Soul Merger

Monsterpedia

Roc

Monster Level - IV

Soul Type - Composite

Intelligence - Animal

Strength - Massive

Magic - Moderate

Rarity - Uncommon

Rocs are massive birds of prey, capable of lifting elephants. They tend towards brown feathers above, and white feathers below. If they were natural creatures this would make humans not worth their time, but as monsters their bloodlust makes them a dangerous monster. Fortunately their massive size limits them to the fourth layer of labyrinths.

Like most raptors they work as ambush predators, striking from a long dive. Their talons are almost too big to properly catch a dodging human, so they'll usually strike with closed talons, then attempt to grab with their sharp beak. If the prey resists they'll fly up then drop the victim to the ground letting gravity finish the job. Rocs make sure to eliminate all of a party of delvers before eating their catch, making sure to strip the armor and other indigestible pieces away as much as possible. Scattered armor shards are a good sign that Rocs lair nearby.

These giant birds have magic that bends the wind, probably what allows them to fly. However they don't use that magic for any other purpose. As such their main defense is their size. Strong attacks capable of breaking their hollow bones are great at taking out a Roc mid dive. However the window to strike isn't very long. Most adventurers attempt to avoid the initial strike and unleash killing blows while the bird is on the ground or attempting to take flight again.

There is a certain type of person that insists Rocs are not a unique monster but are instead just a larger then average giant hawk. Despite the fact that they have different merges and magical attributes. Please do all proper monster researchers a favor and mock them mercilessly.

Merge

Benefits : Size, Flight, Air magic

Weaknesses : Loss of hand functionality

Roc merges are some of the most dramatic ones available. The person merging grows to between seven and eight feet tall, gains a fair amount of musculature, and their arms and hands shift into wings. They also gain far more air magic than most merges can aspire to. Between these features they can fly, often while carrying a great deal.

The downside of course is that the person's hands are now wings. Opposable thumbs are very useful, and Roc merges end up with less then that. And while they gain a natural understanding on how to use wing magic to fly, getting it to do anything else requires training.

This doesn't mean Roc merges are totally useless. The ability to fly without considerable magical output is coveted for a good reason. Some couriers and scouts choose to gain this merge to take advantage of the quick transit and powerful bodies. However, they'll need to spend similar time learning how to use wind magic to open doors without breaking things, and invest in special furniture and tools to make their lives less difficult in a world designed for people with hands. Think carefully about this merge before shelling out the cash for it.

Can you replace all the functionality of your hands with air magic? Probably. Will it take a lifetime of training? Yes.