| Class: | Fae-Folk |
| Hab: | Faerie Lands, mundane habitations near borders of Faerie |
| Fre: | Uncommon |
| Num: | 1, 2-12, or 10-60 |
| Lair: | 80% |
| Size: | 1" to 2' - many can grow or shrink at will |
| Move: | Quick! Most "Gate" from shadow to shadow or nook to nook; some fly |
| Def: | Major dodge + Fae elasticity, no vital spots |
| Att: | By weapon |
| Int: | Um, sort of. Human plotting, but no forethought |
| Spec: | Fae; most have majical abilities |
| Posns: | Varies |
SEE Faerie, general entry
Nibblers are a Faerie race so monomaniacal and narrow in their actions that their intelligence - hence status as a Folk - is questionable. But then, that is not uncommon among the lesser Faerie Folk. Nibble Fairies are also far more likely to be encountered in the role of "nuisance monsters" than dealt with as Folk. (But perhaps it's the not-dealing-with-them-as-Folk that is at the heart of the problem…)
Nibblers are so-called because they nibble. Orchard nibblers will take just a little bite out of every fruit. Dairy barn nibblers will sip a bit of milk from every milch goat or cow. A nibbler in a bakery will take a bite from each loaf or pastry. This is obviously distressing to the farmer or baker whose crop or goods are thus spoiled, and whose livelihood may very well soon be ruined; Goblyn aren't responsible for all the abandoned farms in the forest!
Adventurers may not see any reason to be bothered with a mere domestic nuisance. Well, if the own a stronghold, it's their tenants who are being ruined, and, as their lord, it's Our Heroes' duty to protect 'em. Otherwise, the tenants have a legal right to offer themselves (and, incidentally, the whole hold they occupy) to some other lord - and the king would agree. Also, the impoverished cannot pay taxes, and may flee, becoming refugees. The stronghold would then have no economic base or local labor supply. Also, many of the folk who work in the stronghold are likely related to the farmers. And what happens when the stronghold runs out of food - which has been skyrocketing in price? Just as important, a lord who fails to protect his charges will earn a reputation as callous, possibly evil, and, far worse, incompetent.
For the would-be hero who's just passing through, this is an opportunity to do a good deed, enhance his/her/its reputation, and perhaps earn a reward. Of course, poor farmers who've just had their harvest ruined haven't got much to offer, but having a place, however modest, where one is welcome and may rest in-between adventures can be valuable in and of itself.
It is thought probable that some Nibblers were other types of Faerie who got miffed at (possibly imagined) mistreatment and metamorphosed into Nibblers while "evening the score." Such lesser Faerie often have difficulty holding multiple emotions at a time; they can easily get caught up and overwhelmed by a spur-of-the-moment whim. They could, if distracted and motivated, metamorphose just as easily into some other type of Faerie.
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