Jason Andresen (order #1578489) - Jump page for Jubei

Skigg
Tiny Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 1d10+2 (7 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 13 (+2 size, +1 Dex),
touch 13, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/–10
Attack: Claw +4 melee (1d2–3)
Full Attack: Claw +4 melee (1d2–3) and
bite –1 melee (1d3–3)
Space/Reach: 2 1⁄2 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Explosion
Of the notorious skigg I tell a cautionary tale: it is a
story of two proud wizards of ancient Caspia who
met untimely ends. Gunmen and alchemists are
advised to remember this anecdote.
Skiggs are pleasant, furry little creatures that migrated to
the Kingdoms as stowaways on Orgoth ships centuries ago.
Treasured as pets, skiggs once lived in great abundance in
the Kingdoms, balls of mottled fluff the size of a small
dog with stumpy legs and somewhat squat little bodies.
Good-tempered and a ferocious enemy of the rat, many
a household kept skiggs as pets. They were prized by the
Royal Cygnaran household as well and kept the
storehouses and armories free of pests.
Prized until, that is, the use of alchemical
blasting powder became widespread.
Two Cygnaran mages, known only as
Morgan and Bosc, were charged with
finding a safe method of storage
for the Caspian militia’s
stash of the volatile stuff. A
clean dry warehouse seemed to
fit the bill, and barrels of powder
were laid in, rack after rack, red and
black, floor to ceiling.
Of course, skiggs were
introduced to keep the
storehouse rat-free.
Well, imagine Morgan
and Bosc’s surprise when they
entered the cavernous room the next
morning to find a dozen bloated skiggs lying in a groaning
stupor beside two gnawed-open kegs! Furious (and not a little
chagrined at having so much of the precious powder ruined),
156
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft.
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +3, Will –3
Abilities: Str 4, Dex 13, Con 14,
Int 5, Wis 5, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +10, Move Silently +4, Swim +1
Feats: Ability Focus (explosive) B , Weapon Finesse
Environment: Warm and temperate marsh
Organization: Solitary or troop (3–8)
Challenge Rating: 1
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 2–4 HD (Tiny)
Level Adjustment: —
the two wizards elected to dissect the offending creatures on
the spot to retrieve the lost material.
But when the hot-tempered Bosc approached them, the
skiggs growled menacingly—it seemed that to a skigg, powder
is as powerfully addictive as rageseed! But
growl or no, the angry mage landed a savage
kick on the first in his path.
And the beast exploded.
Well, Morgan found the scorched
Bosc far too amusing, collapsing in
gales of laughter. Alas, in his rage, Bosc
laid hold of an engorged skigg, hurling it
at Morgan with all his might. It missed
her by a wide margin. Had it only
missed the rack of kegs above her
head, the tale would be less tragic.
It is said that the entire city of
Caspia was deaf for a week and
a day, and sailors in the Gulf of
Cygnar reported a rain of brick and
mortar hitting the decks of their
ships out at sea.
Needless to say, this is why
we give an angry man “a
skigg’s berth” to this day.
Combat
Skiggs avoid combat
unless cornered or provoked, however they are far more
temperamental after having eaten blasting powder. They attack
with their claws, though their tendency to explode when
engorged can be far more deadly.
Jason Andresen (order #1578489) 9