Redcap

"Oi, ye damned mortal git, this be Kin land, and yerself be tresspassing. We don't take to damned kindly ta that. Put yer coin away, ye damned sputtering fool. Me and me kindred have nae interest in it. Besides, it been far t' long since me cap ran crimson wit' fresh blood. So me and me lads 'ere are gonna borrow yers. After all, ye can't really object ta this, its kinda hard ta object when yer dead."

A Redcap mob leader speaking to a merchant whom was fool enough to wander off the Valin'ges Road, thinking they were taking some sort of shortcut.

The creature before you is a pale-skinned and spindly looking humanoid esque being, somewhere between a gnome and dwarf in height, though much less physically imposing at a glance, however something about the creature, the corded muscular structure it possesses, the swagger and confidence with which it strides, leaves you feeling deep concern. Its feral eyes a deep rust tone, though briefly flair crimson like blood with excitement. A peaky cap atop its head, simple garments of wool or leather, greaves, boots, a vest or jacket of sorts. If it wasn't for its strange body shape and spindly look, this entity would not look out of place admidst dock workers in any number of settlements you've visited. However it seems to exude anger and violence, even as it smiles, showing cracked teeth, its face decorated with a plethora of scars. The cap in particular stands out, seeming to exude some sort of energy that is palpable in the air. You know not why these creatures attacked you and your companions, at first. But then you watch as one of them sweeps its cap off its head....no when it removes what you thought was a garment its thin hair and even its scalp come with it! With the top of its skull clearly visible, it dips the grey and rust toned garment and bit of flesh into a splattered pool of blood. Blood you shed from a vicious hack along your lower forearm from one of the beast's odd saw toothed halberd like polearms. The cap flashes crimson, the grey giving way to a sanguine shade, and as the creature's muscles surge, its pupils dilating as it slides its scalp back into place calmly, as if nothing is out of place with the nightmarish occurance.

Basic Information

Anatomy

These simple creatures choose to go by the simple name 'Redcap' and that is what they have become known as. These strange faellen kindred in truth however possess no such cap, the flat cap they seem to wear is actually, disgustingly enough, part of their anatomy. When they remove it to tip it in blood, they are actually removing their scalp, revealing their brain membrane and grey matter a little bit. When they tip the beak of this.....flat cap shaped scalp into freshly spilled blood, its black and rusty color scheme is quickly filled in, becoming the most sanguine red you can picture. As they place it back on their heads, their pupils dilate as if they've taken a highly strong narcotic, their muscles surge and bulge, everything tensing, as a ferocity takes hold of them. Their ragged and rust toned beards darken as well, as if dipped in blood. This state is generally referred to as Blood-drunk and seems to be some biological mutation, imbuing them with power and ferocity whenever they can quench this part of their anatomy in freshly spilled blood.


Besides this, they have a generally humanoid like form, their grey-silver skin seeming etched or scarred with symbols and images, crude depictions of violence. However these patterns are actually biological, and each redcap's set they have upon themselves is entirely unique to them.

Biological Traits

In truth very little is understood about Redcap biology, everything from their strange anatomy, the 'flat cap' scalp they can remove and dip in blood that seems to create some sort of magick and biological response within them, seeming to temporarily increase strength and agility. They are not large beings, but possess power and ferocity far beyond that which their size would suggest. Redcap life expectancy is another wildcard in regards to these creatures, because they seem to, like many beings touched or afflicted by the essence of Iracundia, seek a less than natural death. They seek death in blood-soaked combat, which makes how good they are at it a rather uniquely ironic problem.

Genetics and Reproduction

Redcaps are presumed to procreate in a similar fashion as most other humanoid and humanoid adjacent creatures on Valerick, though presumably with a rather high threshold for what is and is not acceptable levels of violence in the act of procreation when compared with other species. However all this is presumption, and that is worthy of note because there have never been any documented instances of encountering or interacting with infants or young of the species, which is most interesting.

Now some theories do suggest that though they are a fallen empire, the Faei kindred did not collapse so much as they simply moved into the Aether and even to the wild space where the Aether and the Void clash constantly, known as the Dreamstorm Gap within the planar alignment. If true, this would perhaps account for the lack of ever seeing any infants or young of most Faellen species, and the rarity, yet consistency of their presence.

