TARFEATHER BIRD (#23/31, #114/365) [OOTP IV]
SKILL: 8
STAMINA: 6
ATTACKS: 1
WEAPON: Large Bite or Tarspit (see below)
ARMOUR: Light
DAMAGE MODIFIER: None
HABITAT: Sea, Sea-shore, Caves
NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 4-24
TYPE: Bird
REACTION: Unfriendly
INTELLIGENCE: Low
The TARFEATHER BIRD, also known as the Oilbird, is a peculiar avian from the islands of the Western Ocean, in particular, Fish Island, Skull Island, the Gorblimey Rocks, Kestrel Island and, of course, Tarfeather Island itself. Here it lives in large colonies, roosting along rocky sea-shores and cliff-caves, while feeding on big fish, caught on the wing out at sea. Thought to be distantly related to the Giant Stormbird of the Eelsea, the Tarfeather Bird is a sizeable creature, well over a metre in height with a four-metre wingspan. It is covered in a thick but drab plumage of dark grey to black feathers that glisten with an oily water-repellent secretion, hence the creature's name.
When attacking, the Tarfeather Bird will lash out with its curved beak, and spit a gobbet of burning pitch, stored in a large throat pouch. Every Attack Round, roll one die; on a roll of 1 or 2, the Tarfeather Bird's opponent has been burnt for a further 1 STAMINA point of damage. This may also cause anything flammable to start burning. It is thought the creature's breath weapon, and its overall appearance are derived from the schools of especially oily fish that it consumes. Regardless, the Chaos Pirates of the Blood Islands in particular appreciate the Tarfeather Bird's attributes and encourage colonies of them to roost near their anchorages and sea forts (which is not difficult given the creature's predilection for sugarcane grog). The noisy birds double as both an alarm system and a deterrent to intruders, and dead birds also find service as useable torches due to their flammable nature. A dead Tarfeather Bird used as a torch in this manner burns twice as brightly as a regular torch and for twice as long, but requires two hands to hold.
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