Spriggan
Spriggan are small, somewhat unpleasant-looking creatures. They are the ghosts-come-to-life of evil giants. In most contexts, they guard treasure hoards or barrows, killing or scaring all who dare approach. Others have been given a second chance and now wish to make amends for the evil they did in their past life, a life debt. None, not even the spriggan know when this life debt is paid, but they often get a feeling of peace come over them which they say is indescribable. When this happens, they know they have only a few days left before they depart for their spiritual home.
They make up a specialized subset of the royal guard of the fae realm. They have devoted themselves to guarding the way points between the realms where people can slip from the fae realm to the mortal realm and back again. They also prevent mortals who happen to somehow slip through the way point by sending them back through (with a bit of memory altering dust) or sending them to the royal court, escorted of course.
They appear as 3–4-foot hideous humanoids, wearing plate mail armor and carrying large weapons. When they grow, they become up to 30 feet tall but are non-corporeal. They do shed their grotesque form when they grow, taking on the form they possessed during life.
Their name can be pronounced in one of two ways. Many will pronounce it the traditional way of "sprid-jan" while others, especially those from the mortal realm, will pronounce it "sprig-uhn" which is how it is spelled. Mortals seem to have a habit of doing this.
Composition
Manpower
Spriggan are solitary guards, needing no one or any other suppport. They will occasionaly work with other guards at high risk/high traffic way points, or sensitive way points.
Equipment
Spriggan are corporeal spirits and have little need for anything save for their weapons and armor. They do not need food, air, or sleep, thus making them ideal guards.
Weaponry
Spriggan rely on their swords or axes. Their plate mail does provide them with a formidable weapon when they wish to punch someone. Several will adorn their armor with spikes or blades to increase their damage potential.
Vehicles
None. Spriggan pride themselves on their ability to walk or run wherever they need to go. Once a Spriggan begins moving, little will slow them down. They will grow to their giant size to cover long distance, but only if they travel alone or their companions have a way to move as fast also.
Structure
Spriggan have no command structure, a remnant of their past life. They are fiercely independent as they were in their previous life. They will, however, take orders from a commander in order to pay off their perceived life debt from the evils committed during their previous life.
Tactics
Spriggan generally rely on their pure brute strength to overpower and overwhelm their opponent(s). They are expert weapon masters and are proficient with many weapons, though most prefer a 2-handed axe or 2-handed sword. Almost all disdain the use of a shield, considering it cowardly.
In combat, they have some minor abilities that can augment their already impressive fighting abilities. They can grow to enormous size to scare their opponent, though they have no corporeal form when they invoke this power. They appear solid but are unable to affect the physical world until they return to their smaller size. Some can cause small whirlwinds, but these are few and far between.
Training
Spriggan receive no training, instead relying on their abilities from their previous living life. On very rare occasion, a spriggan will be called upon to train others in the court.
Logistics
Logistical Support
Spriggan receive little to no logistical support. They will be swapped out between way points occasionally and will return to the court to report in and get their weapon and armor cared for. But generally they take care of these things while at their posts, guarding their way point until their life debt is paid off.
Upkeep
They are nearly self-sufficient being solid-formed spirits. So no upkeep is required for their service.
Recruitment
Spriggan are not recruited as much as they present themselves to make up for their past lives.
History
Spriggan were giants who often killed, maimed, or pillaged simply because they could. It was not always for gold, fame, or to increase their holdings, but merely to exert their will on other less powerful creatures. When these giants died, they sometimes lingered as spirits, unable to pass on due to their heinous deeds. They would guard the barrow where their body was interned or even the hole in the ground it was dumped.
Sometimes, if their holdings were large, they would guard the treasure, whether it was land, animals, gold or some combination of those. Their greed knew no end and continued after their life ended, becoming evil Spriggan who would cause mischief or even death if they could to any who dared threaten to take their holdings.
Historical loyalties
Initially, in their previous incarnations, Spriggan were loyal only to themselves. They cared little for others and often abused their power and strength. Occasionally they would band together to fight a common foe, especially one too large or powerful for a single Spriggan to fight.
Type
Security
Founding
There is no real founding date as the Spriggan appear independently to pledge their allegiance to the court until their life debt is paid off
Overall training Level
Semi-professional
Assumed Veterancy
Experienced
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