful rival and consume it in a ritual intended to forever win her husband's heart. The ritual succeeded until the woman's villainy was exposed. She was hanged for her crime, but the lingering magic of her foul ritual caused the carrion birds that feasted on her corpse to transform into the first perytons.
Unnatural Hunger A peryton's reproductive cycle depends on the heart of a freshly killed humanoid. The organ must be consumed by a female peryton before she can reproduce. When a peryton consumes a heart, its shadow changes for a brief time to reflect its true monstrous form. When attacking a humanoid, a peryton is single minded and relentless, fighting until it or its prey dies. If a peryton is somehow driven away, it stalks lost prey from afar, attacking again when the opportunity arises.
Bane of the Mountains Perytons roost atop mountain ridges and lair in high caves. They prey on creatures living or wandering in the vales below, and travelers on lonely mountain roads learn to keep a wary eye on the sky. Because normal weapons are less effective against perytons, the folk of the mountains know to avoid confrontations with these monsters at all costs. Established settlements are attractive to perytons as a renewable food source. As such, village councils and local nobles' often hire adventurers to eliminate peryton nests.

Peryton

Although this monstrous carnivore feeds on any creature, it prefers humanoids, especially elves, half-elves, and humans. When it kills a humanoid, a peryton rips out its prey's heart and takes it back to its nest to be devoured. The peryton is a bizarre creature that blends the body and wings of a bird of prey with the head of a stag. Its strangest feature is its shadow, which appears humanoid rather than reflecting the creature's physical form. Sages postulate that the first perytons were humans transformed by a hideous curse or magical experiment, but bards tell a different tale of a man whose infidelity caused his scorned wife to cut out the heart of her younger, more beautiful rival and consume it in a ritual intended to forever win her husband's heart. The ritual succeeded until the woman's villainy was exposed. She was hanged for her crime, but the lingering magic of her foul ritual caused the carrion birds that feasted on her corpse to transform into the first perytons.

---

Armor Class	13 (natural armor)
Hit Points	6d8+6
Speed	20ft.	Fly 60ft.
Strength	16 (+3)
Dexterity	12 (+1)
Constitution	13 (+1)
Intelligence	9 (- 1)
Wisdom	12 (+1)
Charisma	10 (+0)
Skills	Perception d20+5
Damage Resistances	Bludgeoning	Piercing	Slashing from nonmagical weapons
Senses	Passive Perception 15
Languages	Understands Common and Elvish but can't speak
Challenge	2 (450 XP)
Special 1	Dive Attack	If the peryton is flying and dives at least 30 feet straight toward	a target and then hits it with a melee weapon attack,
the attack deals an extra 2d8 damage to the target
Special 2	Flyby	The peryton doesn't provoke an opportunity attack	when it flies out of an enemy's reach
Special 3	Keen Sight and Smell	The peryton has an advantage on Wisdom	(Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell
Action 1	Multiattack	The peryton makes one gore attack and one talon attack
Action 2	Gore	Melee Weapon Attack	d20+5 to hit
Reach 5 ft., one target	Hit	1d8+3 piercing damage
Action 3	Talons	Melee Weapon Attack	d20+5 to hit
Reach 5 ft., one target	Hit 2d4+3 piercing damage