Asperii

Commonly known as wind steeds, asperii are highly prized as mounts, and can be very loyal to the rider. They are white, gray, or dun in color, and have flowing manes that are usually silver, white, or light gray.

Asperii communicate with each other by means of a limited form of telepathy, which has a range of 60 yards. With this power, they can also speak with other intelligent beings.

Asperii have keen eyes that give them the ability of true seeing, including sight into the Ethereal and Astral Planes. This often allows them to warn their riders of approaching creatures that might otherwise be undetected.

Although they are gentle beings, asperii are quite able to defend themselves if forced into combat. They are utterly immune to any form of cold-based attack. Similarly, they are unharmed by winds of any type, and are immune to all gaze attacks.

The wingless asperii are capable of flight due to their natural powers of levitation. They are able to ride winds of any nature, magical or otherwise. They have the inherent ability to cast a feather fall spell on themselves or any creature they touch.

Asperii sometimes live in herds of as many as twenty, but are most often encountered in groups of four or less. As a rule, they live in the uppermost regions of virtually inaccessible mountain peaks. Asperii are mortal enemies of hippogriffs and griffons, tending to attack these creatures on sight. They have also been known to do battle with rocs, though asperii normally ignore these creatures if possible. They get on quite well with pegasi, and the two species are often found in each other's company.

If taken when young, an asperii can be trained to accept a single master. If this is properly done, the creature becomes utterly loyal to that individual, and will not bear another on its back unless so instructed by its master. A loyal asperii (that is, one that has accepted the rider as a master) can fly so smoothly as to allow spellcasting from its back. Young asperii, commonly known as "doffs," can be sold to those who wish to train them.

The noble asperii are a very rare off-shoot of this species. Many describe the hide of a noble asperii as looking like an iridescent, polished abalone shell. Their telepathy is more powerful than that of their more common counterparts, having a 90-foot range and being forceful enough to permit the noble to implant a suggestion in weaker creatures.

Note: Asperii originally appeared in this form in the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume 4 for the AD&D game from TSR. Their use here is for the purposes of providing context for the campaign only.