Atomie

 

Species Name: Atomie, Atomy

An Atomie is a diminutive fairy creature or sprite of surprising smallness, that was mentioned in some historic literature. The Atomie is the lightest and quickest of all the sprites, standing at less than one foot tall.  Atomies have magical abilities, and sometimes carry weapons as well.

Type: Micro Humanoid

Physical Traits: An Atomie has Elven features, with pale skin with a hint of woodland green, and four dragonfly-like wings. An Atomie's voice is high-pitched, sounding like the buzzing of a bee and twice the hearing range of humans. They have insect wings which allow them to fly at up to 5 kph with a ceiling of 1 km.

Height: 1 ft with a wingspan of 1 ft

Weight: 1-2lbs

Abilities: Atomies can turn invisible at will. They can render themselves undetectable by normal, consciously willed sight. Enemies are -10 Thac0 to hit an invisible Atomie. They can affect themselves + an additional half a kg per WIS + half a kg per level. The Atomie's body is totally transparent to the visible light spectrum. He cannot be mechanically detected or recorded (i.e. by photography or television) and is immune to attacks using visible light (lasers mostly). The Atomie can also extend the area of invisibility beyond their body. This permits the character to protect others and more importantly to wear clothing.

They can also speak with plants and animals and have Nightvision up to 90 metres.

Mobility: Legs, wings

Sensory Organs: Visual

Communication: Vocal

Reproduction: Sexual

INT: 3D6, WIS: 3D6, STR: 2D6 +2, DEX: 3D6 +1, CON: 3D6, CHA: 3D6 +1, MR: 2D6/flight 4D6, HPs: CON +D4, AC: 5

Orbit/Climate: See Earth

Feeding Habits: Atomies are herbivores and find the eating habits of their cousins repulsive. They favour nuts above fruit, and prefer honey when they can trick bees into giving them some.

Lifespan: 350 years

Technology: 2

Culture: Standard. Diversified mix of kind and evil people. Atomies perceive themselves as larger than they actually are. Like pups standing up to a full-grown cur, Atomies never back down from aggression, and take tremendous pride in defeating and humiliating foes larger than themselves. Atomies find great pleasure in shoring up the odds in a fight against larger foes. They make use of their reduce person spell-like ability as an offensive measure, hoping to shock and humiliate humanoid opponents, giving them a chance to make a killing jab. Atomies employ their invisibility spell-like ability to get in close and make sneak attacks before darting back out of reach.
In lands thick with fey, Atomies often serve as border sentries or bodyguards to nymphs, dryads, or other more powerful fey creatures. While Atomies prove only passable in their ability to defend such creatures, other fey accept their fealty out of respect and perhaps with a bit of mirth as well. Atomies enjoy their time as honour guards, but often grow bored and leave their posts in search of adventure.

These nimble creatures adore swordplay and practice with their blades endlessly. Atomies often travel their lands seeking adventure tinged with mischief. Sensitive to bullying and oppression, Atomies revel in turning the tables on a cruel mayor or tormenting dishonourable mercenary bands. Atomies, enamoured with tales of epic duels and the defeat of great evils, sometimes follow adventuring parties and eavesdrop on their nightly tales by the campfire. If a warrior in the group tends to boast of his swordplay, an Atomie rarely resists the urge to humble him by sabotaging his equipment or invisibly reducing him and challenging him to a duel. Atomies get along well with Grigs, and it is not uncommon to see the two types of creatures banding together for defence or companionship. Some sages claim the two creatures share a past link, pointing out their similar insectile wings. Anyone questioning an Atomie or Grig about this theory is greeted with bouts of shrill tiny laughter. Upon hearing an intruder, Atomies hide and try to make the intruder go away, using false lights, clattering voices, and pesky, summoned insects. Atomies live in forests, in the upper branches of old hardwood trees, one family per tree. Each family hollows out a series of tiny rooms, decorating with walnut chairs, woven pine needle rugs, acorn dishes, and the like. A network of balconies, landings, and rope bridges connects the dwellings, forming a village high above the forest floor. Atomies seldom bother with outsiders. Atomies avoid most serious-minded creatures, but mix freely with Grigs, and are 20% likely to be found in their company. The lightest and quickest of all the sprites, Atomies are less than 1-foot tall. Atomies have four dragonfly-like wings. Their features are Elven, their skin is pale with a hint of woodland green. Atomie clothing is innately magical, bright and festive while at the same time blending with woodland surroundings.
Atomies speak their own language and often the languages of sprites, Atomies, and some broken Common. Atomies are surprised only on a 1; opponents suffer a -6 penalty to surprise rolls. Upon hearing an intruder, Atomies hide and try to make the intruder go away, using false lights, clattering voices, and pesky, summoned insects. Repeat intruders are warned with crossbow bolts. If combat is inevitable, or the intruders are Orcs, the Atomies regroup and attack. Atomies with spears fly in and dive on surprised opponents (usually aiming at their posteriors). Diving attacks inflict double damage (2D4).

