Savage Menagerie: Parascreech

No. Enc.: 1
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: Fly: 120' (40')
Armor Class: 9
Hit Dice: 1 hp
Attacks: None
Damage: None

Save: L0
Morale: 7
Hoard Class: None

The Parascreech is a small yellow harmless bird. A descendant of the Ancient housepet, Parascreeches are usually tamed and kept as Mutant Future pets as well. However, the Parascreech has evolved with a very powerful set of vocal cords giving it the shriek mutation.

If a Parascreech is disturbed or agitated, it will let loose with a deafening scream affecting all within 10 foot radius. Those who fail a save versus stun attacks will take 1d4 points of sonic damage and be deafened for 1d6+4 rounds. Those who successfully save are unaffected.

Parascreeches are obviously useful as nonaggressive guardians. An NPC may set one in a cage near some valuables he hopes to protect. Or the PCs may find a Parascreech in a cage hanging outside of the entrance to a bandit hideout. When the Parascreech lets loose, you can bet its owner will come running to see what the commotion's all about.

Some Parascreeches have been trained to remain silent when a password is said to them. The password is usually something innocent like "Pretty bird!" or "Kiss kiss kiss!" If someone approaches without saying the password though, the trained Parascreech will begin screaming.

Mutations: shriek