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Sprite

Sprite
  • Size: Tiny
  • Type: Fey
  • Alignment: Neutral Good
  • AC: 15
  • Initiative: +4 (14)
  • HP: 10(4d4)
  • Speed: 10 ft, Fly 40 ft.
ATTRVALMODSAVE
STR3-4-4
DEX18+4+4
CON10+0+0
INT14+2+2
WIS13+1+1
CHA11+0+0
  • Skills: Perception +3, Stealth +8
  • Senses: Passive Perception 13
  • Languages: Common, Elvish, Sylvan
  • CR: 1/4 (XP 50; PB +2)

Actions​

Needle Sword. Melee Attack Roll: +6, reach 5 ft. Hit: 6 (1d4+4) Piercing damage.

Enchanting Bow. Ranged Attack Roll: +6, range 40/160 ft. Hit: 1 Piercing damage, and the target has the Charmed condition until the start of the sprite's next turn.

Heart Sight. Charisma Saving Throw: DC 10, one creature within 5 feet the sprite can see (Celestials, Fiends, and Undead automatically fail the save). Failure: The sprite knows the target's emotions and alignment.

Invisibility. The sprite casts Invisibility on itself, requiring no spell components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability.

Lore & Background​

Sprites are tiny fey creatures that embody the playful and mischievous aspects of nature, flitting through forests and meadows with gossamer wings and hearts full of curiosity. These diminutive beings serve as guardians of the smallest corners of the natural world, protecting flowers, caring for injured animals, and maintaining the delicate balance between civilization and wildness. Their small size belies their magical power and their important role in the fey ecosystem.

Living in small communities hidden within hollow trees, flower patches, or beneath mushroom rings, sprites maintain a complex society based on cooperation and shared responsibility for their natural domain. They possess an innate understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things, making them excellent mediators between different aspects of nature and valuable allies for those who respect the natural world.

Combat Tactics​

Sprites avoid direct confrontation whenever possible, relying on their tiny size, flight, and invisibility to evade threats. When forced to defend themselves or their territory, they use their poison-tipped arrows to incapacitate enemies rather than kill them. Their heart sight ability allows them to determine the true intentions of potential threats, helping them decide whether to flee, hide, or attempt communication.

In group encounters, sprites coordinate their attacks to overwhelm larger opponents through sheer numbers and tactical positioning. They use their superior mobility to strike from multiple angles while staying out of reach of retaliation. Their magic focuses on defensive and utility spells that protect their community and confuse enemies.

Encounter Ideas​

1. The Tiny Guardians A sprite community asks for help protecting their grove from developers or other threats that would destroy their home. The party must find ways to preserve the natural site while respecting both the sprites' needs and the legitimate concerns of the wider community.

2. The Invisible Observers Sprites have been watching the party's actions and approach to offer guidance or warnings about upcoming challenges. Their unique perspective on morality and their heart sight ability allows them to provide insights that larger creatures might miss.

3. The Miniature Mystery Strange events in a forest are caused by conflicts within a sprite community, requiring the party to navigate fey politics and social dynamics on a very small scale. Resolution requires understanding the sprites' perspective and finding creative solutions to their problems.

4. The Nature's Embassy Sprites serve as intermediaries between the party and more powerful fey creatures, using their diplomatic skills and natural charm to facilitate negotiations. The success of these talks could determine the relationship between the mortal world and the fey realm.

Environmental Effects​

  • Enhanced Flora: Areas where sprites dwell experience accelerated plant growth and unusual flowering patterns
  • Miniature Ecosystem: The presence of sprites encourages small animals and insects to thrive, creating rich biodiversity
  • Fey Magic Resonance: Magical effects related to nature become stronger and more unpredictable in sprite territories
  • Emotional Sensitivity: The sprites' empathic abilities cause the local environment to respond to the emotions of visitors

Treasure​

  • Sprite Dust (50-200 gp): Magical powder shed from sprite wings that can enhance illusion spells and potions
  • Miniature Crafts (25-100 gp): Tiny but exquisitely crafted items made from natural materials
  • Heart Crystals (100-500 gp): Small gems that enhance empathic abilities and emotion-detection magic
  • Nature's Gifts (varies): Seeds, flowers, and other natural items blessed by sprite magic
  • Fairy Arrows (10-50 gp each): Tiny arrows that retain some of the sprites' sleep-inducing properties

Plot Hooks​

1. The Vanishing Magic Sprites in a region are losing their magical abilities, potentially indicating a larger threat to the natural order. The party must investigate the cause while helping the affected sprites adapt to their changing circumstances.

2. The Urban Adaptation A group of sprites attempts to establish themselves in a city environment, causing unexpected interactions between fey magic and urban infrastructure. The party becomes involved in helping them find a sustainable way to coexist with civilization.

3. The Heart Reader's Dilemma A sprite's heart sight ability reveals disturbing truths about someone the party trusts, creating moral dilemmas about whether to act on this information. The party must decide how much weight to give to fey perceptions of morality.

4. The Tiny Rebellion Young sprites rebel against the traditional ways of their community, seeking to engage more directly with the mortal world despite the risks. The party becomes involved in mediating between different generations of fey creatures with conflicting values.