Sakura Raptors

Sacred mounts of Ezogashima, ridden by the Sakura Clans and the Shogun’s Council.

Overview

• Appearance: Large, bipedal avians with iridescent, cherry blossom-like feathers in vibrant hues (pink, gold, white, or rare blue). Their lizard-like tails and expressive eyes ingratiate them to people as a playful, endearing mount companion.
• Behavior: Loyal mounts for the Sakura Clans and Shogun’s Council, with a cheerful “kweh!”-like chirp. They’re skittish around new people but can be trained for speed, combat, or traversal. Wild Raptors are protective, and some can be aggressive.
• Utility: Used for scouting, caravans, and combat. They can adapt to many different environments and climates.
• Cultural Role: Sacred to the Kami Pantheon, they’re revered in rituals and adorned with extravagant saddles by the Shogunate. Their feathers are prized and often used in rare crafts. They are often desired by foreigners, but as they must form a bond with their rider, they cannot be sold after being trained.

Sakura Raptor

• Description: These vibrant, bipedal avians sport iridescent feathers in pink, gold, white, or rare blue, resembling cherry blossoms. With lizard-like tails and expressive eyes, they chirp “kweh!” to signal loyalty or alarm. They serve the Sakura Clans as mounts for scouting, combat, and caravans across Ezogashima. Wild Sakura Raptors nest in bamboo groves and protect their young.

Stat block

Large beast, unaligned - Armor Class: 15 (iridescent feathers) - Hit Points: 59 (7d10 + 21) - Speed: 60 ft., glide 20 ft. - STR: 16 | DEX: 19 | CON: 16 | INT: 8 | WIS: 13 | CHA: 12 - Skills: Acrobatics +6, Perception +4, Performance +3 - Senses: Passive Perception 14 - Languages: Understands Common but cannot speak; communicates with “kweh!”-like chirps - CR: 2 - Traits: - Keen Senses: The Sakura Raptor has advantage on Perception checks that rely on sight or hearing. - Gliding Leap: The Sakura Raptor can glide 20 feet horizontally for every 10 feet it falls, taking no falling damage if it lands after gliding. - Avian Grace: The Sakura Raptor can take the Dash or Disengage action as a bonus action once per short rest. - Sprint Burst: Once per short rest, the Sakura Raptor can double its speed for one turn. - Actions: - Multiattack: The Sakura Raptor makes two attacks: one with its beak and one with its talons. - Beak: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage. - Talons: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage. - Sakura Spark (Recharge 5-6): The Sakura Raptor emits a radiant burst of cherry blossom-like energy in a 10-foot radius. One ally within range regains 10 (3d6) hit points. - Blossom Flurry (Recharge 5-6): The Sakura Raptor flaps its wings, releasing a 15-foot cone of shimmering petals. Each creature in the area must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) slashing damage on a failed save or half as much on a successful one.

Variants

The Sakura Raptors are large, bipedal avians with iridescent, cherry blossom-like feathers, serving as sacred mounts for the Sakura Clans and Shogun’s Council. Each variant has unique abilities, feather hues, and faction roles, with Aetheric Sensitivity making them skittish near Aetheric rifts. The Corrupted Sakura Raptor, tainted by Ebon Scales, serves as a darker counterpart. Below are the five variants:

1. Golden Sakura Raptor: Radiant and ceremonial, used by the Kiyomura Clan for patrols and trade caravans.
2. Blue Sakura Raptor: Stealthy and elusive, used by the Tsukishima Clan for ninja missions.
3. Aqua Sakura Raptor: Aquatic and resilient, used by the Sakurajima Clan for coastal tasks.
4. Crimson Sakura Raptor: Fiery and rare, found wild in volcanic regions.
5. Corrupted Sakura Raptor (Tainted): Chaotic and necrotic, used by the Order of the Ouroboros.

Golden Sakura Raptor

Large beast, unaligned - Armor Class: 15 (iridescent feathers, +1 from Amateru’s radiance) - Hit Points: 59 (7d10 + 21) - Speed: 70 ft., glide 20 ft. - STR: 16 | DEX: 19 | CON: 16 | INT: 8 | WIS: 13 | CHA: 12 - Skills: Acrobatics +6, Perception +4, Performance +3 - Senses: Passive Perception 14 - Languages: Understands Common (“kweh!” chirps) - CR: 3 - Traits: - Keen Senses: Advantage on Perception checks relying on sight or hearing. - Gliding Leap: Glides 20 ft. horizontally per 10 ft. fallen, no falling damage if landing after gliding. - Kami’s Grace: When ridden by a creature, gains advantage on Acrobatics and can Dash or Disengage as a bonus action (1/short rest). - Radiance: Emits a 10-ft. radius of bright light. Allies in the area have advantage on saves against being frightened. - Actions: - Multiattack: Two attacks: one beak, one talons. - Beak: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage. - Talons: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage. - Sakura Spark (Recharge 5-6): Emits a 10-ft. radius radiant burst. One ally regains 14 (4d6) hit points; enemies make a DC 14 Dexterity save or take 14 (4d6) radiant damage and are blinded until their next turn’s start. - Blossom Flurry (Recharge 5-6): Releases a 15-ft. cone of petals. Creatures make a DC 14 Dexterity save, taking 14 (4d6) slashing damage or half on success. - Description: With golden feathers shimmering like sunlight, these raptors are sacred to the Kiyomura Clan, ridden for patrols in Kiyomura and ceremonial processions to the Shrine of the Kami. Their speed and healing make them ideal for caravans.

