The tree had a wee village nestled in its boughs, I swear. Next thing I knew, I was lyin’ face-down in the dirt. My head was full of stars, an’ when I stood up an’ looked around, both the tree an’ the wee village were gone.
Tale of a half-orc ranger
Here we are, ladies and germs. Entry #200. We’re in the home stretch now.
Lore: Tiny Warriors
Unlike other fey, sprites are not particularly warm or kind. They’re hardy warriors, at least by the standards of their people. When one comes close to their homes, they’ll judge their character, using magic to sense their emotions and intentions; those deemed unworthy will be knocked out or frightened away.
Residing within the most luminous spaces of the woods, sprite villages are lively with activity. They constantly brew special toxins to defend themselves using flowers and mushrooms, sometimes even stealing from a hag’s garden.
Sprites are very serious in their battle against evil. They do not party like other fey. However, a more stalwart ally you could not have. Whether you’re another fey who respects the sprites, or an adventurer facing off against evil, they make for loyal friends.
There are some decently fun stories you could tell with this. Maybe the players ally with a village of sprites while hunting down a greater villain, like a hag. Or maybe the sprites guard the way through the forest and the players need to prove themselves to pass. You can’t write a whole campaign with it, but it can make for a fun session!
Design: Little Hero
Tinker Bell ain’t messin’ around anymore.
This design is a fun take on the usual pixie look. Normally, they’re dressed in fair clothes of leaves and flower petals, stuff like that. Not these guys. They’ve got little armor, weapons, even war paint! It keeps the fundamental assets of the design and puts a twist on it. It’s nice!
Can it compare to some of the more creative or disturbing designs in the Monster Manual? No, not really. But at least they did something interesting with it.
Stats: Mighty Not
A sprite is not a dangerous enemy by any means. Its AC isn’t bad, but that doesn’t mean much when its HP is literally 2(1d4). Its longsword only does 1 damage; not 1d4, just 1. Same with its shortbow, though at least that one can knock its victim unconscious.
Its main two abilities are meant to help it avoid combat. Heart Sight allows it to read someone’s emotional state and alignment, and Invisibility does… go ahead and take a guess.
If you’re looking for a cool enemy for the players to fight, this one ain’t it. But if you’re looking for a fun little ally to put at their side, this could be a fun addition! A tiny little army of tiny little dudes, weak enough not to throw off the balance of a fight while adding a new layer of complexity to a fight. That’s just fine, if it isn’t amazing.
Placement
If I’m being honest, I’m not really sure how to handle this one. None of the aspects are bad by any means. But they don’t really fit into what we usually look for in this series.
Do I put it higher on the list because it’s unique? Or lower because it doesn’t follow the rules? I’m conflicted.
So, after much deliberation, I’ll be putting the Sprite at #100 and split the difference.
Happy #200, everybody!
- Beholder
- Death Tyrant
- Mind Flayer
- Dragon Turtle
- Mummy/Mummy Lord
- Nagas (all three of ’em)
- Green Dragons
- Red Dragons
- Blue Dragons
- Black Dragons
- White Dragons
- Silver Dragons
- Couatl
- Behir
- Aboleth
- Sea Hag
- Slaadi (all six of ’em)
- Lamia
- Bronze Dragons
- Brass Dragons
- Copper Dragons
- Gold Dragons
- Chuul
- Kuo-Toa
- Gibbering Mouther
- Kraken
- Intellect Devourer
- Shadow
- Chimera
- Sphinxes
- Death Knight
- Fomorian
- Bone Devil
- Dracolich
- Faerie Dragon
- Gelatinous Cube
- Lich
- Peryton
- Remorhaz
- Orcs (all four of ’em)
- Magmin
- Shield Guardian
- Kobold
- Kenku
- Hobgoblins
- Night Hag
- Green Hag
- Black Pudding
- Ankheg
- Hook Horror
- Oni
- Purple Worm
- Storm Giant
- Hill Giant
- Empyrean
- Efreeti
- Grimlock
- Minotaur
- Dao
- Cloud Giant
- Manticore
- Scarecrow
- Drow (all four of ’em)
- Shadow Demon
- Modrons (all five of ’em)
- Marilith
- Drider
- Aarackockra
- Azer
- Demilich
- Spectator
- Gray Ooze
- Ochre Jelly
- Hydra
- Rakshasa
- Marid
- Salamander
- Harpy
- Werejackal
- Otyugh
- Satyr
- Half-Dragon
- Cambion
- Fire Giant
- Nothic
- Pixie
- Animated Armor
- Roper
- Banshee
- Basilisk
- Yochlol
- Bulette
- Cloaker
- Darkmantle
- Doppelganger
- Revenant
- Ghoul and Ghast
- Sahuagin (all three)
- Ettin
- Sprite <————–
- Medusa
- Pit Fiend
- Erinyes
- Chain Devil
- Bearded Devil
- Barbed Devil
- Spined Devil
- Ice Devil
- Mimic
- Djinni
- Merrow
- Nalfeshnee
- Glabrezu
- Chasme
- Grell
- Barlgura
- Horned Devil
- Balor
- Skeletons
- Shadow Dragon
- Myconids (all four of ’em)
- Piercer
- Werebear
- Lizardfolk
- Vrock
- Dretch
- Pseudodragon
- Gnolls (all three)
- Goristro
- Hezrou
- Manes
- Quaggoth
- Frost Giant
- Weretiger
- Werewolf
- Duergar
- Quasit
- Dryad
- Shambling Mound
- Flumph
- Goblin
- Nightmare
- Rust Monster
- Wereboar
- Wererat
- Githyanki
- Owlbear
- Planetar
- Imp
- Ogres/Half-ogres
- Roc
- Clay Golem
- Flameskull
- Displacer Beast
- Carrion Crawler
- Githzerai
- Grick
- Invisible Stalker
- Rug of Smothering
- Bugbear Chief
- Bugbear
- Flesh Golem
- Vine Blight
- Twig Blight
- Needle Blight
- Mephits (all six of ’em)
- Bullywug
- Hellhound
- Ettercap
- Gas Spore
- Cockatrice
- Lemure
- Homonculus
- Merfolk
- Solar
- Deva
- Gorgon
- Hippogriff
- Griffon
- Cyclops
- Centaur
- Ghost
- Pegasus
- Fire Elemental
- Water Elemental
- Air Elemental
- Stone Giant
- Deep Gnome
- Dinosaurs (All six of them)
- Specter
- Iron Golem
- Stone Golem
- Earth Elemental
- Galeb Duhr
- Helmed Horror
- Flying Sword
- Crawling Claw
- Violet Fungus
- Shrieker
- Gargoyle
Jonah's Daily Rants 