Dragon	-	Monsters	-	Dragon #95
-	-	Notes	-	-

R e c e n t l y ,   I   a s k e d   E l m i n s t e r   i f   h e   k n e w   o f
a n y   f o l k   t a l e s   o f   t h e   R e a l m s   i n v o l v i n g  c o c k a t r i c e s .   H e   t h o u g h t   f o r   a   w h i l e   a n d   t h e n
s a i d ,   ? A y e ,   m a n y   m e n t i o n   t h e m   b r i e f l y ,
t u r n i n g   s o m e   p o o r   u n f o r t u n a t e   t o   s t o n e ,   b u t
n o n e   d w e l l   o n   t h e i r   l i v e s   a n d   h a b i t s .   T h e y
a r e   t h o r o u g h l y   n a s t y   c r e a t u r e s   a n d   p r e s u m a b l y   a r e   b o t h   a v o i d e d and ignored as much
as possible.? Then his face brightened a bit,
and he continued:

?Oh, there?s one good story. It concerns
King Verovan of Westgate (in those days
when Westgate had a king), who was a
famous sea-master.? Following is the tale,
just as the old sage related it to me.

King Verovan delighted in rowing-races
against any and all who would oppose him,
wagering lands, jewels, and shiploads of
wine against the freedom of the opposing
crew. The king never lost, but delighted in
the racing more than the winning. He
needed the armies of men he won to replace
those of his own rowers whose hearts, arms,
or backs had given out under the furious
strain of the competition.

There was no place he liked better than
the tall afterdeck of his galley, the ship
cutting through the waves while his slaves
below heaved and grunted and sometimes
screamed at the rowing-benches, and the
stroke-drum thundered its beat, and the
long whip in his hand leaped as though it
was alive, to mark with red the sweating
backs of even the prow-bench rowers as he
urged his men on.

He raced, and won, for a dozen years,
ranging far and wide over the seas and lakes
and rivers of the Realms, until he challenged the wizards of Thay, who had, men
said, a boat of magic that sat above the
waves so that it flew like a bird and its hull
and holds stayed dry.

Verovan wanted such a boat, if it did
indeed exist, but as a mariner, he wanted to
see its strengths and shortcomings first. He
thought it might fare ill in a storm, for the
winds could blow it about helpless as a leaf
severed from its tree ? and so, on the eve
of a storm, he sent his challenge to the
wizards. They accepted, and asked in return for the wager of their ship merely the
wager of his own. Moreover, they promised,
to settle any fears of magical trickery, that
only the merest of their apprentices would
crew the magical vessel.

Verovan agreed, delighted at such fairness and courtesy (for the wizards of Thay
had a fell reputation), and the race began.
Across a great gulf of the Inner Sea, round
an island by a certain headland, and back
again to the harbor where the wizards had
received Verovan?s challenge was the route,
and although the strengthening wind blew
in great gusts, Verovan plied his whip so
eagerly that his suffering men had built up a
lead of a league or more before the storm
broke.

When the storm came, it was a horrible
wall of wind, howling waves, and slashing
rain, and Verovan saw with some satisfaction that the grey sails of the wizards? vessel
were down in disarray, and the ship was
being swept aside by the storm, while
Verovan?s rowers fought steadily on against
the waves and made headway.

The waves grew mighty and broke over
the rowers, running down the decks.
Verovan seized a set of empty rowing-chains
and fastened himself to the lashings of the
great steering oar only minutes before an
enormous wave swept over the afterdeck,
carrying all thereon with it except for the
helmsman, the stroker (who, clutching his
drum, fetched up in a groaning tangle
against the rail), and the king. Verovan?s
whip and helm were gone, swept out of his
hand and off his head by the mighty wave.

T h e   k i n g   t u r n e d   t o   a   c h e s t   n e a r b y   w h e r e
s p a r e s   o f   t h e s e   i t e m s   w e r e   k e p t ,   a n d   o u t f i t t e d   h i m s e l f   o n c e   a g a i n   ?   f a i l i n g   t o   n o t i c e
t h a t   t h e   w h i p   h e   n o w   g r a s p e d   w a s   s l i g h t l y
d i f f e r e n t   i n   a p p e a r a n c e   f r o m   t h e   o n e   h e   h a d
l o s t .   V e r o v a n   r e s u m e d   h i s   p l a c e   w i t h   a n g r y
yells, kicking the stroker upright and urging
h i m   o n   w i t h   s h o u t s .   T h e   r o w e r s   p i c k e d   u p
t h e i r   c a d e n c e   a g a i n ,   a n d   V e r o v a n   h e l d   t h e
w h i p   a t   h i s   s i d e   f o r   a   w h i l e ,   s a t i s f i e d   w i t h
t h e   p r o g r e s s   h i s   m e n   w e r e   m a k i n g   u n d e r   t h e
s t r o k e r ? s   c a l l .

