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

Gremlin
Tiny Fey (Grymkin)
Hit Dice: 1/2 d6 (1 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
AC: 14 (+2 size, +2 Dex),
touch 14, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-12
Attack: Bite –2 melee (1d2–4) or
shortspear +4 ranged (1d3–4)
Full Attack: Bite –2 melee (1d2–4) or shortspear –2 melee
(1d3–4) or shortspear +4 ranged (1d3–4)
Space/Reach: 2 1 ⁄2/0 ft.
Special Attacks: Glitch
Special Qualities: Darkvision 90 ft., device merge, low-light
vision, natural invisibility
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +4, Will +2
Reviled by mechanics, engineers, and priests of
Cyriss, gremlins are the bane of steamwork, clockwork,
and other complicated metal devices. Not
only are gremlins infamous for making constructs
such as steamjacks malfunction, they are also noted for the
often cruel mischief they visit upon others.
In my efforts to uncover more information about these
roundly despised grymkin, I made provision to accompany
Aliss Holm, one of Corvis’s six expert exgremlinators, on one
of her routine visits to Engines East.
Within the industrious facility, I noted the presence of
a number of domestic felines that I assumed were present
to keep the number of rats down. Aliss informed me that
not only do they keep the rats under control, but they also
serve the same purpose as regards gremlins. Cats hate gremlins
and hunt them in preference to other prey. For their
part, gremlins fear cats and will not attack one unless they
outnumber it at least three to one. Should an establishment’s
cats evince unease or start to disappear, it is usually
a clear indicator that the gremlins
are on the rise.
Aliss presented me with
the corpse of a recently
killed gremlin for study. For
the subject of such loathing,
the gremlin presented a surprisingly
comical appearance, with a
disproportionately large round
head balanced precariously atop a
86
Abilities: Str 2, Dex 15, Con 10,
Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 8
Skills: Balance +5, Climb +7*, Craft (junk
metal) +4, Disable Device +10, Hide +13,
Jump +1, Listen +7, Move Silently +5,
Open Lock +5, Spot +5
Feats: Ability Focus (Device Merge, Glitch) B ,
Alertness
Environment: Urban
Organization: Gang (2–5), pack (6–20), or
horde (21–50)
Challenge Rating:
Alignment: Always chaotic neutral
Advancement: 1–2 HD (Tiny)
Level Adjustment: —
1 ⁄4
scrawny neck, a rotund potbelly, and short spindly limbs ending
in oversized hands and feet. Its hairless pale gray skin was
slightly metallic, its head dominated by a large needle-toothed
mouth, two tiny silver eyes, a pair of extremely long pointed
ears, and a complete lack of apparent nose.
Far from being defenseless, gremlins scavenge and utilize
discarded scraps of metal to create various gadgets. They favor
miniature spears for use as weapons, basic levers, and even
crude lockpicks, bind springs to their feet to aid in jumping,
and create grappling hooks, caltrops, and other sundry devices
out of old wire, nails, and cogs.
Gremlins reproduce in bizarre manner, by physically
merging with an appropriate and fully operational device,
oftentimes ruining it in the process. At the end of a week
thus merged, a new gremlin is born, and both parent and
duplicate emerge from the device. Particularly large devices,
such as those used in factories, may be plagued by a number
of merged gremlins, leading to continual malfunction
and eventual collapse. It is of no comfort to the engineers
of the kingdoms that gremlins
do not merge with inert
or broken down machinery,
and the engineers’ irritation
is further aggravated by the
fact that merged gremlins are
best removed by a skilled (and expensive)
exgremlinator utilizing the appropriate
paraphernalia.
Jason Andresen (order #1578489) 9