This snarling blue-white monkey flies through the air on a pair of birdlike wings.
Xiao CR 2
XP 600
CN Tiny magical beast
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +4
Defense
AC 15, touch 15, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +2 size)
hp 22 (3d10+6)
Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +1
Offense
Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft. (good)
Melee bite +8 (1d4-3), 2 slams +8 (1d3-3)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 3rd; concentration +3)
3/day—burning hands (DC 12), spark
Statistics
Str 4, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 13
Base Atk +3; CMB +4; CMD 11
Feats Stealthy, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +11, Disable Device +8, Escape Artist +5, Fly +11, Perception +4, Sleight of Hand +8, Stealth +13; Racial Modifiers +8 Acrobatics, +4 Disable Device, +4 Sleight of Hand
Languages Common (can't speak)
Ecology
Environment warm mountains or forests
Organization individuals, troupe (3-12), flock (13-30)
Treasure Incidental (thieves' tools, shiny trinkets, small pieces of jewelry that catch a xiao's eye)
These colorful winged monkeys sport tawny fur coats ranging from blue-white to slate grey or even black, and some individuals have much lighter white or ivory areas around their faces and shoulders. Their wings tend to be brightly feathered. Their faces, feet, and hands are always hairless, and they groom the hair surrounding their faces outward, giving them a tattered, bearded appearance. Xiaos have bodies about 15 inches long with equally long tails and a wingspan of about three feet. A few individuals have two pairs of wings; this trait grants them perfect maneuverability, but they are otherwise statistically identical to their two-winged kin.
Xiaos are omnivores, eating fruit, nuts, insects, small mammals, crabs, and fish. Given enough time, rather than devouring their food raw, xiaos create elaborate dishes of their favorite foods and cook these dishes over small fires, which they light with their spark spell-like ability. Xiaos also enjoy trying new and exotic foods prepared by humanoid creatures, especially foods made with flour and sugar. Most xiaos are very adventurous eaters, though they tend not to like the taste of beef and lamb.
Xiaos build nests high up in the canopy of wild places or thick forests, and often cluster their nests together in groups of trees. They welcome small villages of friendly humanoids within their territories, as such creatures are a ready source of useful objects and new forms of interesting food. Xiao troops often raid nearby civilized communities for small amounts of salt and sugar, or prepared foods for single meals, but do not otherwise cause much mischief unless provoked. Larger or hostile communities that persecute or hunt xiaos often suffer from numerous unexpected fires and destructive forms of larceny and sabotage. Xiaos have excellent memories and hold grudges against those who abuse them.
While xiaos have very few natural enemies, they flee from derhii on sight. The enormous winged gorillas are very territorial and consider xiaos to be pests. They do not hesitate to kill, skin, and eat xiaos, and can eliminate a thriving xiao community in a matter of hours.
Xiaos are born from eggs slightly larger than a chicken egg. These eggs are covered with bluish leathery skin, and are usually laid singly or, infrequently, in pairs. A juvenile xiao begins flying within 6 weeks of hatching, and hangs from the fur on its mother's chest until that time. Those born in captivity latch on to suitably friendly and patient humanoids as surrogate mothers during development. While a xiao raised in captivity takes to flying later than those born in the wild, it otherwise develops normally, though it is likely to have less fear of strange humans than its wild kin.
A spellcaster with the Improved Familiar feat and an arcane caster level of 7th or higher can select a xiao as her familiar.