S h o r t l y   a f t e r   t h e   w o r s t   o f   t h e   s t o r m
p a s s e d ,   t h e   k i n g ? s   g a l l e y   d r e w   a b r e a s t   o f   a
s t r i n g   o f   s i x   j a g g e d ,   r o c k y   i s l a n d s   ?   w h i c h
t h e   s t i l l - t e r r i b l e   w i n d s   a n d   w a v e s   s o u g h t   t o
d r i v e   t h e   s h i p   a g a i n s t .   T h e   r o w e r s   r o a r e d
a n d   p u l l e d   a s   t h o u g h   d e m e n t e d ,   a n d
V e r o v a n   a g a i n   b e g a n   t o   p l y   h i s   w h i p   l i k e   a
l a n d s m a n   t h r e s h i n g   g r a i n .

B u t   t h e   m e n ,   i t   s e e m e d ,   h a d   b e e n   p u s h e d
t o   t h e i r   l i m i t .   T h e   m o r e   h e   s t r u c k   t h e m
n o w ,   t h e   m o r e   t h e i r   e f f o r t s   l e s s e n e d ,   a n d
t h e   b o a t   s w e p t   d o w n   r a p i d l y ,   s i d e w a y s   o n ,
t o   t h e   c r a s h i n g   s u r f   a b o u t   t h e   b a s e   o f   t h e
i s l a n d s .   V e r o v a n   r e d o u b l e d   h i s   l a s h i n g s   i n
fury ? and then stopped in sudden horror
a s   t h e   s m i l i n g   f a c e   o f   t h e   w i z a r d   h e   h a d
c h a l l e n g e d   a p p e a r e d   i n   t h e   s t o r m - w r a c k e d
a i r   b e f o r e   h i m .   T h e   v i s a g e   l o o k e d   a t   h i m ,
b u t   d i d   n o t   m o v e   o r   s p e a k .

I n   a   m o m e n t   V e r o v a n   w a s   o v e r   h i s   i n i t i a l
s h o c k   a n d   h a d   r e g a i n e d   h i s   u s u a l   c r u e l
c o m p o s u r e .   ? D o   y o u   m o c k   m e ? ?   t h e   k i n g
s n a r l e d ,   c u t t i n g   t h r o u g h   t h e   i m a g e   w i t h   h i s
w h i p ,   t o   n o   e f f e c t .   A n d   t h e n ,   l o o k i n g   a w a y
f r o m   t h e   e v i l   s m i l e   o n   t h e   f a c e   o f   t h e
w i z a r d - i m a g e ,   V e r o v a n   n o t i c e d   f o r   t h e   f i r s t
t i m e   t h a t   m o s t   o f   h i s   m e n   s a t   a t   t h e i r
b e n c h e s   m o t i o n l e s s ,   a s   t h o u g h   c a r v e d   o f
s t o n e   ?   a n d   t h e   r o c k s   w e r e   d r a w i n g   n e a r e r .

? W h a t   h a s   c o m e   o v e r   y o u ? ?   V e r o v a n
b e l l o w e d   a t   t h e   s t a t u e s   t h a t   w e r e   o n c e   h i s
m e n .   ? R o w !   R o w ! ?   h e   r a g e d   a t   t h e m ,   b u t
t h e y   d i d   n o t   s e e m   t o   h e a r .

V e r o v a n   r a i s e d   h i s   w h i p   y e t   a g a i n   ?   a n d
a s   t h e   t i p   o f   i t   f l e w   t h r o u g h   h i s   f i e l d   o f
v i s i o n ,   h e   s a w   t h a t   t h e   e n d   o f   t h e   w h i p   b o r e
a   b a r b ,   s h a p e d   l i k e   a   h a w k ? s   t a i l ,   m a d e   o f
f e a t h e r s   ?   c o c k a t r i c e   f e a t h e r s !   T h e   s t o n e l i k e   f i g u r e s   o n   t h e   b e n c h e s   g r a s p e d   t h e i r
u n m o v i n g   o a r s ,   a n d   n o w   t h e   r o c k s   w e r e
c l o s e   e n o u g h   t h a t   e s c a p e   f r o m   t h e m   w o u l d
b e   i m p o s s i b l e .

