Sprites are shy and elusive creatures who inhabit many wilderness regions. They avoid contact with most other races when possible, taking notice only when they are threatened or disturbed. In such cases, they will fight, generally ambushing their attackers with tiny bows and similar ranged weapons. Most of their weapons make use of a poison which induces sleep. They rarely attack with any intent to injure, usually seeking to render intruders helpless or otherwise hamper their activities.
Sprites can be generally characterized as precocious, silly, mischievous pranksters. They delight in simple games and practical jokes, and often seem to make it a contest to see how much trouble they can cause to outsiders without being caught. Thus, as Kullervo the Wanderer says in The Travels, many expeditions plagued by ill fortune can attribute their difficulties to sprites:
"It was not until we set the trap on the third night that we discovered what was behind our problem. Once again, in the dead of night, our bowstrings were stolen and the horses set free to graze as they would...but that was the last time. Our trap snared a tiny creature of wondrous beauty, a scant five inches tall, golden-haired and laughing. This tiny sprite had been the cause of all our problems, as she readily boasted. It was a game, she said, to see how skillful and clever she could be. She was most upset at having been caught and, to regain her freedom, she showed us a woodland trail which cut many miles off our journey."
Sprites, by and large, are childlike and innocent, with woefully short attention spans and little constancy of purpose. Anything that may capture their fancy can distract them, which makes them difficult to deal with. They possess a formidable arsenal of simple magic tricks and spells, but hardly ever employ these for anything other than their own amusement.
Sprites live in small bands or groups, being a gregarious race. They are only rarely encountered except when they want to be found, and men still know little of their ways or their full abilities. The occasional wanderer who has the good fortune to meet a band of sprites and win their confidence will enjoy the help and protection of the band for a long time thereafter, until the sprites become bored with the game. Due to their fondness for jokes and their tendency to become distracted, even the gratitude of the sprites is not without certain drawbacks.
Height/Length: 6 inches
Weight: 1/2 lb.
Attributes: STR: 2, INT: 12-16, SPD: 19, DEX: 19, CON: 2, WILL: 5, CHA: 16, PER: 20
Level: 1
Alignment: Neutral or Chaotic Good
Damage: 1-2 with diminutive weaponry plus poison (see Comments)
Special Attributes:
- Fight 95% undetectable in wooded areas
- Spell casting (see Comments)
- Elusiveness (-2 penalty on all opponents' attack die rolls)
- Detect magic by sight
Armor: Unarmored
Hit Points: 1-4
Comments:
Sprites often use tiny shortbows, the arrows of which may be coated with one of two types of magical "venoms." The first, and most commonly used type, causes sleep (duration: 5-20 minutes); the second type is similar in effect to a Love Philtre. Most Sprites are capable of casting certain spells of Enchantment, but rarely exceed the third level of ability in this field.
