Teratornis: Aerial Pack Predator & Temp. Counter!

[Kaimen]

Wild: Teratornis are carnivorous avians from the Pliocene. They are similar in size to the Ark’s argentavis, making them suitable to be ridden by survivors, if they’re up to the challenge. Teratornis travel in small, aggressive flocks, as they are predators that tend to overwhelm their prey in numbers rather than attack with brute strength. Their flocking behavior is similar to that of the deinonychus; their serrated, hooked beaks inflicting heavy, stacking bleed damage. However, without their flock bonus, a single teratornis is easy game for larger predators. They are able to outrun their close relative, the argentavis, but survivors have had luck escaping them on the back of pteranodons.

 

Domesticated: Once a survivor has acquired a flock of teratornis to aid them, they are useful battle mounts in numbers; perfect for swarming larger predators, such as the rex and allosaurus. Additionally, when in flocks, teratornis are able to protect their riders from being dismounted by other creatures (stuns and, with a cooldown, picking) and even man-made traps. Flocks are even immune to the fear-inducing roar of the yutyrannus! Flocks of teratornis are good mounts to have around in the blazing heat of the Ark’s deserts, as their feathers are designed to keep them cool, and by extension, their riders, too! 

 

Taming: The Teratornis is a flock creature, and they are not easily separated from each other. Survivors will find that selecting a single one in a flock to tame is a pain, however some have found a way to win over the stubborn feathered beast. Survivors must approach the flock until they become aggressive, and lead them to a prey item killed by the survivor. As they will take most opportunities to prey on larger creatures, the carcass will distract the flock, giving the survivor time to sneak up on the Teratornis they wish to tame. They must feed it its desired food item, and grab onto its legs. The Terratornis will become startled, wildly flying about and attempting to shake the survivor off. They must manage to stay seated until a persistence bar fills, after which the survivor will be able to hoist themself up onto the Teratornis's back. The flock will quickly turn aggressive towards the survivor and their mounted Teratornis, and the pair must fight back, killing the rest of the flock to fill its taming bar.

Edited April 21, 2023 by Kaimen