Difference between revisions of "Mite"

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| noapp = 6-24
 
| noapp = 6-24
 
| behaviour = resentful
 
| behaviour = resentful
| range = [[Subterranean (range)|subterranean]], [[Urban|urban]]
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| range = [[Subterranean (range)|subterranean]], [[Urban (range)|urban]]
 
| size = 2 ft. tall
 
| size = 2 ft. tall
 
| weight = 10 lbs.
 
| weight = 10 lbs.
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| THAC0 = 20
 
| THAC0 = 20
 
| hpdie = d2
 
| hpdie = d2
| attack = '''1''': [[Fangs (attack)|fangs]] or by weapon type
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| attack = '''1''': [[Fangs (attack)|fangs]] or with dagger
| dmg = 1–3 or dagger
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| dmg = fangs (1–3) or dagger (1-4)
| special = [[Curse|bite]], [[Experience Level|experience levels]],<br>[[Thief Sage Abilities|skulduggery]], [[Stealth (sage ability)|stealth]]
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| special = [[Curse|curse]], [[Experience Level|experience levels]],<br>[[Thief Sage Abilities|skulduggery]], [[Stealth (sage ability)|stealth]]
 
}}
 
}}
  
'''Mites''' are not a race unto themselves, but are a grotesque, spiritually poisoned [[Sprite|sprites]] consumed with baleful vice and malevolent compulsions. These creatures hate the light and seek to dwell in dark, underground sewers and dungeons, where they can be near those they wish to hurt. They hate other sprites as well as themselves. Their minds have been twisted with malignance and a desire to perpetrate cruelty, while having little love for existence; a sprite would rather die causing pain to another than to preserve its own life ... though it does desire to cause the most pain possible before shuffling off its coil.
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'''Mites''' are not a distinct race, but rather grotesque, spiritually corrupted beings driven by malevolent impulses and baleful desires. These creatures hate the light and prefer to inhabit dark, [[Subterranean (range)|subterranean]] tunnels and [[Dungeon|dungeons]], sewers and even [[Shipboard (range)|shipboard]], where they can be close to those they intend to harm. They harbor animosity not only towards other sprites but also towards themselves.  
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[[File:Mite.jpg|left|350px|thumb]]
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__TOC__
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Their minds have been warped by malevolence, so that they possess a strong urge to inflict cruelty, with little regard for their own existence. A mite would rather perish while causing suffering to others than prioritize self-preservation, all the while aiming to maximize the pain it inflicts before meeting its end.
  
[[File:Mite_image.jpg|280px|left]]
 
 
== Origin ==
 
== Origin ==
It is legend that sprites seek to rid the world of evil persons, which relies upon their ability to distinguish evil from goodOn occasion, a small group of sprites will error in this racial quest — and though they will seek to make amends, the knowledge of their error will prey upon their conscience.  Further chance errors will set these sprites upon the road to corruption.  As they begin to hate themselves, they brood, transforming themselves as a group, day by day, into mites.  These new mites will separate from their own kind and form a "nest" ... where their malevolence will grow.  In a year or two, they will begin to see the evil in every creature, just as they see it in their own hearts, and begin to hate every thinking creature, everywhere.
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It's a legendary belief that [[Sprite|sprites]] are dedicated to purging the world of evil individuals, relying on their ability to discern good from evil.  However, occasionally, a small group of sprites error in this.  Seeking to make amends, the knowledge of their error preys upon their conscience.  They begin to hate themselves, they brood, transforming themselves as a group, day by day, into mites.
  
Sprites know of this danger, and see to protect themselves from it; more than anyone, they will seek to find mite lairs and bring peace to their lost brethren — though this can be managed only by death.  There have been many small wars fought in tiny underground realms between mites and sprites, and the latter do not always triumph.
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These newly transformed mites distance themselves from their own kind and establish a "nest," where their malevolence festers. Within a year or two, they begin to perceive evil in every creature, much as they recognize it within themselves, leading them to harbour hatred toward all sentient beings.
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Sprites are acutely aware of this peril and take measures to safeguard themselves against it. Above all, they are committed to locating mite lairs and attempting to restore peace to their fallen brethren, although this can only be achieved by death.  Many small wars have been waged in the underground realms between mites and sprites, with victory not always assured for the latter.
  
 
== Behaviour ==
 
== Behaviour ==
Wherever they dwell, mites will seek to create complex tunnel systems too small for most humanoids to enter, with access to victims and stores they can either plunder or destroy.  These passages may be no more than 4 inches in diameter.  Mites are particularly fond of targeting a single row of houses or [[Court (space)|court]], or an underground culture, waiting for their chance to kill off unsuspecting dwellers one by one.  They are usually careful enough to go undetected for months, even a year or two, but eventually they will be rooted out by those who begin to recognize the signs.  Whenever a lair is exterminated, a few mites will sometimes escape.  If they become alone and isolated, however, their hatred becomes so consuming they'll usually expose themselves in a few days, usually by attacking a target in the open.
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Mites possess a relentless drive to construct intricate tunnel networks that are too cramped for most human beings to enter. These tunnels serve as avenues for them to access their victims and the resources, which they can either pilfer or destroy.  These passageways rarely exceed a diameter of eight inches in width.  Mites build these through single row houses, courts or in subterranean warrens, patiently biding their time to kill off unsuspecting dwellers one by one.
  