F o r   t h e   f i r s t   t i m e ,   t h e   w i z a r d ? s   s m i l i n g
f a c e   c h a n g e d   e x p r e s s i o n ,   b r e a k i n g   i n t o   a
d e e p   l a u g h .   T h e n   t h e   w i z a r d - i m a g e   s p o k e .
? I t   a p p e a r s   t h a t   t h e   t o u c h   o f   y o u r   n e w   w h i p
i s   m o r e   m e r c i f u l   t h a n   t h e   t o u c h   o f   y o u r   o l d
o n e ,   V e r o v a n .   Y o u   c a n n o t   w i n   t h e   r a c e ,   a n d
s o   ?   y o u   m u s t   f o r f e i t   y o u r   s h i p . ?

A n d   w i t h   t h a t ,   m o s t   o f   t h e   g a l l e y   v a n i s h e d   i n t o   t h i n   a i r   ?   e x c e p t   f o r   a   p o r t i o n   o f
t h e   a f t e r d e c k ,   i n c l u d i n g   t h e   m a s s i v e   s t e e r i n g
o a r   t h a t   V e r o v a n   w a s   s t i l l   l a s h e d   t o .   T h e
k i n g ? s   s c r e a m s   w e r e   l o s t   i n   t h e   h o w l i n g
w i n d   a s   h e   a n d   t h e   o a r   c r a s h e d   i n t o   t h e
w a i t i n g   r o c k s .   A n d   i t   w a s   i n   t h i s   w a y   t h a t
V e r o v a n   o f   W e s t g a t e   l o s t   h i s   l a s t   r a c e .
 

E l m i n s t e r   s a t   b a c k ,   f i n i s h e d   w i t h   t h e   t a l e ,
a n d   I   s i g h e d .   ? A   g o o d   t a l e ,   E l m i n s t e r , ?

I   s a i d ,   ? b u t   h o w   c a n   i t   b e   t r u e ?   T h e   w i z a r d s   o f   T h a y ,   a s   y o u   a d m i t ,   a r e   n o t   t o   b e
t r u s t e d .   I s   t h i s   n o t   a   m e r e   m i n s t r e l ? s
f a n c y ? ?

The sage shook his head. ?Nay, for the
s t r o k e r   s u r v i v e d ,   t h r o w n   u p   o n t o   o n e   o f   t h e
i s l e s   w i t h   h i s   d r u m ,   a n d   i t   i s   f r o m   h i s   l i p s
t h a t   t h e   t a l e   c o m e s   d o w n . ?

? I t   i s   t r u e ,   t h e n , ?   I   c o n c e d e d ,   ? a s   m u c h
a s   s u c h   t a l e s   e v e r   a r e .   B u t   t h i s   s a y s   l i t t l e   o f
c o c k a t r i c e s   t h e m s e l v e s ,   o n l y   t h a t   t h e   w i z a r d s   p l a c e d   a   m a g i c a l   w h i p   i n   V e r o v a n ? s
g e a r   ?   a   w h i p   o f   c o c k a t r i c e   f e a t h e r s   t h a t
p e t r i f i e d   a s   t h o u g h   t h e   c r e a t u r e   s t i l l   l i v e d . ?

? A y e ,   I   h a v e   d e t a i l s   o f   t h a t   p r o c e s s , ?
E l m i n s t e r   r e p l i e d .   ? A n d   I   c a n   t e l l   t h e e
s o m e t h i n g   a b o u t   t h e   c r e a t u r e s   t h e m s e l v e s ,
b e s i d e s . ?   H e   t h e n   d i d   s o ,   a n d   I   m a d e   c a r e f u l   n o t e s ,   s o   t h a t   I   c a n   s u m m a r i z e   h i s   r e m a r k s   a s   f o l l o w s :

T h e   c o c k a t r i c e   i s   a n   u n i n t e l l i g e n t ,   n a s t y ,
a v a r i c i o u s   c r e a t u r e ,   a b o u t   t h e   s i z e   o f   a   l a r g e
g o o s e   o r   t u r k e y ,   t h a t   o f t e n   f l i e s   i n t o   a   f i t   o f
r a g e .   T h e   c r e a t u r e   i s   i n f a m o u s   f o r   t h e   ( p e r m a n e n t )   flesh to stone  power of its touch,
but man is not its deliberate prey. Its habitat and habits are little known, and much
confused by myth and old wives? tales.
What follows is, however, known to be true,
as far as it goes.

