Spite

“You want to put me in a book? What, squished between the pages like a flower? Just try it, big man, I’ll slit your jugular quick as blinking.”

—Dixiebell Buttercup, Spite

Spites (not to be confused with Sprites) are a kind of nature-spirit that exists to protect forests. Their natural form is a glowing light, but they are capable of shapeshifting into other forms. There are as many different kinds of Spite as there are trees in the wood, each kind having different abilities and favoured shapes. Some appear as tiny Elves riding beetles or miniature, skeletal horses, others as beautiful winged humanoids or woodland animals with slightly unnatural features.

If treated well, Spites can be friendly, if mischievous. However, they are just as likely to be murderous and, well, spiteful, if the mood takes them. They are the essence of capriciousness. Only Elves and Wizards have any real hope of dealing with them, and even then the history of the Wood Elves is filled with instances in which Spites have turned on them or abandoned them in times of need.

Shortly after death, Spites dissolve. This has made it difficult for Old World scholars to study them, and they are considered a myth by most.

This is the profile for a typical Spite. They prefer to appear as winged figures or wooden people covered in thorns. Sometimes they appear to be riding animals or constructs, but these are just part of the Spites’ shapeshifting ability. The stats given include any mount they may appear to have.

Subtypes

 * Mischiefs: also known as Marshlights, often appear as balls of light or as glowing miniature Elves with ragged wings. They fly in patterns that stultify viewers and, when feeling mischievous, they use this ability to lure travellers into bogs or off the edges of cliffs.


 * Shrikes: appear as red-capped creatures or miniature knights and either ride insects or black birds, or flit about on razor-sharp wings. The fastest and deadliest of the Spites, they form a kind of warrior class. They target their enemies’ weak points expertly, aiming for the eyes and veins.


 * Terrors: are cruel-hearted Spites who delight in taking on frightening forms and scaring travellers. They find it especially amusing to frighten people to death.

Source

 * Warhammer Fantasy RPG -- The WFRP Companion (pg. 118, 125)