Race-as-Class: Woodgrue (Unofficial)

Disclaimer Note: A new, more updated and more supported version of this character class; more in-line with Old School Essentials, can be found on the Necrotic Gnome patreon's page and in the forthcoming Dolmenwood campaign books. Consider this a relic of early design, an alpha model of the class which now exists elsewhere in an official capacity with far greater polish.

Woodgrue (Race-Class)

Ability Scores: Minimum CHA 9, minimum WIS 9

Prime Requisite: CHA

Hit Dice: 1d6

Maximum Level: 10

Allowed Armour: Cloth and Leathers

Allowed Weapons: Any, though they prefer clubs and cudgels.

Languages: Woldish, Sylvan.

Hooting and cavorting through the deep wold of the Dolmenwood are the capricious bat-faced goblins known as the woodgrue. These little men have a head and chest coated in soft downy fur while the rest of their appears like that of a child or little man. They are a frivolous and unsavory lot, known for their gallows humor and enchanting woodwind songs that lure folk even deeper off the trail and into the wood. While mannish folk are known to cautiously welcome these demi-fey into their towns, they know that barring them entry would cause only greater misfortune to follow. While a woodgrue celebrating is cause for concern, they are bound to the same code of hospitality as all faerie things and will only bring grave mischief with them if slighted.

Which is not to say that their general demeanor at a celebration is much better.

Woodgrue, by Andrew Walter

Prime Requisite:

A woodgrue with a CHA of 13 or greater gains a +5% bonus to experience gained. If the woodgrue’s CHA is 16 or greater, that bonus increases to 10%.

Class Abilities

Combat: A woodgrue can make use of any weapon in combat, though they are noted for their love of clubs and cudgels; generally constructed from pilfered or discarded “lesser instruments.” A woodgrue will gladly beat a man to death with a brass bugel or a lyre, but they would consider it sacrilege to use a flute to do so.

Dark Vision: A woodgrue can see normally in darkness, viewing the world as though it glows in faint moonlight.

Hiding: A woodgrue who hides in the woods or in shadows has a 3-in-6 chance of going unnoticed. If they are given a minute, a woodgrue may hide a small object (1’ around or smaller) in a cunning location. For anyone else to discover this hidden item, apply the rules for finding secret doors.

Woodwinding: Woodgrues can communicate on the winds by blowing a tune upon a woodwind instrument. Such communications can be heard by any indentured servant to the demi-fey, as well as by any woodgrue within a number of miles equal to the woodgrue's level. Such songs can be heard even in the Otherwold.

Mad Revelry: A woodgrue may engage in mad revelry for a number of rounds equal to their level, per day. While engaged in such revelry, the woodgrue is dancing terribly, likely playing their flute or fife, and hooting like an insane barn animal being skinned alive. Any individual who hears the mad revelry must make a Save vs Spells, on a failure they do one of the following (d8):

1. Imbibe!

Victims will consume any liquids, drugs, or mushrooms they have on them, be it potable or not. They will act as though it makes them drunk, granting them a -2 to Hit until the revelry ends.

2. Jubilate!

Victims will burst out into terrible laughter, preventing them from speech. If an affected character rolls a failure while laughing, they fall prone and into a laughing fit. They arise, lungs aching but fine, when the revelry ends.

3. Dance!

Victims begin dancing terribly, their footwork following a profane jig that doesn’t make any sense. Those affected cannot move while dancing, but gain a +1 to AC. The dancing stops when the revelry ends.

4. Jape!

The victim mocks the last action performed before their turn, such as a spell being cast or swinging a weapon. This action does not allow a character to do anything they cannot already do, and they suffer a -2 to any action performed. They also do this in a very mocking tone. This japery continues until the revelry ends.

5. Confide!

The victim speaks in a slurred voice, confessing a sin or secret about one of their allies or about some deeply hidden emotion. If offered a drink, they’ll go sit down and drink. If mocked, they go into a berserk rage, gaining +2 to Hit but -2 to AC while the revelry continues.

6. Strip!

Victims begin to doff any armor, feeling far too hot as though they were locked in a sauna. Doffed armor means lowered AC, as well as embarrassment certainly. The victims come to their senses when the revelry ends.

7. Revel!

Victims cannot speak, instead they bark out terrible scats of instruments in an attempt to keep up with the woodgrue. Movement speed is halved if they are not headed in the direction of the woodgrue. This lasts until the revelry ends.

8. Mount!

A victim will attempt to mount an adjacent creature, be it friend or foe, and ride it in the piggyback position. If the bottom creature is unwilling, it can buck the rider off to deal 1d4 damage. Riders come to their senses and lose their seating when the revelry ends.

Drawbacks & Weaknesses

Compelled to Jubilation: A woodgrue who witnesses a party, feast, celebration or festival must partake; they are utterly compelled with every fiber in their being. Save vs Paralysis can prevent a woodgrue from engaging in jubilation, but they feel drained and downtrodden for the length of the engagement. A woodgrue who does engage in such celebration, without hand-written invitation, will randomly cause one of its Mad Revelry effects to occur to an important party; gaining the wrath of the community to the woodgrue and associates.

Cold Iron: As demi-fey, woodgrue are vulnerable to iron weapons, suffering double damage on a successful hit.

Silver Sickness: While a woodgrue appreciates the color and sheen of silver, they find it horribly uncomfortable to touch. A woodgrue in contact with silver is sickened and suffers a -2 penalty to attack rolls and saving throws.

Code of Hospitality: Woodgrue are easily bound to ancient rites of hospitality and charity. If a woodgrue is invited into a place by way of handwritten invitation or swearing an oath of good behavior, they are unable to use their Mad Revelry for the duration within or until the next full moon.

Waxing Ears: Any individual who pours wax in ones ears, or dirt, or is naturally deaf, suffers no ill-effects from the woodgrues mad revelry. Many a charlatan and woodsman knows to do this when encountering a woodgrue or entering an area where they are known to frequent.

Level	XP	HD	Death	Wand	Paralysis	Breath	Spells
1	0	1d6	15	12	14	16	14
2	2,000	2d6	15	10	12	15	12
3	4,000	3d6	13	10	10	14	10
4	8,000	4d6	13	8	8	13	10
5	16,000	5d6	11	8	8	10	8
6	32,500	6d6	11	6	6	10	8
7	65,000	7d6	9	6	6	7	6
8	130,000	8d6	9	4	4	7	6
9	250,000	9d6	7	4	2	4	4
10	400,000	9d6+1	7	4	2	4	4