Grimple
The Grimple has the distinction of simultaneously being the least threatening and most annoying of all the common gremlins one may encounter in the Feywood - or in any village, town, or city on Cartyrion. Like all gremlins, it seems to obtain great satisfaction from causing and witnessing the annoyance, discomfort, and distress of other creatures. Its destructive tendencies are generally limited to small pranks that are not intended to be fatal. If it weren't for the gremlin lice that the creatures seem to be breeding factories for, they might even be tolerated as a creature that makes urban life more interesting.
To further the impression of a needy youngling, they dress in rags or whatever bits of discarded clothing they can find. Huddling under a tattered blanket, they are often mistaken for an unfortunate lost or orphaned child, and no matter which people of the folk the observer is from, they often feel the need to help this poor, unfortunate child. Few folk find can resist approaching to offer assistance, unless they've learned the result the hard way. Approaching the grimple, gives it the chance to suddenly slap out at the would-be samaritan, transferring an infestation of gremlin lice, before darting off laughing.
Thus, they share an origin with Nuglubs, though their particular corruption did not result in the sheer disdain - if not hatred - that nuglubs show to any other living thing. In fact, grimples seem to have retained many of their brownie likes and dislikes.
Unlike brownies, grimples do not burrow underground to make lairs. Instead they will be found in back alleys, or anywhere else where debris and trash might be piled. They may construct crude shelters within and concealed by such debris, but more often than not, when they wish to rest, they will simply curl up to sleep in shadowy places out of sight.
Also, like all Fey on Cartyrion, grimples do not reproduce. It is presumed that Corizzea could corrupt more brownies should he decide to do so, and it is not known if this has ever happened. Thus, there is no true cycle to a grimple's life. They were created in adult form, and they live indefinitely in that form without growing, maturing, or aging, until accident or ill intent ends their existence.
The grimple's pranks usually involve weakening or otherwise partially breaking things so that the final failure is inevitable, but random. A hinge pin on a door may be sawed through most of the way, or a link on the chain holding a tavern sign up may be cut mostly through. The grimple will then wait and watch for an unsuspecting human, dwarf, or whomever to accidentally pull a door off its hinges, or perhaps have to jump out of the way of a suddenly swinging or falling sign.
Pathfinder, 2nd Edition Statblock
Appearance
Grimples are small creatures; rarely more than three feet tall. Their bodies are lean, having an emaciated look regardless of how much they eat. Their hands are small and bony. They are often mistaken for a sickly, perhaps mange-ridden Chittiki youngling. Their teeth are razor sharp like a goblin's. The two small tusks protrude from the lower jaw as they do in orcs are the one feature that sets them apart from Chittiki to those that are aware.To further the impression of a needy youngling, they dress in rags or whatever bits of discarded clothing they can find. Huddling under a tattered blanket, they are often mistaken for an unfortunate lost or orphaned child, and no matter which people of the folk the observer is from, they often feel the need to help this poor, unfortunate child. Few folk find can resist approaching to offer assistance, unless they've learned the result the hard way. Approaching the grimple, gives it the chance to suddenly slap out at the would-be samaritan, transferring an infestation of gremlin lice, before darting off laughing.
Origin
Like all gremlins, grimples were once nymphs. Each one was Awakened on Cartyrion by Berdea as a Brownie, but were corrupted into current form by Berdea's rival deity, Corizzea.Thus, they share an origin with Nuglubs, though their particular corruption did not result in the sheer disdain - if not hatred - that nuglubs show to any other living thing. In fact, grimples seem to have retained many of their brownie likes and dislikes.
Habitat
Much like the brownies they were formed from, grimples seem attracted to places where the Folk have made their homes - and the more folk in one place, the better. Within the Feywood and the rest of the Frontier lands, one can expect to find them in any village, town, or city, unless the settlement has taken active measures to deal with them.Unlike brownies, grimples do not burrow underground to make lairs. Instead they will be found in back alleys, or anywhere else where debris and trash might be piled. They may construct crude shelters within and concealed by such debris, but more often than not, when they wish to rest, they will simply curl up to sleep in shadowy places out of sight.
