Vastonia's Monster Gallery!

BATLINGS (By WebWarlock)

Appearance: Batlings are magical crossbreeds of pixies and bats. They look like pixies with bat-like wings and features. Their feet are like those of a bat with small claws for hanging upside down. Their bodies resemble pixies with a short soft fur covering. Their fur ranges from light brown to a deep black. Their faces are also like those of pixies, but with some bat-like characteristics. They have a sharp teeth and large ears like a bat. They have smallish eyes and small slightly upturned noses. Batlings can speak with bats and pixies in their own languages. Many have been able to learn elf or common. When speaking, Batlings have wonderfully high-pitched voices. They tend not to wear clothing when young or among their own kind. However they have been known to wear clothing similar to that of other pixies, only drabber and more functional.

Due to their appearance and origin, batlings are often believed to be small demons or at the very least evil. However nothing could be farther from the truth.

Combat: Batlings are not strong fighters. They prefer to use their small size and speed to avoid confrontations. However they will go to any lengths to protect their homes or their young. Males and females are equal in combat. Young Batlings are non-combative. Batlings may attack with their feet claws twice per round doing 1 to 4 hp of damage. Some Batlings do carry small thin swords. They use this swords two-handed for 1d6 hp of damage.

If threatened Batlings may let out a hypersonic shriek. This shriek may be done three times per day. Anyone under 5 HD within hearing distance of the Batling must make a save vs. Paralyzation or become deaf, as per the spell, for 2d6 rounds. They also suffer 2d10 hp of damage. If they save or are above 5 HD then they only take 2d6 hp of damage.

Habitat/Society: Batlings tend not to enter act with other races other than pixies. This is not out of choice, but necessity. Batlings are usually hunted down because they are believed to be evil. Batlings tend to be a very gregarious race that centers on the extended family. Batlings get along well with other faerie races, especially pixies and sylphs. Grigs tend to avoid them.

Like bats, Batlings live in dark places, such as caves. They are nocturnal, which only adds to the superstition that surrounds them. Batlings come out at night to socialize and feed. An adult Batling can eat 3 to 4 times his own weight a night in flying insects. This helps support their high metabolic rate. Batlings are also found of fruits, especially grapes. They make an extremely potent wine from grapes and a fungus that grows in their caves. Batlings mate once a year in the spring and the female gives birth to a clutch of two young. Batlings usually mate for life. Batlings keep their lair far from humanoid eyes. Usually they have many regular bats in their lair to keep guard.

The young reach maturity in three years. Batlings typically live 40 to 50 years.

Ecology: Even though they are a "created" race, Batlings have found a niche in the ecology of the world. Their diet has placed no strain on the local ecology. If Batlings have a natural enemy it would be goblins. Goblins capture Batlings in suspended steel traps. They gag the Batlings and enjoy pulling off their wings. Goblins usually eat the males and children but keep the females around as slaves. A particularly ugly breed of Bendith Y' Mamau are born to these unfortunate Batlings.

Batlings have been the subject of recent debate and experiments by wizards. Batling fur or guano has been used in place of bats in spell components. The spell Wave of Mutilation was discovered in this research.

Variants: None