Growth Rate & Stages

Once again, precious little is known about these in large part because the infancy of such a Faellen has never been observed or documented.

Ecology and Habitats

Redcaps seem to favor colder climates, oddly enough, and prefer mountainous and hilly terrains and biomes as opposed to open plains or forested regions. They seem to despise thick forests and jungles of any kind more than even swamps, marshes or other wetlands, which they still generally avoid as best they can.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Interestingly enough, this once again seems to lack a well studied understanding or even well, any understanding at all. These creatures have never, or at least have no documentation of them ever consuming food of any kind for sustenance.

Behaviour

Redcaps are viciously violent and driven by an undeniable need, not want, but need to spill blood. However they are not without reason and can be dealt with diplomatically, at least for a short window of time. Such dealings normally involve providing them with another, ideally larger and more ripe opportunity to spill blood, and thusly such negotiations can be....morally difficult or questionable at best.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Little is known about hierarchy within any Faellen Kindred species or subspecies, however Redcaps do seem to be social creatures, unlike entities such as Dryaeds or Nymphs. They normally rove in small groups, anywhere from 3-6 and seem to exist solely to seek out violence and battle. Disputes, if and when they occur, are generally notably vicious, yet rarely result in the death of either combatant it would seem. That they show such strength of character does suggest some level of identifiable moral compass or code which contrasts directly with how one might judge them initially given their demeanor and general behavior.

Facial characteristics

Redcaps have grizzled faces, with their thick dull grey/rusty toned beards, their beady dark grey eyes and their consistently rather vicious almost snarl-like facial expression. Aggression lives on their face with a comfort and ease that is unsettling.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Redcaps, like all Faellen Kindred, are quite rare, and are not found at all in more tropical climates, nor in you denser forested regions or open plains. They seem to prefer cooler hill-lands and mountainous regions, and are most common on the continent of Durol, in specific in the mountain range that cuts the continent in half known simply as the Crags.

Average Intelligence

Redcaps are by no means stupid or without intelligence, however amongst their brethren from the Faei, other species of Faellen Kindred, they are measurably lacking in the brains department.

Civilization and Culture

Common Taboos

Falling within another oddity that does suggest the existence of some sort of social codex or structure and some sort of moral standard, however warped, the idea of ambushing potential targets and foes, or even worse, setting traps to assault them indirectly, is a despicable and cowardly practice that no Redcap worthy of the name would indulge in or humor. Catching foes off guard in the moment with a sudden charge is one thing. But complex traps, road blockades, ranged weapons such as crossbows, bows or guns, these are not a signature of a Redcap attack. In fact such things are worthy of a brutal assault, and likely killing of, by your fellow Redcaps. It is seen as cowardice of the highest order. The same can be said of most any form of magick, and even those Redcaps whom are born with some small touch of Wrath within them do not wield much magick of any kind, and usually only utilize corrupted methods to strengthen themselves, to summon powerful weapons to wield in assault, or to force a single contest with a foe, chaining them with blood and bone, only to be released when one or the other is a corpse. However such Redcaps are exceedingly rare, and by and large most of the species are not known to be able to wield any magick.

Because of these taboos, in an assault, Redcaps will often focus ranged combatants, closing distance with brutal intention, as well as those wielding arcane magick or divinely blessed powers. They are all seen somewhat similarly.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Redcaps like most Faellen Kindred, can in theory be negotiated with and talked to and even bartered with, however in principle to call this a dangerous thought to have truly under-sells the level of risk. However it can be done, and Redcaps are, beneath it all, intelligent and sapient creatures whom can be interacted with in a social and non-violent manner, though such a thing is a feat worthy of many a tale all its own if accomplished.

Redcap Base Stat Sheet

Scientific Name

Faei Faekin Sanguinic

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Height

1-1.3 meters (3'3"-4'3")

Average Weight

40-50kgs (88-110 lbs)

Average Physique

Redcaps are generally rather spindly in build, their arms seeming almost to long for their torso, and they are wiry, corded and muscular, but not heavy set given their height. They are commonly noticeably scarred from battles and scraps, bearing the evidence of such proudly.