FREQUENCY: Rare ([Tropical Wilderness Mountains])
FREQUENCY: Rare ([Tropical Saltwater Surface])
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 3"/30" <Aerial Mount Data, Dragon #50>
HIT DICE: 18
% IN LAIR: 10%
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2 or 1 ~ 7
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 3-18/3-18 or 4-24
TREASURE TYPE: [C]
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE L (60' + wingspread)
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: VIII | 5000 + 25

Rocs are huge birds somewhat resembling eagles. They inhabit the highest
mountains in warm regions. They prey upon large creatures such as cattle,
horses, and elephants. The roc swoops down upon prey, seizes it in its
powerful talons, and carries it off to its lair. If the creature resists, the roc
will strike it with its beak, inflicting 4-24 points of damage per hit.

Rocs are occasionally tamed and used by giants.

Aerial Combat: 30", class E.
Rocs generally attack using their huge and powerful talons.
Amazingly enough,
considering their great size,
they can plummet straight down like eagles and then arrest their fall by a sudden unfurling of their wings.

Lair: The lair of a roc will be a vast nest of trees, branches, and the like. There its
treasure will be strewn about, for the creature does not value such . . . it is
the residue of its victims.

<Rocs may be trained (in 1-2 years) to feed themselves by
leaving the barony or lair for a week at a time, serving as a steed
for 1 week (with several smaller feedings at the castle) and
then going off for the next week on its own. Otherwise, just as
with dragons, a Roc will have to be ridden out when it searches
for food, and the PCs on it should not be too
particular about where they end up. Rocs are not unknown to
make long ocean voyages, and may attack ships in the belief
that they are whales. Some baronies have taken to raising herds
of elephants, cattle, and other livestock as food for mounts.

Storm Giants who have cloud castles and use Roc mounts
have been known to “park” their abodes over areas frequented
by large herds of animals, and may make crude traps, stockades, and corrals on the ground at such a location to capture
and contain beasts for their mounts’ food supply. Dragon #50, Flying Mounts>