Tirawen

A nightmare of stitched-together parts: the tawny-hided torso and legs of a great lion, a pair of dark leathery wings, a broad maned head with an almost manlike fanged face, and a long tail bristling with iron-hard spikes. Standing six feet at the shoulder with a sprawling wingspan, it ranges over wide territories that always include a settlement, for it craves the flesh of travellers and villagers above all other prey. It mates for life and hunts boldly, opening from range with a hail of tail spikes before closing on claw and tooth. A clumsy but persistent flier, it makes a terrifying wilderness predator and a coveted trophy.

Behavior

Opens combat by loosing volleys of spikes from its tail at crossbow range.
Closes to rend with both forepaws and a powerful bite once spikes run low.
Stays airborne in the open to avoid retaliation, though it cannot bite while flying.
Claims broad hunting grounds overlapping with rivals and other man-eaters.
Hoards victims' valuables in its lair, sometimes to bait fresh prey into searching.

Abilities

Spike Volley. Launches clusters of regrowing iron tail-spikes over long range, a limited number of times before they must regrow.
Raking Claws. Twin forepaw strikes that tear into closing foes.
Crushing Bite. A heavy bite, usable only on the ground.
Labored Flight. Slow, clumsy wing-flight that keeps it out of reach.

Drops & Crafting

Intact winged pelt (rare master-hunter's trophy)
Iron-hard tail spikes (arrowheads and darts)
Long fangs and claws
Heavy sinew for bowstrings
Looted coin and valuables from its hoard