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| Illustration by "Dug" |
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Rytas
DESCRIPTION: In the diverse regions of elven controlled lands, there many interesting and fascinating creatures. One of these is the Rytas. These 2'- 3' tall humanoids have the head of a goat with a singular gray to black horn which curves back and large human-like eyes. Their hide varies in color from bright white to dull yellow, and biege to black. Sometimes, the hide color can be an indicator of their alignment leanings, but not always. They have long, thin beards which they curl into odd shapes or angles. This is not a conscious act. They simply play with the hairs while they're musing over philosophy, history, or some other great study they engage in. Rytas are goat-like down to their pelvis where the rest of them is human-like. Most Rytas wear clothing; preferrably richer, finer clothing with gold cuff-links and buttons. They also wear shoes, preferring elven made boot or shoe wear. Rytas always have an amused grin on their face or brows knitted into deep thought. Sometimes both.
Rytas are born storytellers, bards, or sages. They live in small huts which appear randomly in the region. If they feel safe in one location, they'll remain there until they feel threatened. They are found in their huts with the tea on and a book in their hands. Rytas have thorough libraries which extend into an alternate dimension which other Rytas use. Only a Rytas is ever allowed into the libraries. Rytas are always on the look out for new tomes or scrolls. Rytas have excellent memories and can read and memorize a book at one sitting. He'll return the book and then copy the book down into a whole new tome. A Rytas can recreate a 100 page book in one day. Rytas can recopy spellbooks, but they will charge double the value of the original book. In fact, all of the Rytas' services are double those of the normal classes (e.g. sages, bards, scribes). Rytas know several languages, and are always up to date on the latest slang and jargon in such languages. They also love puns, riddles, jokes, and clever or amusing stories. A Rytas could be kept entertained for hours if the storyteller is of high enough charisma.
COMBAT/TACTICS: Rytas will never attack, only to defend their homes and libraries. They'll use spells as that of a 6th level mage to oust their attackers, but if forced to it will use a cudgel or club to defend itself. If spells and weapons fail to work against the Rytas' attackers, it will, as often as it needs to, will the entire house and library to relocate any where within the region it resides. This will leave behind the attackers and any of their belongings in the area where the house once stood. Rytas have the natural spells of Fear, Charm, Sleep, and Feeblemind which they can use twice a day.
HABITAT/SOCIETY: Rytas are an age-old race who have only recently revealed themselves to the world. Long ago the race lived in a grand city in an unnamed elven land, but some great catastrophe forced them to move. Rather than lose their homes and all of the memorablia within, they used magic to teleport their tiny homes safely to other realms. Over time the Rytas spread out and are rarely encountered. Many Rytas learned to connect their homes through the alternate dimensional library, and this is how they visit one another. No female Rytas have been seen (but Rytas have mentioned having children and mates), the females and children live within the library itself, tidying, cataloging and organising the books within. The children of Rytas (called 'ints') have only half the hit dice of the adults, but they are clever and create traps and snares which cleverly protect the library. When the children are of age, they'll simply knock a whole in the wall of the library, construct a door which will open out into an elven land, and from there they build the house around the door.
Library: The library door will be hidden in the house, more difficult to find than a normal secret door (1 in 8 chance). If it is found, only a magic word which the Rytas knows can speak it. If a character manages to discover the word, entering the library is a task, too, as it is protected by various creatures, and some haunted by ghosts or phantoms (which have no effect on the Rytas). Gargoyles, gremlins, and other such creatures also lurk inbetween the dark, musty shelves. Characters may find doors which they believe will lead them out, only arrive at another Rytas' home on a completely different world!
ECOLOGY: Rytas are an excellent discovery in the remote wilds of an elven land. Their extensive knowledge of so many areas of interest are indespensible to the traveller. Of times they'll provide maps (if visitors are friendly and chatty) free of charge to local regions. Rytas are especially kind to elves (except grunge elves or dark elves) and will converse and aid them before they aid other races.
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YIELD:
Medicinal: The horn of a Rytas can be used to cure memory problems of any kind. If Rytas horn powder is used each day for an entire year it will raise intelligence by 1 point (works only for mages). Spell Components: Nil Hide/Trophy Items: Nil Treasure: R, S & T (x2) Other: If characters can enter the library he can find virtually any book which exists. Of course, one section may contain thousands or hundreds of thousands of books on one subject--like Gnomish cooking, or Grel poetry. |
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Mikeeze Wurld is © 2001 by Michael S. Hensley. HackMaster is a trademark of Kenzer and Company. Any use of trademarks is in no way to be considered a challenge to such trademark or copyright by its rightful owner. |