Lifecycle
Like all gremlins, and all Fey on Cartyrion, grimples are effectively immortal. They do not age, but they can be killed by violence or accident. When they do, a corrupted feyflower, a gremlinweed, will spring up to mark the place where they fell. The gremlinweed of a grimple resembles a small patch of wild grass, the type usually seen trying to eke out a life in a place turned to mud and dirt by hundreds of booted feet each day. The flowers themselves are tiny and the same green color as the grassy blades, and often go unnoticed entirely,Also, like all Fey on Cartyrion, grimples do not reproduce. It is presumed that Corizzea could corrupt more brownies should he decide to do so, and it is not known if this has ever happened. Thus, there is no true cycle to a grimple's life. They were created in adult form, and they live indefinitely in that form without growing, maturing, or aging, until accident or ill intent ends their existence.
Behavior
Despite being attracted to live in place where concentrations of the Folk are present, the grimple's behavior suggests that they do not like the noisiness that accompanies congregations of people. Anyplace that tends to generate noise - especially noise associated with people having a good time - will be targeted by the grimple for a prank or two that the creature hopes will spoil the party and cause it to disperse. Taverns, especially those who like to feature entertainment, are a particular target. Churches, with all that loud hymn singing and bell ringing, are often targeted too.The grimple's pranks usually involve weakening or otherwise partially breaking things so that the final failure is inevitable, but random. A hinge pin on a door may be sawed through most of the way, or a link on the chain holding a tavern sign up may be cut mostly through. The grimple will then wait and watch for an unsuspecting human, dwarf, or whomever to accidentally pull a door off its hinges, or perhaps have to jump out of the way of a suddenly swinging or falling sign.
The Real Problem with Grimples
While the folk find the mishaps caused by grimples annoying, they are not the reason most villages that have a grimple in residence will eventually take steps to drive it off. That reason is gremlin lice that grimples seem to spread around like flowers spread pollen. A simple touch by a grimple is all it takes to infest a person with gremlin lice, putting the person in store for a bout of maddening itchiness until they can find someplace to completely immerse themselves in water for a brief time.Pathfinder, 2nd Edition Statblock
Grimple
COMMMCETINYFEYGREMLIN
| Grimples are small creatures; rarely more than three feet tall. Their bodies are lean, having an emaciated look regardless of how much they eat. Their hands are small and bony. They are often mistaken for a sickly, perhaps mange-ridden Chittiki youngling. Their teeth are razor sharp like a goblin's. The two small tusks protrude from the lower jaw as they do in orcs are the one feature that sets them apart from Chittiki to those that are aware. To further the impression of a needy youngling, they dress in rags or whatever bits of discarded clothing they can find. Huddling under a tattered blanket, they are often mistaken for an unfortunate lost or orphaned child, and no matter which people of the folk the observer is from, they often feel the need to help this poor, unfortunate child. Few folk find can resist approaching to offer assistance, unless they've learned the result the hard way. Approaching the grimple, gives it the chance to suddenly slap out at the would-be samaritan, transferring an infestation of gremlin lice, before darting off laughing. | |
| Perception | +6; Low-light vision |
| Languages | Gremlish, Common |
| Skills | Crafting+5 (+7 for traps), Deception+2, Nature+4, Stealth+5, Thievery+5 |
STR +1 , DEX +3 , CON +3 , INT +1 , WIS +2 , CHA -2 | |
| Items | satchel with 5 rocks |
| AC | 15 |
| Saving Throws | Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +4 |
| HP | 9 - Weaknesses cold iron 2 |
| Speed | 10ft, climb2 20ft, fly 20ft |
| Melee |  Bite: +7 / +3 / -1 (agile, finesse) Damage:1d4+1 piercing |
| Ranged | Rock: +7 / +3 / -1 (agile, range 20ft) Damage:1d4+1 bludgeoning |
| Special Abilities | Putrid Vomit: The grimple spews a 30-foot line of vomit. Each creature in the line must succeed at a DC 16 Fortitude save or become sickened 1 (sickened 2 on a critical failure). The grimple can’t use Putrid Vomit again for 1d4 rounds. Gremlin Lice Whenever a living creature touches or is touched by a grimple (including via a successful unarmed melee Strike), it must succeed at a DC 13 Reflex save or become infested by gremlin lice. While infested, the targeted creature is distracted by the itching sensation and is stupefied 1, though it can use an Interact action to scratch at the itching lice to suppress the stupefied condition from the lice for 1d4 rounds. The infestation ends after 24 hours or until the creature is submerged in water or exposed to a severe cold environment, whichever comes first. |
| Spells | Spell DC: 16 1st: Grease Camtrips (1st): Mage hand, Prestidigitation |
Comments