Defenders of the Forest - Liber Fanatica

(see Wood Elf Magic pg. 30).
• Telepathy: see ToC pg. 51 for details.
• Telekinesis: see ToC pg. 51 for details.
Armour: None
Armour Points: Head 3, Arms 1, Body 4, Legs 2
Weapons: Great Weapon (see Cylindrical Power).
Wa r d e n s o f t h e Fo r e s t
Zoats are solitary creatures, found normally within the deeper
parts of ancient forests. The true motives of this ancient race
are incomprehensible to others, including the Elves. It is,
however, believed that they have an affinity with the natural
environment and an innate hatred for Chaos. Many Wood
Elves may not realise it, but Zoats have influenced their cultural
development by whispering words of advice into Spellsingers’
minds, acting as sages of the forest. Although it would appear as
though Zoats wander the world at random, these solitary travellers
are in fact drawn to the presence of Warpstone and know
secret rituals of purification that can nullify its mutating effects.
Some Zoats act as guardians of sacred sites, such as the Golden
Chapter X: Friends of
the Forest
Pool in Athel Loren, ensuring that the magic of these glades is
not used for ill purposes. Wood Elf legends portray Zoats as
protectors, but in truth the Zoats are biding their time, awaiting
the passing of the warm-flesh for a new age to begin; the Age of
Zoats.
Ro l e p l a y Gu i d e l i n e s
Zoats do not often reveal themselves, even to the Wood Elves.
Instead they listen and watch from the trees. When a party does
encounter a Zoat, it is because the Zoat has chosen to reveal itself,
though it may feign surprise to make the party believe it has
an advantage. Meetings with Zoats are often disturbing, because
these telepaths rarely bother with verbal communication, preferring
instead to commune directly with a person’s mind. The
time spent observing a party before meeting them gives Zoats a
distinct advantage in discussions or bargains. Zoats have a sense
of people’s natures and can usually tell if they are lying. The
Zoats’ social intuition can be enhanced if it was able to read any
of the party members’ minds beforehand. Most meetings with
Zoats are peaceful and result in benefits to both sides, though
the warnings and advice they offer are often cryptic.
A Zo a t ’s Ta l e
She who shunned the Cadai and Cytherai,
flying mouse, night-listener, sun-hidden
crawling wing, cave-flitter, fruit-licker,
blood-sucker, moth-dancer, moon-crosser
The Bat of Loren was a beast Between.
And never happy. Out of sight, out of mind
She Dreamt and plotted, by everyone forgotten
Upside-down hanger, great was her lust and anger;
“Look at the Eagle’s majestic wings! He dares
To call himself King, the first after the Phoenix;
Th e Ba t a n d t h e Ea g l e
But for a lure, whom did she have but herself?
She flew into the day though she was blinded by it
And searched for the Eagle across the vast sky, and found him not.
At last she flew back to her snare, to check there her luck--
But flying blind, she herself struck the cold, the bitter web she’d
made.
In the heart of the wood she cried for help and twisted
And could not escape, and was never found.
And defeated she trashed and fought under the sun
Wishing only to fly beneath the moon once again
Pleading at least for darkness, the Eagle wings forgotten.
Yet with wings like those, no one would think me a mouse!”
The bat thought of how to catch an Eagle
Help came none, and none remembered that the little bat
In a cold snare, and how the beating of those two new wings Had long been missing, no one noticed her before
Would make the beating of the Bat’s own heart into a thing of joy. And no one noticed now not noticing.
Bitter and cold, the trap the Bat had set.
And so the bat cursed the Forest, and cursed the trees of it,
And twisted it into a whorl of rage and darkness, the Wild Wood.
And so until today the Wild Wood broods and plots and traps,
Beating with silence like the Bat’s jealous heart.
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