Karura 迦楼羅

Huge celestial, lawful good

Armor Class 18 (golden scale armor)

Hit Points 207 (18d12 + 90)

Speed 60 ft., fly 120 ft. (hover)

STR 23 (+6) · DEX 18 (+4) · CON 20 (+5) · INT 16 (+3) · WIS 18 (+4) · CHA 18 (+4)

Saving Throws Dex +8, Con +9, Wis +8, Cha +8

Skills Insight +8, Perception +12, Religion +7

Damage Resistances cold, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical attacks

Damage Immunities fire, poison

Condition Immunities poisoned, diseased

Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 22

Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.

Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)

Traits

Magic Resistance. Karura has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Magic Weapons. Karura’s weapon attacks are magical.

Purifying Presence. Friendly creatures within 20 feet of Karura have advantage on saving throws against poison and disease, and they ignore the poisoned condition.

Slayer of Serpents. Karura has advantage on attack rolls against creatures with the dragon or serpent tag, and its attacks deal an extra 7 (2d6) radiant damage to such creatures.

Actions

Multiattack. Karura makes three attacks: two Talon attacks and one Beak attack.

Talon. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) slashing damage. The target is grappled (escape DC 18) if it is Large or smaller, and Karura can carry it while flying. Karura can grapple up to two creatures at a time.

Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) piercing damage.

Sacred Flame Breath (Recharge 5–6). Karura exhales purifying fire in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 42 (12d6) fire and radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature reduced to 0 hit points by this breath is disintegrated to ash if it is undead or fiendish in nature.

Thunderous Wingbeat (Recharge 5–6). Karura beats its wings, creating a deafening blast of air. Each creature within 15 feet must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or take 18 (4d8) thunder damage, be pushed 20 feet away, and knocked prone. Karura can then fly up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Bonus Actions

Sky-Reaving Dive. If Karura is flying, it can dive up to 60 feet straight toward the ground and make one Talon attack. If the attack hits, it deals an extra 10 (3d6) slashing damage.

Reactions

Guardian Flame. When Karura or a creature it can see within 20 feet is hit by an attack, Karura can wreath itself in blaze; the attacker takes 10 (3d6) fire damage.

Legendary Actions

Karura can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Karura regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Detect. Karura makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.

Talon Attack. Karura makes one Talon attack.

Wing Move (Costs 2 Actions). Karura moves up to 30 feet and can fly without provoking opportunity attacks.

Lore

A fire-breathing spirit with a human body and the head of a bird.

Karura is not regarded as a demon or an ordinary yokai; it is a divine being of deva rank, a member of the celestial legions that guard moral order. These heavenly predators accompany anyone who has sworn to protect the Buddha’s teaching and will savagely wipe out anything that threatens spiritual purity.

Karura most often appears as a giant with a human torso and an eagle’s head; its skin is described as red, its feathers shimmer gold, and its wingspan reaches 30–60 feet (8–20 m), underscoring its mythic scale. In surviving eighth-century scrolls it is shown wingless yet clad in heavy Tang-style armor, emphasizing its role as an earthly temple guardian. One trait, however, never changes—the power to spew sacred flame, Karura-en. This purifying fire symbolically burns away spiritual pollution and unclean forces. A beat of Karura’s wings is accompanied by a thunder-like crash and air currents strong enough to topple trees.

From Yokai Bestiary 5E, Book Two, p. 50 · Fern Flower Press