Males are more numerous than females
(which lack the wattles, and have much
smaller combs), and the latter are very
seldom without a mate -- or several mates,
who will fight constantly among themselves
over the female.1

Cockatrices are immune to their own and
fellow cockatrices? petrification powers, and
spend much time strutting, fighting among
themselves, or foraging. A male-and-female
pair (or the more unusual grouping of one
strong female with several ?consort? males)
will mate often and noisily, screeching and
cackling all the while. The female will lay a
clutch of 1 or 2 eggs a month, at the waxing
of the moon, which she guards watchfully
while the male (or males) hunts food for her.
The eggs are brownish-red, flecked with
rust-red speckles, and they have hard,
brittle shells. An egg that is fertile2 will
hatch in 11-19 days. An immature cockatrice is small (roughly fist-sized), but otherwise identical in appearance to its parents.3
Such chicks grow to mature size and attain
full powers in four to six months. They are
then driven away by the parents, left to fend
for themselves.

Cockatrices are vain, bullying creatures,
and amongst themselves there is a constant
battle for status. Nesting pairs consider
themselves above solitary creatures or those
who do not have a nest, and once a lair has
been found, the cockatrice pair will build a
permanent nest and continually enrich it
(and thus their individual status) by lining it
with treasure.

Status increases with the shininess and
quantity of treasure, and there must always
be the yellow gleam of gold somewhere
among it for the owner to achieve true
"class." Cockatrices are thus always foraging
for food and treasure. Their preferred
d i e t   c o n s i s t s   o f   l a r g e ,   j u i c y   b e e t l e s ,   s m a l l
l i z a r d s ,   a n d   s n a k e s ,   a l t h o u g h   a   c o c k a t r i c e
w i l l   e a t   a l l   s m a l l   r e p t i l e s ,   b i r d s ,   m a m m a l s ,
s e e d s ,   f r u i t ,   a n d   e v e n   f i s h   i t   c a n   c a t c h ,   o f t e n
s u b s i s t i n g   l a r g e l y   o n   r o d e n t s .

I t   i s   i m p o r t a n t   t o   n o t e   t h a t   t h e   c o c k a t r i c e
c a n   c h o o s e   n o t   t o   p e t r i f y   b y   i t s   t o u c h   ( i f   i t
c o u l d   n o t ,   i t   w o u l d   n e v e r   b e   a b l e   t o   e a t ) ,
b u t   t h i s   i s   a   c o n s c i o u s ,   d e l i b e r a t e   a c t   o f   w i l l
o n   i t s   p a r t ,   a n d   a t   a l l   o t h e r   t i m e s   i t s   t o u c h
a u t o m a t i c a l l y   p e t r i f i e s .4 Be aware, however,
that the  flesh to stone  power of the cockatrice is just that ? its touch only affects the
actual flesh or body of a creature, and does
not work through (or upon) clothing, armor, or other inanimate objects. Thus,
someone covered in head-to-toe armor has
little to worry about ? but someone with
any sizable patch of flesh showing is in
danger, for the cockatrice knows instinctively where to strike to bring about the
?stoning? effect, and will aim for the vulnerable spot.5

Cockatrices are not strong flyers, but
prefer to fight in the air against foes they
deem dangerous, because they move more
quickly when airborne than when on the
ground. They can grapple opponents while
flying, petrifying them upon a touch ?
whereupon most foes fall helplessly to
earth.6

Cockatrices will never leave a nest unguarded, and will fight to the death to protect eggs or young. If a clutch of eggs
happens to be entirely infertile, the parents
will leave that nest (and its treasure) and go
elsewhere to nest, never returning to the
former location, which they seem to hate
and fear; apparently they consider it cursed,
bad luck, or somehow contaminated.

Large groups of cockatrices encountered
are usually young driven from the nest, all
of one sex and temporarily together for
safety and mutual hunting strength, or
several males who have located, and are
now vying for the attention of, a female.