Blue Sakura Raptor

Large beast, unaligned - Armor Class: 15 (iridescent feathers) - Hit Points: 66 (8d10 + 24) - Speed: 60 ft., glide 20 ft. - STR: 16 | DEX: 20 | CON: 16 | INT: 8 | WIS: 14 | CHA: 12 - Skills: Acrobatics +7, Perception +4, Stealth +7 - Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 14 - Languages: Understands Common (“kweh!” chirps) - CR: 4 - Traits: - Keen Senses: Advantage on Perception checks relying on sight or hearing. - Gliding Leap: Glides 20 ft. horizontally per 10 ft. fallen, no falling damage if landing after gliding. - Kami’s Grace: When ridden by a creature, gains advantage on Stealth and can Dash or Disengage as a bonus action (1/short rest). - Tsukiyomi’s Veil: Can cast invisibility (self and rider only, 1/day) until it attacks or casts another spell. - Actions: - Multiattack: Two attacks: one beak, one talons. - Beak: Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d10 + 5) piercing damage. - Talons: Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) slashing damage. - Ninja Flurry (Recharge 5-6): Releases a 15-ft. cone of shadowy petals. Creatures make a DC 15 Dexterity save, taking 17 (5d6) slashing damage or half on success. Creatures failing the save have disadvantage on Perception checks until their next turn’s end. - Description: With deep blue feathers that blend into the night, these raptors are often used by the Tsukishima Clan for ninja missions in Bamboo Thickets and Ebon Caves. Their stealth aids in ambush tactics.

Aqua Sakura Raptor

Large beast, unaligned - Armor Class: 15 (iridescent feathers) - Hit Points: 59 (7d10 + 21) - Speed: 60 ft., swim 40 ft., glide 20 ft. - STR: 16 | DEX: 19 | CON: 16 | INT: 8 | WIS: 13 | CHA: 12 - Skills: Acrobatics +6, Perception +4, Athletics +5 (swimming) - Senses: Passive Perception 14 - Languages: Understands Common (“kweh!” chirps) - CR: 3 - Traits: - Keen Senses: Advantage on Perception checks relying on sight or hearing. - Gliding Leap: Glides 20 ft. horizontally per 10 ft. fallen, no falling damage if landing after gliding. - Kami’s Grace: When ridden by a creature, gains advantage on Athletics and can Dash or Disengage as a bonus action (1/short rest). - Aquatic Adaptation: Can breathe underwater and has resistance to cold damage. - Actions: - Multiattack: Two attacks: one beak, one talons. - Beak: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage. - Talons: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage. - Tidal Surge (Recharge 5-6): Releases a 15-ft. cone of water. Creatures make a DC 14 Strength save or take 14 (4d6) bludgeoning damage and are pushed 10 feet. Half damage and no push on success. - Description: With teal feathers glistening like ocean waves, these raptors are sacred to the Sakurajima Clan. Their swimming aids exploring the Sakurajima Springs.

Crimson Sakura Raptor

Large beast, unaligned - Armor Class: 16 (iridescent feathers, fire-hardened) - Hit Points: 76 (9d10 + 27) - Speed: 60 ft., glide 20 ft. - STR: 18 | DEX: 19 | CON: 16 | INT: 8 | WIS: 13 | CHA: 12 - Skills: Acrobatics +6, Perception +4, Intimidation +3 - Damage Resistances: Fire - Senses: Passive Perception 14 - Languages: Understands Common (“kweh!” chirps) - CR: 4 - Traits: - Keen Senses: Advantage on Perception checks relying on sight and hearing. - Gliding Leap: Glides 20 ft. horizontally per 10 ft. fallen, no falling damage if landing after gliding. - Kami’s Grace: When ridden by a creature, gains advantage on Intimidation checks and can Dash or Disengage as a bonus action (1/short rest). - Fiery Aura: Unfriendly creatures starting their turn within 5 ft. take 5 (1d10) fire damage. - Actions: - Multiattack: Two attacks: one beak, one talons. - Beak: Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d10 + 5) piercing damage + 4 (1d8) fire damage. - Talons: Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) slashing damage. - Ember Flurry (Recharge 5-6): Releases a 15-ft. cone of fiery feathers. Creatures make a DC 15 Dexterity save, taking 17 (5d6) fire damage or half on success. - Description: With glistening red feathers glowing like embers, these rare raptors are considered impossible to tame by people with weak spirits.

Corrupted Sakura Raptor

Chaotic and necrotic, tainted by Ebon Scales and used by the Order of the Ouroboros.