Quillian’s Folio of Fantastical Fauna (Revised)
by Quillian Valendiel, Sage
Fair greetings to all…
To the Learned and Sagely, it is no mystery that myriad Denizens dwell beyond the Veil, in the Lands commonly named the Feywild. Some are harmonious, while others are ferocious, and therefore, knowing the nature and temperament of Fey Fauna can be most auspicious.
And so, once more have I, Quillian Valendiel, been tasked by the Editor to touch once more upon the Diverse Lore of Strange Creatures, and to share a chapter from my treatise the Folio of Fantastical Fauna. I shall, of course, readily acquiesce to his Request – for the sharing of bountiful knowledge is the greatest delight to a True Sage. That the inestimable Editor has also promised me a cask of rare wine from your Mundane Realm makes my task all the sweeter – for who could refuse an offer of a vintage named after such a wondrous beast as a Thunderbird?
Hearken then to this lore concerning the most foul and loathsome of all goblin-folk dwelling in the Feywild – the Red Caps!
Of Red Caps
The malicious and cruel nature of Red Caps is legendary throughout the Feywild, and even amongst their fellow goblinkind. Known as Powries (pronounced POO-rees) in the Eladrin-tongue, this Fey breed of goblin oft lurks within the broken ruins of ancient fortresses, long abandoned to the wilderness. Pursuant with their choice of dwellings, it is no great mystery that Red Caps are greatly accomplished at dungeoncraft, and have a keen knowledge of mechanical traps and other devices, which they use to secure their lairs.
Upon a distant first glance, a Red Cap might appear to be naught but a short old man, wizened but sturdy, leaning upon a staff or even a crook. But upon nearer approach, the powrie’s goblinish aspects – their glowing red eyes, taloned fingers, and jagged sharp teeth – cannot readily be masked.
Red Caps are found to dress in the torn and ragged clothing of their unfortunate victims, poorly patched and tailored to accommodate their statures. Their ubiquitous walking staves, or crooks, are made of crudely forged iron, and tipped with a viciously sharp spike at one end. Their boots too are made of iron, or at least adorned with iron scraps. But most terrible and strange of all is that for which these goblins get their name – Red Caps. For these hateful creatures are wont to stain their hats with the blood of those they murder out in the wild places.
Of Folklore of Red Caps
Many a weary traveler wandering the byways, and camping near a deserted castle by night, is likely to disappear before the dawn, especially if powries lair there. Ever watchful from their ruinous lairs, Red Caps will sally forth to hunt and slay any who dare trespass too close, and taking their prey back to their dark strongholds to be used as meat.
Because the powrie lurk in ancient places, there are some who, upon seeing a Red Cap raggedly clad and crimson-eyed, believe that they are beset by some foul undead. But woe is he that does not try to flee, and stands his ground brandishing holy relics and shouting passages from sacred texts. For the fleet-footed powries will make short work of such a Believer, their pikestaffs wielded with deadly effect.
Now some Sages have conjectured in their Learned Texts, that Red Caps are not true goblins at all, but some degenerate breed of Dark Elf, or perhaps even a cross of goblin-folk and some other fey. But others learned in eldritch Fey Lore put forth a more terrible assertion – Powries have made dark pacts with lost primordial beings that were best left forgotten.
As proof of their eldritch nature, one should first consider the Red Caps shoes. Though short in stature, and shodding themselves in boots heavily reinforced with scraps of iron, powries run like the wind, and few can escape their horrid clutches once the hunt has begun. And likewise too, the Red Caps are notoriously sure-footed, and strangely apt to hold their ground, and not be cast down or knocked aside by larger foes rushing upon them. It is as if the powries have some magickal affinity to the earth beneath their iron-shod feet – or perhaps to some dark thing that dwells below?
