Bat-Dings

        Bat-Dings are called such for two reasons: One they have similar features as bats and they are often thought of as being insane. Bat-Dings live underground and go out of their way to avoid contact with other creatures, they are very isolationist. Most Bat-Dings have managed to learn to say "leave me alone" or "Please go away" in several different tongues. If someone or something chooses to enter their lair (as they will never be invited) the Bat-Dings will erect a brilliant defense. They will have traps, dead-end ambushes, fire, cave-ins etc. As a single opponent, a Bat-Ding is fairly weak but as a group defending their home they are a force to be reckoned with. Generally they keep to themselves and to not interfere in the affairs of others, good neighbors if you will. Every so many years, the Bat-Ding population gets to very high levels. At this point something in the Bat-Dings make-up drives them to the surface. All the Bat-Dings from miles around will gather in one spot. Once they have amassed all their numbers, including the women and children they work themselves into a murderous frenzy in a day long chant. At the completion of this chant, the Bat-Dings will pour forth over the countryside destroying all life. They will hack down trees, step on ants and snails while under their frenzy. The Frenzied Bat-Ding is totally fearless, they attack everything with the same suicidal zeal. This frenzy is what makes Bat-Dings so dangerous, they have been know to roll over towns, razing them to the ground-killing everything from the town guard to the chickens.  Due to the Bat-Dings Isolationist nature, the overpopulation seldom gets detected in time to erect any sort of defense or preparations. After a week of rampaging, the Bat-Dings will quietly return to their home as if nothing had happened. In their wake is a blighted landscape.

  Battle Tactics:

      If a Bat-Ding hovel is invaded, the Bat-Dings will have a staunch defense system developed to discourage invaders. Openings will be booby-trapped with pits, snares, cave-ins etc. The Bat-Dings will attempt to seal off the passage and take the invaders with it. If the invaders persist, the Bat-Dings will make battle lines and do hit and run raids. Bat-Dings will usually employ fire to break up enemy formations. Bat-Dings are expert tuneless, they can easily collapse a tunnel floor out from under a group of invaders, then swarm them with their picks and hammers as they try to free themselves from the collapsed passage.

                When Bat-Dings are frenzied, they attack with reckless abandon, slashing and crushing everything in their path. When Frenzied, the Bat-Dings are not swayed by loss of numbers or displays of power. The only way to stop a frenzied Bat-Ding advance is to kill them all.

  Habitat:

      Bat-Dings live in tunnel mazes of their own construction. Being that they live underground, they are able to make their home almost anywhere. They harvest fungus, and eat the many subterranean creatures available to them. Occasionally a small group of Bat-Dings will venture to the surface to hunt. A Bat-Ding lair will be extensive and have several passages to the top, to water, and food sources. Bat-Dings will usually keep only the items that they need, tools etc. They have no use for money-they barter with other Bat-Dings for the things they need. Bat-Ding tools are fine quality and usually intricately carved, they can fetch a high price if one knows where to look.

Ecology:

      Bat-Dings live in extended families or cells. Each cell has several generations of Bat-Dings in it. Most Bat-Dings live for about 80 years unless they die in combat. The Males and females share the work and parenting equally. The Females fight as do the Males and the young fight at half strength. Children grow to adult age in 10-12 years. Normally each female gives birth once a year as they are fertile until the day they die; each will give birth to 20-50 eggs. About half of the Bat-Ding eggs will hatch and about half of these will make it to maturity. Parents and children are always able to identify each other by a unique sent that they share.

  Description:

      Bat-Dings are smallish humanoids around three feet tall and resembling reptilian bats. Bat-Dings have fur that covers their shoulders , lower legs, forearms and groin area. Bat-Dings are a dark green in color as they have a scaly hide, their fun ranges from green to brown in color.  Their heads are wedge shaped and they have large cat-like eyes and ears. Bat-Dings use no armor and fight with their picks and hammers, sometimes wielding both in combat.

  Noteworthy:

      Some groups of surface dwellers consider Bat-Dings to be dangerous pests and organize groups to hunt them out of their homes. Many consider this "preventive" practice to be genocide but it's dangerous work and can pay very well.

 Home Monsters Races Classes Articles