“The captain just stared with wet eyes and a dazed smile, whispering something I couldn’t hear. He just stared while they tore him apart. I just stared while they tore him apart.”
—The lone survivor of a sunset raptor attack

Beautiful Threat. The sunset raptor can be identified by its crimson plumage, crested head, and large peacock-like tail of golden feathers. Its tail feathers are reflective and mesmerizing, triggering surreal hallucinations of a spectator’s dreams, desires, and nightmares.

Deadly Oddities. Vicious and exotic, sunset raptors are highly prized among eccentric collectors. They can often be found guarding the lairs of mad wizards or stalking the gardens of giants. Jewelers, alchemists, and fortune tellers covet sunset raptor feathers for their bright color and use in spiritual rituals. However, sunset raptors are not easily caught or tamed, and many hunters and handlers have been devoured for not taking the proper precautions against these vibrant killers.

Social Predators. Sunset raptors have developed remarkably efficient pack tactics. They communicate using shrill, piercing calls, sacrificing the element of surprise in favor of swiftly coordinated attacks. Often, the fastest raptors run ahead of the pack, cutting off potential prey. Once their prey is cornered, the raptors close in, forming a ring and forcing their prey to gaze upon their deadly, hypnotic plumage.

Sunset Raptor

Medium monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 32 (5d8 + 10)
Speed 50 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12 (+1)	15 (+2)	14 (+2)	4 (-3)	12 (+1)	16 (+3)

Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages —
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Hypnotic Plumage. When a creature that can see the sunset raptor’s tail starts its turn within 100 feet of the raptor, the raptor can force it to make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw if the raptor isn’t incapacitated and can see the creature. On a failure, a creature becomes charmed until the start of its next turn. While charmed, the creature is incapacitated as it suffers from surreal hallucinations and must move up to its speed closer to the raptor that charmed it. It doesn’t avoid opportunity attacks, but before moving into damaging terrain, such as lava or a pit, and whenever it takes damage from a source other than the sunset raptor, a target can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success. Other sunset raptors are immune to this effect.

Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can’t see the sunset raptor until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at the sunset raptor in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.

Pack Tactics. The sunset raptor has advantage on attack rolls against a creature if at least one of the raptor’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.

Actions

Multiattack. The sunset raptor makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claw.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) piercing damage

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) slashing damage