The most feared foe of the cockatrice is
the pech. This creature, being immune to
petrification, hunts cockatrices with impunity both for food and trade. This trading,
conducted via svirfneblin, results in
a few secretive sales of live cockatrices to
alchemists, paranoids of all types seeking
guardians, jaded collectors of exotic pets
(cockatrices sell for 500-1000 gp, eggs for
300-600 gp each), and so-called sculptors.
(A famous ?sculptor? in Waterdeep once
plied his trade by drugging human models,
posing them, and then releasing his pet
cockatrice upon them.) Cockatrices are
generally too stupid to be easily trained, but
they can be taught (by repetition) to recognize their owner and carry out the simplest
of commands given by that owner, so long
as those commands do not go against the
creature?s basic nature.

Notes

1. The cockatrice depicted in the Monster
Manual is a male (males outnumber females 65% to 35%). Cockatrices may live
as long as 30 winters, but the normal
lifespan (assuming the creature survives
infancy) is 16-20 years.

2. There is a 65% chance for each cockatrice egg laid that the egg is fertile and will
hatch. This chance drops by 5% if the egg
is abandoned by the mother or she is slain
before it hatches. Eggs that do not hatch are
eaten by the growing chicks.

3. The only substantial difference between an adult and an immature cockatrice
is that the petrification effect of an immature cockatrice?s touch is saved against at a
+3 bonus.

4. The willful switch from petrification to
non-petrification or vice versa is effectively
instantaneous (taking less than 1 segment),
and is believed to be both a mental and a
chemical change. The direct touch of any
part of a cockatrice?s body causes petrification within 2 segments (unless the victim
makes a successful saving throw). A cockatrice has a partial, intangible existence on
the Astral and Ethereal planes as well as its
corporeal existence on the Prime Material.
This intangible existence consists of an aura
corresponding in shape, size, and location
to its physical form, and its aura petrifies on
the Astral and Ethereal planes just as its
body does on the Prime Material.

When a cockatrice chooses not to petrify,
all parts of its body (and on the Astral and
Ethereal planes, all parts of its visible aura)
become ?safe? (and invisible on the Astral
a n d   E t h e r e a l   p l a n e s )   ?   e x c e p t   f o r   t h e   f e a t h e r e d   e n d   o f   i t s   t a i l .   T h i s   r e m a i n s   a c t i v e   a t
a l l   t i m e s ,   a b l e   t o   p e t r i f y   a l l   l i v i n g   t h i n g s   i t
t o u c h e s .   N o t e   t h a t   a   c o c k a t r i c e   i s   w e l l   a w a r e
o f   t h i s ,   a n d   ?   n o t   w i s h i n g   t o   p e t r i f y   i t s   f o o d
?   h a s   c a r e f u l   a n d   e x a c t   p h y s i c a l   c o n t r o l
a n d   p r e c i s e   k n o w l e d g e   o f   t h e   l o c a t i o n   o f   i t s
t a i l .   N o t e   a l s o   t h a t   i f   a   g r o u p   o f   t w o   o r   m o r e
c o c k a t r i c e s   i s   e n c o u n t e r e d   f e e d i n g ,   o n l y   o n e
a t   a   t i m e   a c t u a l l y   ? t u r n s   o f f ?   i t s   p e t r i f y i n g
p o w e r   a n d   e a t s ;   t h e   o t h e r s   s t a n d   g u a r d .

T h e   c o c k a t r i c e ? s   p e t r i f i c a t i o n   p o w e r   d o e s
n o t   ? t u r n   o f f ?   a u t o m a t i c a l l y   w h e n   t h e   c r e a t u r e   f a l l s   a s l e e p   o r   i s   r e n d e r e d   u n c o n s c i o u s ,
b u t   a   d e a d   c o c k a t r i c e   d o e s   n o t   r e t a i n   t h e
p o w e r   ?   e x c e p t   f o r   t h e   u n c o n t r o l l a b l e
? s t o n i n g ?   p o w e r   o f   i t s   t a i l f e a t h e r s ,   w h i c h
r e m a i n s   i n   e f f e c t   f o r   1 - 4   d a y s   a f t e r   t h e   c r e a t u r e ? s   d e m i s e .   ( S a v i n g   t h r o w s   a g a i n s t   p e t r i f i c a t i o n   b y   t h e   t a i l f e a t h e r s   a r e   m a d e   a t   + 1
i f   t h e   c o c k a t r i c e   i s   d e a d   o r   t h e   f e a t h e r s   h a v e
b e e n   s e p a r a t e d   f r o m   t h e   c r e a t u r e . )

