Bestiary

Most birds of prey have remarkable eyesight, and their fast speeds make them excellent hunters. Their long claws and beaks, which are designed for tearing flesh, also make them intimidating guardians. Since large raptors are more comfortable outside of larger cities, they’re often kept by

Gangrel, Lasombra, and other Clans that roam outside of municipal areas. Despite this limitation, most birds of prey can fare well enough in metropolises with large parks or nature preserves where they can hunt small mammals. They can also be trained and, given enough room to fly, can be formidable, powerful allies.

While each type of bird has its benefits, some species are harder to maintain as ghouls than others. Vultures, for example, can be harder to keep because of their feeding habits. Six wild vultures can strip the flesh from a fully-grown deer in an hour or two; should a vulture ghoul frenzy it’s likely that bird would not regain control. Owls, on the other hand, might be easier to keep as a ghoul, for they tend to live in most major cities, and go largely unnoticed because of their nocturnal habits.

Smaller predatory birds are easier to manage, however, especially in well-populated areas. Crows are practically ubiquitous in urban settings, and they are highly intelligent, symbolic messengers. Hawks and falcons are frequently spotted in cities as well, so their presence would not be unusual if noticed by a mortal.

Ownership of bird ghouls varies by Clan, for their uses are broad and they can be found, trained, and kept in most environments. Members of the Ventrue Clan, for example, might train and keep falcon ghouls as pets, as a reference to their ownership and training by royalty in centuries past. Members of Clan Tremere, as well as the Kiasyd and True Brujah bloodlines, may keep owl ghouls as messengers, because of its association with wisdom and hidden knowledge.

Whatever the reason, bird ghouls are typically selected based on the proximity to their natural habitat and the resources necessary to ensure they can find food.