Alicanto

The Alicanto, a creature of the night, roams the desert under the cloak of darkness. Its wings glisten with a metallic sheen, mirroring the hues of the precious ores it consumes: gold, silver, or a copper-green, depending on its diet. This nocturnal bird’s eyes gleam with an otherworldly light, casting an eerie glow in the desolate wilderness.

Unlike other avians, the Alicanto is bound to the earth, its flight hindered by the heavy minerals it ingests. This unique diet renders its movements swift or sluggish, depending on when it last feasted. Legends whisper of the bird’s mystical ability to lead miners to hidden riches within the earth’s embrace. Those who stealthily trail the Alicanto, undetected by its keen senses, might be rewarded with the discovery of abundant veins of ore or buried treasures.

However, the Alicanto is no fool; should it sense a follower, it will extinguish its radiant wings, vanishing into the night’s embrace. Furthermore, the bird possesses a discerning spirit, distinguishing the pure of heart from those with malintent. To the latter, the Alicanto may play a treacherous guide, leading the unworthy to their doom over unseen cliffs, swallowed by the profound obscurity of the desert night.

Special Abilities

Shining Wings: The Alicanto’s wings emit a dim, colorful light at night. Its wings act as a natural source of dim light in a 10-foot radius. The color of its wings indicates the type of precious ore it has consumed: golden (gold), silvery (silver), or copper-green (copper). This light can be suppressed at will.

Keen Senses: The Alicanto has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or hearing.

Actions

Beak: Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage.

Claw: Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d4 + 3) slashing damage.

Light Evasion (Recharge 5-6): The Alicanto engulfs itself in darkness, extinguishing the light emitted by its wings. It gains resistance to all damage and advantage on Dexterity saving throws until the start of its next turn. Additionally, creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls against the Alicanto while its wings are extinguished.

Legendary Actions

The Alicanto can take up to 3 legendary actions at the end of another creature’s turn. It regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Wing Flap: The Alicanto uses its wings to create a gust of wind in a 10-foot radius centered on itself. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be pushed 10 feet away from the Alicanto.
• Blinding Glow: The Alicanto’s wings briefly flare up with blinding light. Each creature of its choice within 15 feet of the Alicanto must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be blinded until the end of their next turn.
• Mysterious Disappearance: The Alicanto teleports to an unoccupied space it can see within 30 feet, leaving behind an illusionary image of itself that lasts until the start of its next turn.

Proficiencies

• Saving Throw: STR +5
• Saving Throw: DEX +4
• Saving Throw: CON +5
• Perception +4