For who is to say what strange and eldritch knowledge Red Caps have plundered from the ancient ruins where they lair? What secrets, best left unrevealed, may have fallen to the clutches of these dark goblin-folk? There are those rare accounts of Heroes who have beaten back a powrie attack, and later claim that, in the heat of battle, the Red Caps shook the blood of their enemies from off their pikestaffs and onto themselves. Calling out for some boon or blessing from strange gods, these dark-souled goblins would fight on all the fiercer, their caps fresh spattered with gore.
And there are legends that touch upon the sinister Red Caps, having passed through the Veil, and wreaking havoc upon the Mundane Realm. One such tale is of a certain Lord Desolus, who built his castle near to an ancient ring of stones. For this stone circle was naught but a thinnish spot in the Veil, and Lord Desolus knew of its dark reputation. Its claimed the canny human nobleman lured a powrie through the Veil, and once separated from its brethren, was forced into servitude as his spy and familiar. But the evil Red Cap could not overcome his wicked nature, and betrayed his “master” by bringing much harm upon the inhabitants of the Lord’s Lands. In the end, both Lord Desolus and his dark servant were put to death by the angry peasants.
In Conclusion
So for those who venture near to ruinous places, who seek riches in the ancient and abandoned castles of old, it is best to remain wary and watchful – lest it be your blood that should freshly stain the Powrie’s crimson cap!
Red Caps (Powries)
Red Cap (Powrie) Lore
A character knows the following information with a successful Arcana Check.
DC 15: Red Caps are Fey goblins that lurk in ancient ruins and will waylay travelers at night and slay them. They wield pikestaves and despite their iron shod boots, can run with great speed.
DC 20: Red Caps make blood sacrifices to dark fey powers to give them strength in battle. Their lairs are often trapped with deadly devices.
Red Capling Tactics
Young powries are bloodthirsty and care little for their own safety, swarming around enemies to allow their older brothers and sisters to gain combat advantage. They will try and use their Puncturing Thrust as quickly as possible in a combat.
Red Cap Crook Tactics
The red cap will attempt to use Crook Shanked as often as possible to disable foes. It will follow-up with a Heart Thrust on prone victims and invoke the Blood-Capped stance. If hard pressed, it will invoke Veil of the Fey and escape so it can attempt to gain combat advantage.
Red Cap Warrior Tactics
The red cap will attempt to get off a Heart Thrust as often as possible to weaken foes, and to invoke the Blood-Capped stance early in the combat.
Red Cap Thane Tactics
The Red Cap Thane will attempt to get off a Heart Thrust early to weaken foes, and to invoke the Blood-Capped stance early in the combat. The Red Cap Thane will use the Crimson Boon as soon as he is Blood-Capped to bolster his fellow powries. He will try to position himself to allow him to use Bloody Changeling on Caplings and Warriors to preserve his life.
Encounter Groups
Level 5 Encounter (XP 1000)
- 2 Red Cap Warriors
- 2 Red Cap Crooks
- 3 Red Caplings
- 2 Grey Wolves (MM)
Level 6 Encounter (XP 1250)
- 1 Red Cap Thane
- 1 Red Cap Warriors
- 2 Red Cap Crooks
- 2 Grey Wolves (MM)
Level 7 Encounter (XP 1500)
- 1 Red Cap Thane
- 1 Red Cap Warriors
- 2 Red Cap Crooks
- 3 Red Caplings
- 1 Dire Wolf (MM)
- 2 Grey Wolves (MM)
Editor’s Acknowledgements
Artwork of the Red Cap (and Prey) by Robert Kusiak, courtesy of Hecubus Press.
Red Caps were inspired by information found in Wikkipedia concerning the Red Cap Goblins found in English & Scottish Folklore.
Stat Blocks by DDI Adventure Tools – Neuroglyph Games is a registered D&D Insider Subscriber.
About The Author
I appreciate all the constructive feedback I rec’d from the folks on the EN World and WotC boards. I’ve made some changes to the Powries design based upon that feedback and I think these little buggers are alot nastier now.