Piney Concept Test

rEaturEs of thE Wyld Piney Description: Creation has many strange inhabitants and many unusual creatures, but perhaps none so strange as the pineys. These creatures appear human, of average height and build, but their skin seems a dull greenish-brown and bristly like a boar. Upon closer inspection, one discovers the pineys’ skin is not actually flesh, but long pine needles, just like those of the pine tree (hence the race’s name). This is not a costume — pineys are, in fact, sentient plants and grow pine needles as an outer shell. They can use these needles for protection and even for attack, firing one or more of their needles at aggressors. The truly strange thing about pineys is that the needles make up most of their being — at the center, they are only a head and a narrow little body, perhaps three feet high. The needles are more than mere appendages, for the pineys do not hold their intel- ligence in their brain, but instead, distribute it all across their bodies, and each needle contains a small portion of the being’s consciousness and intellect. Because of this fact, every time a piney shoots a needle, it becomes a little smaller and a little dumber. The needles grow back with time, but slowly. If attacked, a piney could lose as much as a foot of height in a matter of minutes and could go from average human intelligence to the brainpower of a rat. Therefore, pineys are very careful with their needles and don’t use them unless absolutely necessary. Pineys live in small communities deep within the forests, well away from the settlements of man. They live on sunlight and water, the same as most other plants, so there’s no need to hunt or make much shelter. Most pineys spend their time conversing, sleeping, raising families and carving deadwood into various weapons, tools and sculptures. Their society is a peaceful one, and pineys only become violent when they are attacked or when something threatens their community. Few predators bother pineys, for they are made of vegetable matter, not meat. They fear only parasitic infestation and the depredations of large herbivores; even the latter are not much of a problem. A deneedled piney resembles an elongated spider mon- key, having a long narrow body with long spindly arms and legs, but the head is human-like and only a little smaller than normal. Regrowth of all its needles takes four months. It begins as a layer of prickly fuzz over the entire body and head and then grows into individual needles. Pineys do shed their needles to grow new ones, a handful at a time, and so, most of them have patches of dull brown mixed with vivid green and the more normal greenish-brown. The statistics below are for a mature piney at full strength. For every 10 needle attacks, reduce all Attributes by 1 and subtract two health levels. Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 3, Stamina 4, Charisma 3, Manipulation 2, Appearance 2, Perception 3, Intelligence 3, Wits 2 Virtues: Compassion 4, Conviction 2, Temperance 3, Valor 2 Abilities: Archery 2, Awareness 2, Brawl 4, Craft (Carv- ing) 2, Dodge 3, Linguistics (Native: Piney; Forest-tongue, Riverspeak) 2, Melee 3, Socialize 2, Stealth 4, Survival 3, Thrown 3 Base Initiative: 6 Attack: Punch: Speed 4 Accuracy 4 Damage 3B Defense 4 Spear: Speed 7 Accuracy 5 Damage 3L Defense 4 Sword: Speed 4 Accuracy 5 Damage 4L Defense 5 Needle: Speed 6 Accuracy 6 Damage 5L ( Rate 3, Range 15) Bow: Speed 6 Accuracy 5 Damage 5L (Rate 2, Range 150) Dodge Pool: 5/2 Soak: 6L/10B (Nee- dles and bark, 6L/6B) Willpower: 6 Health Levels: -0/-1/-1/-2/ -2/-4/Incap Essence: 2 Other Notes: Most hunters and wilderness travelers have heard of the pineys, and many have met them. The pineys are friendly unless threatened, and while they don’t seek out human company, they won’t run from strangers either. Pineys are happy to give or trade their carvings to anyone who likes them, and the creatures make excellent forest guides and scouts. Rumors claim that the pineys can meld with one another, becoming larger and smarter than any normal person. These rumors are true — bonded pineys (a couple and any children) can combine for up to two hours. During that time, the piney’s size doubles, and the creature’s Strength, Stamina, Perception, Intelligence and Wits are all equal to (the highest such Attribute of any of the joined individuals + 3). Some say all pineys are part of the same primal forest creature, a mammoth and powerful tree-man that can draw itself back together in time of great need, but no one has ever seen such an event, so it may simply be a myth. Pineys are particularly vulnerable to fire, as are most plants. Fire-based attacks do double the normal damage, and fire can spread through an entire piney village in a matter of minutes if the forest hasn’t gotten any rain in the last day or two. Weapons made by the pineys are carved from hard woods and use vines for any cords or strings. These weapons are as strong as metal, and do the same damage, but they don’t rust or tarnish. Fire will destroy them, but they resist cold damage and are not harmed by immersion in water.