1.)
The Chicken War Mount
NO. ENCOUNTERED: 4-16 (4d6)
SIZE: Small
HIT DICE: 1d4
MOVE: 10 ft.
ARMOR CLASS: 10 (natural) 14 (armored)
NO. of ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE: 1d4
SPECIAL: Nil
SAVES: Physical
INTELLIGENCE: Low
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
TYPE: Animal
ORGANIZATION: Flock
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Day
EXPERIENCE: 15
Implemented by the Fire Lilly Tribe during the Badger Wars of 1146 (exactly what it sounds like: literally a war with badgers), the Chicken War Mount is a surprisingly formidable creature. It may not appear much to the eyes of us Big Folk, but to the smaller denizens of Gray Realm nothing would have been a greater show of military power: for the woodland raptors and scavengers are considered a bane unto the diminutive peoples, and even though the common chicken may not be able to fly long distances, they still have the clawed feet and cold avian eyes that forest dwellers have rightly come to fear. In the raising and training of Chicken War mounts, their riders would often implement various spells and enchantments (the common chicken being an incredibly stupid creature, and therefore being nearly impossible to train to fetch a stick, let alone skin and flay a badger, otherwise), causing the creatures to become slightly more intelligent than the average stock and to glow with a faint yellow-green aura, and for this reason they have often been called "Fairy Chickens". Though the Fire Lilly Tribe has been lost to history, they say wild flocks still roam free in the forests of Avalon.
Combat
Bred for combat not feasting (although riders were known to occasionally partake of a steed if it was felled in battle or just annoying) the Chicken War Mounts were vicious and fowl (heh) when need be. They attack with claws (1d4) and their beak (1d6).
Habitat/Society
The finest Chicken War Mounts were reserved for Princes and high ranking Soldiers, the finest being those specimens with the highest intelligence, largest beaks, and most striking plumage. Only these would be used to breed more of the formidable poultry, whereas the average stock were often eaten in a solemn gathering in commemoration of their years of service.
2.)
The Rustahri
Combat
Habitat/Society
The Rustahri generally try to keep to themselves outside of their dealings with farmers, and are considered strange folk and outsiders amongst other fey varieties. Tribes pepper the outermost edges of Avalon's forests, each tribe viewing the other as a rival. Rustahri tribes a patriarchal, with the men being ranked in political and social standing based on hood size and plumage. It should be noted that a Rustahri tribe did in fact lend their service to the Fire Lilly Tribe during the Badger Wars, but made war with them soon after upon realizing that some soldiers had eaten their steeds, which the Rustahri found barbaric and appalling.
The finest Chicken War Mounts were reserved for Princes and high ranking Soldiers, the finest being those specimens with the highest intelligence, largest beaks, and most striking plumage. Only these would be used to breed more of the formidable poultry, whereas the average stock were often eaten in a solemn gathering in commemoration of their years of service.
2.)
The Rustahri
NO. ENCOUNTERED: 2-8 (2d4)
SIZE: Small
HIT DICE: 1d6
MOVE: 1o ft.
ARMOR CLASS: 12
NO. of ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE: 1d6 (by weapon)
SPECIAL: Spells
SAVES: Wisdom, Physical
INTELLIGENCE: Average to Exceptional
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
TYPE: Fey
ORGANIZATION: Tribe
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Day
EXPERIENCE: 45
The Rustahri (Poppulus Pollum) are reclusive faeries that reside in the fringes of Avalon, near mortal settlements. The Rustahri rarely interact with plain mortals directly, but often they will enter into a mutually beneficial arrangement with farmers: should a farmer ever awake to find one of his chickens marked in queer symbols, he would do well set aside that chickens eggs, never eating or selling them. For the chicken has been claimed by the Rustahri, and her eggs no longer give birth to mere chicks but more of the strange fey themselves. If the farmer leaves these eggs where the Rustahri can easily collect them, the farmer will be blessed with good luck, and his land shall be ever free of foxes, rats, or other pests. His milking cows will produce sweeter milk than any other, that can be turned to cheese or butter in seconds, and his hogs will grow fat and tender. When the marked chicken lays its final egg, the shell shall be pure gold, and a Rustahri Prince will hatch from it. The farmer will then be released from his contract. However, should a farmer keep the eggs for himself, or kill and eat the chicken before it lays its last egg, the Rustahri will lay a dreaded curse upon him: locusts shall ever besiege his crops, and his cows and hogs will thin and sickly, the former giving only a days worth of milk every year. Farmers with children should be especially cautious, as their child will suffer greatly: as they grow their eyes will begin to bulge, as their nose curves into an ugly hook. Their backs will hunch and their feet will become long and clumsy. Over the years they will grow wispy white hairs all over their body, and eventually the ugly devils will completely transform into a chicken. Because of their appearance, the Rustahri are often called "Fairy Chickens" or "Chicken Fairies" as no one is quite sure if they are chickens who are half fairy, or fairies who are half chicken.
Combat
The Rustahri are considered somewhat barbaric as far as fairies go, and therefore they are more formidable than they may appear. They may attack with their fists (1d6) or their claws (1d6) if caught unaware, but war bands are often armed with tiny bows, daggers, javelins or staves. Arrows may be tipped with lethal or paralyzing poisons, and they may enlist the aid of nearby animals. Furthermore, the Rustahri often make use of Druid Spells such as Entangle, Faerie Fire, or Summon Swarm.
The Rustahri generally try to keep to themselves outside of their dealings with farmers, and are considered strange folk and outsiders amongst other fey varieties. Tribes pepper the outermost edges of Avalon's forests, each tribe viewing the other as a rival. Rustahri tribes a patriarchal, with the men being ranked in political and social standing based on hood size and plumage. It should be noted that a Rustahri tribe did in fact lend their service to the Fire Lilly Tribe during the Badger Wars, but made war with them soon after upon realizing that some soldiers had eaten their steeds, which the Rustahri found barbaric and appalling.
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