Leprechauns were tiny, mischievous fey creatures who loved treasure.[2][3][4]
Description[]
Leprechauns were a small people, standing only about 2 feet (61 centimeters) tall on average.[2][3][4] They had pointed ears and noses. A little more than a quarter of all males sported beards.[2][3]
The clothing of leprechauns usually included pointed shoes and pants and coats of browns, grays, or greens. Stocking caps or wide-brimmed hats were their two head coverings of choice.[2][3]
Personality[]
Leprechauns loved to play pranks and were prone to steal valuable trinkets from travelers.[2][3][4] They especially loved gold, and hoards of it could be found in every leprechaun abode. If an intruder stole their treasure, they would beg and bargain to get it back at any cost.[2][3]
Leprechauns ate the same sorts of foods as humans.[2][3] Most had a very strong weakness for fine wine,[2][3][4] and many enjoyed smoking pipes.[2][3]
Most leprechauns were not very trusting of either humans or dwarves, finding both races to be too greedy, but they were on good terms with elves, gnomes, and halflings. In general, they would be cordial with strangers but never invite them to their lairs. If they found an injured person, such a one might be taken to a leprechaun lair for help but only if blindfolded and not followed.[2][3]
Biology[]
Some scholars believed that leprechauns were related to both halflings and pixies.[2][3][4]
Leprechauns did not reproduce often, so children were rare in their families. A newborn leprechaun had all of the magical abilities of an adult.[2][3]
Abilities[]
Inherently magical beings, leprechauns could turn invisible whenever they wanted. They could also polymorph objects, create illusions, and throw their voices.[2][3][4]
Leprechauns had very keen hearing, making it very hard to surprise them.[2][3][4]
Combat[]
These playful creatures avoided combat,[2][3] instead using tactics of deception to mislead.[2][3][4] However, they would not sit by if weaker creatures were harmed.[2][3]
Society[]
Leprechauns preferred to live in pleasant, grassy valleys with rolling hills,[2][3][4] living in comfortable and dry furnished caves with fireplaces and rugs. They gathered in families or clans of about a score of individuals and never in large enough numbers to form a village or town.[2][3]
Leprechauns were most likely to hold celebrations at dusk or dawn, at the equinoxes or solstices, and on shorelines, as all these things were considered border places or times.[2][3]
Homelands[]
In the Realms, they were found in the Forest of Tethir,[6] the Forest of Mir,[7] and the High Forest.[8][9] They were also known to be found in the escarpments, moors, and deciduous forests of the Moonshae Isles, including the Myrloch Vale.[11]
Languages[]
Leprechauns spoke in the Sylvan language.[10] They used first names and their clan name as a surname.[2][3]
Religion[]
The patron deity of leprechauns was Sqeulaiche, Court Jester of the Seelie Court.[5]
Notable Leprechauns[]
- Red: a 14th century DR human wizard polymorphed into a leprechaun who decided he liked the new shape and remained one, embarking on a quest for gold.[12]
Rumors & Legends[]
Some claimed that leprechauns had the power to grant wishes, much like genies, but would only do so as a means to gain back stolen treasure. They were said to be able to grant three wishes but would claim to be able to grant a fourth. If the wisher made a fourth wish, his or her three granted wishes would be reversed, and the hapless person would find him- or herself teleported miles away, never to find the leprechaun again.[2][3]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Tymora's Luck • The City of Splendors: A Waterdeep Novel • Spin a Yarn: The Night Thelva Clovenaxe Flew
Comics
Video Games
Card Games
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
The Ice Mage Cometh
Further Reading[]
- Vince Garcia (March 1990). “The Folk of the Faerie Kingdom”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #155 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 36–37.
References[]
- ↑ Steve Townshend (February 2013). “Beyond the Crystal Cave”. Dungeon #211 (Wizards of the Coast) (211)., p. 80.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 David "Zeb" Cook, et al. (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Two. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-8803-8753-X.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 220. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 60. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Carl Sargent (May 1992). Monster Mythology. (TSR, Inc), p. 124. ISBN 1-5607-6362-0.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Scott Haring (1988). Empires of the Sands. (TSR, Inc), p. 22. ISBN 0-8803-8539-1.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 54. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), pp. 54, 57. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 165. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 82. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 16–17, 54. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ David Wise (1992). AD&D Trading Cards 1992 series, #219, "Red". TSR, Inc..