If mites can cause long-term suffering, they willA chance to imprison a victim with a trap will enable them to torment the victim for days or weeks before death occursIf given the opportunity, they will steal needful items, notes or medicines, deliberately destroying these things to wreak unhappiness or desperation.
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These creatures also embrace the opportunity to cause prolonged suffering.  If they can, after ensnaring a living being in a trap, they'll torment the victim for days or even weeks before ending it with a nasty death.  Given the chance, mites like to steal essential items like antidotes, medications, artificial limbs or notes that are left by one tenant to another, deliberately destroying these possessions to sow misery.
  
Mites are cannibalistic by preference; if possible, they will sup upon the corpes of sprites, pixies and brownies in particular, but will eat any humanoid, including themselves, if given the opportunity.
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Mites have a preference for cannibalism, particularly relishing the flesh of sprites, pixies and [[Brownie|brownies]] — but they're not selective, consuming any humanoid they can, including their own kind, if the opportunity arises.
  
 
== Advantages ==
 
== Advantages ==
Of the mites encounted, 1 in 4 will have experience levels as a thief, up to a maximum of 5th level.  This includes all the benefits thereto. Additionally, the mite will specialize in the sage field, '''Skulduggery''', preferring to specialize in either [[Backstabbing (sage study)|backstabbing]] or [[Setting Traps (sage study)|setting traps]].  Those with a 16 dexterity or more will sometimes employ two weapons while fighting.
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Mites possess a natural venom and a collection of personal skills which make them dangerously [[Intelligence (ability stat)|intelligent]] in their cruelties.
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'''Curse.''' If the creature [[Roll to Hit|scores a hit]] with its fangs, victims must make a [[Saving Throws|saving throw against poison]]; if this roll fails, the character's mind has become infected.  Until the curse is discovered and removed, the DM should roll a die to randomly determine at which hour of the day the character feels an overwhelming compulsion to commit an atrocious act — murder, arson and the likeAt that moment, the character makes a [[Ability Checks|wisdom check]] with a -4 penalty.  If this fails, then the character's mind goes blank until the crime is committed ... whereupon the victim awakes, confused, some five or ten minutes after the deed is done.
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: The character has no memory of doing anything — yet there might be evidence of some kind, such as the presence of blood on the character's clothes or hands, or of a nearby panic.  In nearly every case, the curse works its will in some manner that the character is very unlikely to have been witnessed committing the actual crime; and probably the character won't experience a desire to come forward.  Note that whether the wisdom check is made or not, the character experiences no moment of conscious wanting to do anything.
  
All mites have a +4 adjustment to their '''stealth'''.
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'''Experience Levels.'''  As mites used to be sprites, they typically possess between 1 and 4 [[Experience Level|experience levels]] as [[Thief (class)|thieves]].  Thankfully, they've '''lost their ability''' to become [[Invisibility (spell)|invisible]] at will.  Still, for each experience level they possess, they'll have 1d6 additional [[Hit Points|hit points]] and 1d12 points of [[Knowledge Points|knowledge]] in their chosen [[Sage Study|sage study]].
  
=== The Mite's Curse ===
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'''Skullduggery.''' Mites have one study within this [[Sage Field|sage field]] — either [[Backstabbing (sage study)|backstabbing]] or [[Setting Traps (sage study)|setting traps]].  Their base knowledge equals 10, even if they have no experience levelsThey'll possess all the amateur-status [[Sage Ability|sage abilities]] in these studies, and if they have 30 points of knowledge or more, the authority-status as well.
The '''bite''' of a mite is toxic with malevolence, having the possibility of imparting the mite's malefic nature unto any creature that's bittenIf bitton, the victim must make save or be cursed; thereafter, on a random hour of any given day, the victim must make a [[Ability Checks|wisdom check]] (with a -4 modifier) or else commit a heinous act.  If this fails, the character feels compelled to perform some horrific act.
 
  
In order to relate this act to the present circumstances, a cursed player should be encouraged to be creative in a manner of committing [[Arson Method (sage ability)|arson]], [[Assassination (sage ability)|murder]] or some other like crime with the expectation of "getting away with it."  The DM should consider the proposed crime and either approve of it or ask for something more heinous or more practical; if the player cannot or will not think of something suitable, the DM should rule that the character attempts to self-harm.  In this case, an intelligence check is made.  If this succeeds, the character rolls 1d4, this being the number of [[Injury|injury]] points the character causes to his or her self.  If the check fails, the character rolls 1d4-1 for every point by which success was missed.  For example, if a character has an 11 intelligence, and a 14 was rolled, then the character would roll 1d4 minus 3 total.  Again, this is the amount of injury points the character suffers.  If the character rolls more injury damage than the character has hit points, then the character has successfully committed suicide and is considered dead.
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'''Stealth.'''  Regardless of level, mites gain a +4 adjustment when attempting to approach others, as detailed under the sage ability [[Stealth (sage ability)|stealth]].
  