Atomies live in the upper branches of old hardwood trees (usually oaks), one family per tree. Each family hollows out a series of tiny rooms, decorating with walnut chairs, woven pine needle rugs, acorn dishes, and the like. A network of balconies, landings, and rope bridges connects the dwellings, forming a village high above the forest floor. A typical Atomie village houses 3d4×10 adults and 4D6 children. Atomies seldom bother with outsiders, even standard sprites (whom they view as tedious and too serious), but they will sometimes help a lost child. A rescued child is well cared for and entertained before being returned to the outside world. The concept of pets is unknown, but Atomies often grow mushroom “friends” in their living rooms. Atomies have loose leadership, choosing a chieftain based on storytelling and singing ability. Atomies view magic as a force connected with life and are fascinated by inanimate magical items. Atomies collect magical items and display them in their homes or communities. Non-magical treasures are considered clutter and are either thrown away or given to forest creatures who value such things.

Government: Tribal

Population: 5,121,430

 

 

Creating a Atomie character

Step 1: Age
Determine your character's age; 100 xD10 years. If older than 100 you need to determine which years you have been present in. Next decide what you have been doing. Were you involved in any famous historical incidents? In the present day where does your character live or is he a wanderer, moving around continuously?
Step 2: Attributes
Roll attributes as normal but STR 2D6 +2, DEX and CHA +1, while AC is 5. Mana = INT + WIS x4. Mana is recovered at a rate of 10 per hour if remain active (but not using magic) and 20 per hour if asleep. Mana can however be permanently traded for HPs at a rate of 1 for 1. Hit points = CON +4, +4 per level.
Step 3: Skills

Choose skills in the normal manner according to the character's class. Then for every 100 years alive select 1 additional skill.

Step 4: Abilities

All Atomies gain all the following free;

Hearing - Double the range of a normal human.

Invisibility - With this power a character can render himself undetectable by normal, consciously willed sight. Enemies are -10 Thac0 to hit an invisible Atomie. He can affect himself + an additional half a kg per WIS + half a kg per level. The Atomie's body is totally transparent to the visible light spectrum. He cannot be mechanically detected or recorded (i.e. by photography or television) and is immune to attacks using visible light (lasers mostly). The invisibility range can be extended to cover other sections of the energy spectrum (infrared and ultraviolet light, radio waves, hard radiation); this also bestows immunity to attacks using these forms. At these levels the character can also extend the area of invisibility beyond his body. This permits the character to protect others and more importantly to wear clothing.

Night Vision - The character can see in absolute darkness up to 90 metres.

Additionally Atomies start with 30 Points to spend on any of the following abilities. As they earns more experience they may buy or rebuy more abilities.
Ability Cost Notes
Agile 5 +1 AC
Animal Empathy 5 Atomies can establish telepathic communication with any small or normal animal within line of sight if he does nothing else in the round. The animal must have a minimum INT of 1. This has the following benefits:
He can communicate to the creature that he desires its friendship. If the offer is sincere (and the animal will be able to sense if it isn't), the creature can be calmed and will not attack or flee unless it is attacked. It will answer any of his questions.

Further he can then recruit this animal as an ally. Once he does so he permanently psionically links with the animal turning it into a familiar. At any point he may see through the familiar's eyes, smell through its nose, hear with its ears, taste with its mouth or link with any of its other senses (including supernatural ones). The two are always in constant telepathic contact.

Increased Thac0 10 +1 Thac0 with ranged weapons at levels 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19.
Natural Mana 5 +10 Mana at levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20.
Nature Heal 5 An Atomie may select the forest as his specialty area for healing. Whenever in this terrain the Atomie can heal at phenomenal rates. He must concentrate for 1 minute uninterrupted to perform the following healing; restore 1 HP per INT, +1 per level per 10 minutes; reduce the damage and duration of drugs, toxins and poisons by 4% per INT, +1% per level and gives +1 to save per 4 INT; negate all pain for 1 minute per INT, +1 minute per level; or stabilize his condition (stops bleeding, binds wounds, etc.) for 15 minutes per level.
Nature Survival 5 Due to a Atomie's extensive experience and training in jungles and forests they gain +1 to any physical, combat and survival rolls made while within that environment. Each time this ability is rebought he may either take an additional +1 with their terrain.
Plant Empathy 5 Atomies can establish telepathic communication with any plant or tree within line of sight if he does nothing else in the round. The plant will answer any of his questions.
Sense Hidden 10 Atomies gains +1 per 5 INT to detect a hidden object, door, person, etc.
Spellcast 5 The character starts with one spell per INT point over 9, he can learn an equal amount per level. Thus INT 13 = 3 spells +3 per level. The spells can only come from Faerie. Other spheres may only be learnt if he takes a Mage class which gives him that training.
Witch Sight 5 The character can see the true image of any person or object regardless of any form of concealment, disguise, illusion or invisibility. This also includes the ability to detect whether it is magical, and whether it is harmful or helpful.
Step 5: Classes

Any but Shamans are favoured by magic welders.

 

Races