Emu

Emu

Species	flightless bird
No. Appearing	4–16
Behaviour	herd
Range	desert, savanna
Size	6 ft. 3 in. tall
Weight	130 lbs.
Intelligence	1
Armour Class	7
Hit Dice	1
Action Points	5
Max. Stride	17
THAC0	20
Hp/Die	d6
Attack Forms	2: beak, hoof
Damage	beak (1-4); hoof (1-8)
Special Attacks	back kick

Emu are large flightless birds that breed along the coastlands of the Indian Oceant from Makran and Baluchistan to Australia. These birds are capable of covering vast distances and can endure weeks without nourishment. Their water consumption is infrequent, yet they seize the chance to drink substantial quantities when the opportunity occurs.

Emus fall prey to megalania, thylacine and dingos, with the latter species often hunting emus in organized packs. Emu meat and eggs are highly valued by hunters. These birds are commonly captured through various methods, including spearing them at waterholes, ensnaring them in nets, luring them with mimicry of their calls or piquing their curiosity with a dangling ball of feathers and rags from a tree.

Emu fat is harvested for its oil, their bones are crafted into knives and tools, their feathers are employed for decorative purposes and their tendons serve as valuable strings.

Behaviour

When they feel overwhelmed or endangered, they tend to retreat and escape the situation. Emus are fast runners and can quickly move away from danger. If cornered, emus typically engage in an initial attacks, lunging forward with their beak and hooves, before retreating to see if their opponents also give ground. The emu's hooves are substantial and sharp. They show their defensive posture by puffing up their feathers and making themselves appear larger.

Breeding occurs during November and December in the northern hemisphere, while in the southern hemisphere, it takes place in May and June. Competition among females for a suitable mate is a common occurrence, so that emus to become highly aggressive during this period. The female lays a clutch of 5-7 eggs, which are entrusted to the male for care. The male diligently tends to the eggs and doesn't abandon his responsibility until they hatch, which often leads to him starving and even more aggressive. Over the course of the eight-week incubation period, he may lose up to a third of his body weight. When the chicks hatch, they weigh about a pound and require seven months to reach full maturity.

Advantages

Back kick. If pressed, the emu will turn to flee, delivering a vicious back kick with its one foot, causing double-damage on a hit. Thereafter the bird flees, making no attempt to re-enter combat.

See Bestiary