S o m e   m a g e s   ( s e e   E l m i n s t e r ? s   t a l e ,   a b o v e ,
a n d   A D & D® game module WG5, "Mordenkainen?s Fantastic Adventure") have
devised means of preserving the petrifying
powers (and physical integrity) of cockatrice
tailfeathers. One such method (from the
notebooks of Arbane the Mighty) is reproduced here:

For the making of whips, hats, cloaks and
the like adorned with cockatrice tailfeathers,
the feathers must be magically preserved.
To do this, take a cauldron, and into it pour
equal parts of  oil of etherealness,  aqua regia, and human tears (at least half an
ounce of each). Mix this liquid well with a
glass or crystal rod, and heat it to boiling
while stirring in at least 6000 gp worth of
powdered agate and either six whole (live or
dead) cerebral parasites or the blood (7
drops or more) of a slaad, a githyanki, or a
nightmare.

Stir this mixture until the solid components are dissolved, and then immerse the
cockatrice feathers in the liquid while it is
boiling. (A  mending  spell must be used
beforehand on the feathers if they are broken, bent, or crumpled.) Take the cauldron
away from the heat immediately after putting the feathers into the liquid, and let the
cauldron stand until the liquid evaporates.

The cockatrice feathers will then be intact, resilient, and flexible, and will remain
so forever (unless damaged or destroyed),
retaining the power to permanently petrify
living creatures (save vs. petrification at
+1) by touch.

Feathers preserved in this fashion can
only affect other creatures by direct contact
on the Prime Material Plane or on the plane
occupied by the bearer of the feathers; they
cannot simultaneously affect creatures on
the Astral or Ethereal planes or any other
plane except the one that the feathers are
physically present on.

5. If the flesh of a cockatrice?s opponent is
revealed to any substantial degree (bare
arms or bare legs, for instance), it can be
assumed that a hit by the creature in melee
has struck the vulnerable part of the target?s
body, and thus petrification is possible. If a
would-be victim is almost entirely covered
(only showing a bare head, bare hands, or
bare feet, for instance), then the Dungeon
Master must use judgment to determine the
outcome of a cockatrice strike. For instance,
it might be ruled that after a successful ?to
hit? roll, the cockatrice has a chance of
striking exposed flesh, and that chance is
equal to the approximate percentage of the
victim?s body which is uncovered (perhaps
10% for bare feet, 15% for bare head, 25%
for bare arms, etc.). Then, if that percentage is achieved on a second roll, the cockatrice has succeeded in striking the exposed
flesh. (If more than one quarter of a target?s
body is exposed, it can be assumed that the
cockatrice automatically lands its strike in
that area.) The victim is always allowed a
saving throw to avoid the petrification
effect, but even if the save is made the
target will take damage from the strike of
the cockatrice?s beak.

6. Cockatrices are of maneuverability
class C, and must rest for at least 1 turn
after 2-5 turns of flight. (How fast each
creature tires depends upon the strength,
weight, age, and present condition of the
individual cockatrice.) Note that the creature?s aerial movement rate is fully three
times faster than its ground movement; the
cockatrice is well aware of this, and often
uses short, flapping flights to pursue prey or
escape immediate danger.
 

LETTERS

Cockatrice query
-
Dear Dragon:
"The ecology of the cockatrice" (issue #95) did
not state how much flesh a cockatrice can turn to
stone. Does this mean it can turn a mountain of
flesh to stone? What if people were to hold hands
in a line, and one person was struck by a cockatrice?
Would everyone turn to stone?

Peter Carignan
Somersworth, N. H.
(Dragon #97)
 

The petrification power of the cockatrice is
very similar to the reverse of the 6th-level magic-user
spell stone to flesh. That is, only one creature
can be affected at one time -- whether that
victim is as small as a halfling or as large as a
brontosaurus (the closest thing to a "mountain of
flesh" that we can think of). Any character or
creature that happens to be touching the victim
when a cockatrice strikes is unaffected. A group
of characters could join hands in the presence of a
cockatrice without all of them becoming subject
to its strike -- but why would they want to do
such a thing in the first place?

-- KM
(Dragon #97)