By this AXEBILL steed I ride!

AXEBILL (#3/30, #155/365) [OOTP IV]

SKILL: 9

STAMINA: 13

ATTACKS: 2

WEAPON: Large Bite and Large Claws

ARMOUR: None

DAMAGE MODIFIER: +1 to Damage Roll

HABITAT: Jungles, Hills, Plains

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1-2

TYPE: Bird

REACTION: Hostile

INTELLIGENCE: Low

Closely related to the Phororhacos (see Beyond the Pit, p. 103), the AXEBILL is found on tropical islands in the Western and Black Oceans, where its isolation has seen it evolve to become even larger and more dangerous. Like the Phororhacos, the Axebill is a tall flightless bird, with a curved axe-like beak, and powerful legs that end in curved talons. Its feathery form also has small wings used for balance rather than flight, and a crested skull. It will attack if hungry, which is often, but can be distracted by throwing Provisions at it, which it will stop to consume. If two Axebills are encountered, they will be a mated pair, looking after a messy nest of grass and twigs, containing a single large blue-shelled egg. These are valuable, and worth up to a hundred Gold Pieces to collectors and traders. Islanders also value these eggs so they can train Axebill hatchlings to become formidable cavalry steeds when adults. Indeed, on some atolls and archipelagoes, eternal war is waged between Monkey People and primitive Goblins, both using Axebills as heavy cavalry, with which to charge and slaughter enemy lines.