  
 
See [[Bestiary]]
 
See [[Bestiary]]
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[[Category: Reviewed]]

Latest revision as of 00:17, 22 October 2023

Mite
Species faerie
No. Appearing 6-24
Behaviour resentful
Range subterranean, urban
Size 2 ft. tall
Weight 10 lbs.
Intelligence 12 to 14
Armour Class 5
Hit Dice 2
Action Points 5
Max. Stride 8
THAC0 20
Hp/Die d2
Attack Forms 1: fangs or with dagger
Damage fangs (1–3) or dagger (1-4)
Special Attacks curse, experience levels,
skulduggery, stealth

Mites are not a distinct race, but rather grotesque, spiritually corrupted beings driven by malevolent impulses and baleful desires. These creatures hate the light and prefer to inhabit dark, subterranean tunnels and dungeons, sewers and even shipboard, where they can be close to those they intend to harm. They harbor animosity not only towards other sprites but also towards themselves.

Mite.jpg

Their minds have been warped by malevolence, so that they possess a strong urge to inflict cruelty, with little regard for their own existence. A mite would rather perish while causing suffering to others than prioritize self-preservation, all the while aiming to maximize the pain it inflicts before meeting its end.

Origin

It's a legendary belief that sprites are dedicated to purging the world of evil individuals, relying on their ability to discern good from evil. However, occasionally, a small group of sprites error in this. Seeking to make amends, the knowledge of their error preys upon their conscience. They begin to hate themselves, they brood, transforming themselves as a group, day by day, into mites.

These newly transformed mites distance themselves from their own kind and establish a "nest," where their malevolence festers. Within a year or two, they begin to perceive evil in every creature, much as they recognize it within themselves, leading them to harbour hatred toward all sentient beings.

Sprites are acutely aware of this peril and take measures to safeguard themselves against it. Above all, they are committed to locating mite lairs and attempting to restore peace to their fallen brethren, although this can only be achieved by death. Many small wars have been waged in the underground realms between mites and sprites, with victory not always assured for the latter.

Behaviour

Mites possess a relentless drive to construct intricate tunnel networks that are too cramped for most human beings to enter. These tunnels serve as avenues for them to access their victims and the resources, which they can either pilfer or destroy. These passageways rarely exceed a diameter of eight inches in width. Mites build these through single row houses, courts or in subterranean warrens, patiently biding their time to kill off unsuspecting dwellers one by one.

These creatures also embrace the opportunity to cause prolonged suffering. If they can, after ensnaring a living being in a trap, they'll torment the victim for days or even weeks before ending it with a nasty death. Given the chance, mites like to steal essential items like antidotes, medications, artificial limbs or notes that are left by one tenant to another, deliberately destroying these possessions to sow misery.

Mites have a preference for cannibalism, particularly relishing the flesh of sprites, pixies and brownies — but they're not selective, consuming any humanoid they can, including their own kind, if the opportunity arises.

Advantages

Mites possess a natural venom and a collection of personal skills which make them dangerously intelligent in their cruelties.

Curse. If the creature scores a hit with its fangs, victims must make a saving throw against poison; if this roll fails, the character's mind has become infected. Until the curse is discovered and removed, the DM should roll a die to randomly determine at which hour of the day the character feels an overwhelming compulsion to commit an atrocious act — murder, arson and the like. At that moment, the character makes a wisdom check with a -4 penalty. If this fails, then the character's mind goes blank until the crime is committed ... whereupon the victim awakes, confused, some five or ten minutes after the deed is done.

The character has no memory of doing anything — yet there might be evidence of some kind, such as the presence of blood on the character's clothes or hands, or of a nearby panic. In nearly every case, the curse works its will in some manner that the character is very unlikely to have been witnessed committing the actual crime; and probably the character won't experience a desire to come forward. Note that whether the wisdom check is made or not, the character experiences no moment of conscious wanting to do anything.

Experience Levels. As mites used to be sprites, they typically possess between 1 and 4 experience levels as thieves. Thankfully, they've lost their ability to become invisible at will. Still, for each experience level they possess, they'll have 1d6 additional hit points and 1d12 points of knowledge in their chosen sage study.

Skullduggery. Mites have one study within this sage field — either backstabbing or setting traps. Their base knowledge equals 10, even if they have no experience levels. They'll possess all the amateur-status sage abilities in these studies, and if they have 30 points of knowledge or more, the authority-status as well.

Stealth. Regardless of level, mites gain a +4 adjustment when attempting to approach others, as detailed under the sage ability stealth.


See Bestiary