SPEAROW (aka Asshole Birds)
Role: Swarming Predators
PL 4 (57)- Minion Rank 4, Sidekick Rank 12
Normal Version: PL 2-3
STRENGTH -1
STAMINA 0
AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 4
DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -4
AWARENESS 0
PRESENCE -2
Skills:
Acrobatics 4 (+8)
Athletics 6 (+5)
Close Combat (Natural Weapons) 1 (+5)
Expertise (Survival) 6 (+6)
Intimidation 12 (+6 Size)
Perception 9 (+9)
Advantages:
Evasion, Fast Grab, Improved Critical (Natural Weapons), Improved Hold, Startle
Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 3 (Extended, Ultra & Low-Light Vision) [3]
"Natural Weapons- Talons & Beak" Strength-Damage +4 [4]
Flight 5 (60 mph) (Flaws: Winged) [5]
"Small Size" Shrinking 4 (Feats: Innate) (Extras: Permanent +0) [9]
(-1 Strength & Speed, +2 Defenses, +4 Stealth, -4 Intimidation)
Offense:
Unarmed +4 (-1 Damage, DC 14)
Natural Weapons +5 (+3 Damage, DC 18)
Initiative +4
Defenses:
Dodge +7 (DC 17), Parry +7 (DC 17), Toughness +0, Fortitude +5, Will +6
Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Birds cannot speak to humans, nor use their talons to easily manipulate objects.
Disabled (Flying)- Asshole Birds cannot fly at great heights, or for long distances.
Total: Abilities: 4 / Skills: 28--14 / Advantages: 5 / Powers: 21 / Defenses: 13 (57)
FEAROW (Asshole Bird Queen)
Role: Elite Queen
PL 7 (74)- Minion Rank 5, Sidekick Rank 15
Normal Version: PL 5-6
STRENGTH 0
STAMINA 2
AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 4
DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -4
AWARENESS 0
PRESENCE -2
Skills:
Acrobatics 2 (+6)
Athletics 7 (+6)
Close Combat (Natural Weapons) 4 (+8)
Expertise (Survival) 6 (+6)
Intimidation 14 (+7 Size)
Perception 9 (+9)
Advantages:
Evasion, Fast Grab, Improved Critical (Natural Weapons) 2, Improved Hold, Power Attack, Startle
Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 3 (Extended, Ultra & Low-Light Vision) [3]
"Natural Weapons- Talons & Beak" Strength-Damage +5 [5]
Flight 5 (60 mph) (Flaws: Winged) [5]
"Small Size" Shrinking 4 (Feats: Innate) (Extras: Permanent +0) [9]
(-1 Strength & Speed, +2 Defenses, +4 Stealth, -4 Intimidation)
Offense:
Unarmed +4 (+0 Damage, DC 15)
Natural Weapons +8 (+5 Damage, DC 20)
Initiative +4
Defenses:
Dodge +8 (DC 18), Parry +8 (DC 18), Toughness +2, Fortitude +6, Will +6
Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Birds cannot speak to humans, nor use their talons to easily manipulate objects.
Total: Abilities: 10 / Skills: 42--21 / Advantages: 7 / Powers: 22 / Defenses: 14 (74)
Era: Modern
Range: North America, Europe & Asia
Stereotypes: Regal & proud.
Colouring: Dark brown & tawny
Size: Up to 35 inches long (6-14 lbs.)
Encounter Groups: Swarms of 2-50 birds with one dominant Queen.
Diet: Mountain Goats, rabbits, rodents, tortoises, small birds
Tactics: Dive-bomb from above, possibly dragging off cliffs!
-Asshole Birds are an infamous nuisance across Castellia, as the birds (typically no different from many other Birds of Prey) are known to swarm together in massive groups, dive-bombing perceived victims simply for walking too close. Unusually for birds, they operate under "Insect Hive" rules- huge groups flock under the leadership of a dominant breeding female, multiple times the size of any of the others. This "Queen" appears more condor-like, with a long neck, long beak and a shaggier-looking plumage, but is a much more dangerous predator than the rest of the flock.
-Naturists refer to the smaller form as "Spearow" and the larger Queens as "Fearow", but the colloquial term has become pretty common across all of Castellia- a byproduct of the swarming nature of the creatures. Many amateur Questers count "clear out a Next of Assholes" among their first paid quests, as farmers and townsfolk typically do not wish to have these creatures close by. Though fast-moving, the smaller variety are poor distance flyers who can also not take too high to the air. The "Fearow" Queens do not suffer this flaw, but each swarm only has one.
Jab's Notes: Spearow and Fearow are Odd Pokemon Out in this franchise. While Pidgey became all-important as one of Ash's first Pokemon, and rapidly-evolved into a powerful Pidgeot, Spearow... was just some background asshole. Hell, the VERY FIRST EPISODE throws them out there as this jerk-off, swarming species of birds who attack Ash and his new Pikachu (who had been disagreeable before this), nearly killing both of them until they escaped with their lives. Pidgeot is a major character, and inspires tons of later Pokemon, and Spearow (who shares the Type and even has similar stats and moves) gets THAT? Sure, Ash threw a rock at one to weaken it, but hey- animals in this universe should be used to random assaults for cockfighting purposes. Fearow appear more often than Spearow, typically in more antagonistic roles, like working for toughs, or attacking other Pokemon. The Spearow that led the first attack on Ash & Pikachu evolved into Fearow and attacked once more, necessitating Pidgeotto's transformation into Pidgeot in order to defeat it. See? Asshole Birds.
-Its Japanese name basically means "Oni Sparrow", so we're really not meant to like these things. Their pretty bland design (it's basically a wilder-looking sparrow/falcon thing- more or less a combination of "Generic Bird Things" than a well-designed Pokemon) dooms them as well. The anime pretty much never uses them after this first appearance- they're mere backgrounders after the debut episode.