A-to-Z Challenge, O: Orling (New Oe/BX/1E Monster/Race)

My regular readers might recall a post from very early in the year titled "My First Monster: The 'Beguine' (1982)." If you recall the post (or if you just read/re-read it via the link above), the "beguine" was half-elf/half-halfling whose stats were little more than an average of the stats for the "parents" from the 1e MM. I did like the idea of the race, even if I have grown to hate the musically-inspired name. With the goal of updating and adapting the beguine to something more unique, I developed today's A-to-Z monster (race) -- the orling, a race preoccupied with conspicuous consumption. I like that they won't even used ranged weapons because it would be a waste of possessions.

Orling

DESCRIPTION Orlings are small (no taller than 4’), slender humanoids with pointed ears, pale skin, and deep yellow eyes. They are completely hairless, with prominently bald heads (a trait shared by both males and females of the species.) Orlings typically have a lifespan of about 100 years. They tend to build their homes in conspicuously open areas near other orling dwellings, with exterior facades and interior decor surpassing even the ostentation of the orling wardrobe. Most orlings are obsessed with collecting and conspicuously displaying desired objects ranging from useless trinkets to prized magic items. When an orling does posess a magic item, he will rarely, if ever, carry it or even use it. Additionally, they tend toward extremely colorful and ornate clothing, to the point of being gaudy. For every 30 orlings, there will be a leader (AC: 3, HD: 3, saves as 5th level fighter) doing 3-8 points of damage, and 2 assistants (AC: 4, HD: 2, saves as 4th level fighter) doing 2-7 points of damage. If more than 90 are encountered, there will be an additional leader (AC: 2, HD: 4, saves as 6th level fighter) doing 2-12 points of damage. If encountered in their lair, there will be females and young equal to 90% and 30% (respectively) of the male’s stats. Typically, orlings will wear leather or chain armor under a garishly embroidered or decorated tabard, and when they carry shields (approximately 50% of the time) it will be a simply constructed shield painted with over-elaborate ornamentation. Orlings will normally used HTH weapons only. If an orling does use a ranged weapon, it will only ever be a HTH weapon with ranged capabilities, but will never be used as such. (Orlings feel like they would be “throwing it away.”) The weapons normally carried by orlings are: small sword morning star hammer hand axe military pick spear 35% 20% 20% 10% 10% 5% There is a 15% chance that for every orling encountered, he will be carrying 1 magic item (*besides armor, weapons, scrolls or potions), but only a 10% chance that he will use that magic item, even when absolutely necessary. Orlings have a natural resistance to poison and magic that allows them to save at two levels above their normal dice. Additionally, they have a 50% resistance to sleep. While they are naturally very stealthy, their choice in wardrobe cancels out any chance of surprise they might normally have. Orlings have a particular dislike for waterborne travel. Known as being shrewd business men and traders, orlings will rarely deal with other orlings (they don’t trust each other) but they will bargain (i.e, buy but not sell) with any other race willing, and will go so far as deception or fraud should it result in acquiring something they want. In addition to speaking their own language, they also speak common, dwarvish, elvish, gnomish, gnoll, goblin, halflingish, hobgoblin, kobold, ogre, orc, troll, and the languages of all giants (hill, stone, etc.) Due to their language abilities, they will often hire themselves out as translators, assuming the price negotiated is suitable.

Oe/1E STATS FREQUENCY: Uncommon NO. APPEARING: 10-100 ARMOR CLASS: 5 MOVE: 9” HIT DICE: 1 % IN LAIR: 10% TREASURE TYPE: Individuals I; G in lair NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-6 or by weapon SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below MAGIC RESISTANCE: 25% INTELLIGENCE: Very ALIGNMENT: Chaotic (neutral) SIZE: S (3-4’ tall) PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil Attack/Defense Modes: Nil BX STATS ARMOR CLASS: 5 HIT DICE: 1 MOVE: 90’ ATTACKS: 1 weapon DAMAGE: 1-6 or by weapon NO. APPEARING: 10-100 SAVE AS: Fighter: 3 MORALE: 9 TREASURE TYPE: Individuals I; G in lair ALIGNMENT: Chaotic/neutral