Monstrous Mondays: Brindlekin

 Small folk have always found a place at the edges of fantasy worlds, halflings and hobbits in their holes, gnomes tinkering in their burrows, kender poking their noses where they don’t belong. The Brindlekin are cut from the same cloth but stitched in different patterns.

The Brindlekin populate my new world of Iriandor. Overtly, this world is for D&D 5e or Daggerheart; a bright new world where I can create something new. Brindlekin come from the question I had of "do we really need gnomes AND halflings?"

Brindlekin

The Brindlekin are little wanderers with fur-tufted ears, wide curious eyes, and a knack for mischief that borders on magical. They’re storytellers, fire-keepers, and uncanny survivors who seem to slip through the cracks of history. Villagers often dismiss them as fairy-touched cousins of halflings or gnomes, but anyone who’s traveled with a Brindlekin knows there’s something more at work, an old magic that lingers in their blood.

Brindlekin delight in new friends, good food, and dangerous dares. They’re the first to strike a bargain with the fae and the last to abandon a doomed quest. Some whisper that they are the children of forgotten gods, sent to keep laughter alive when the world grows dark.

Brindlekin (AD&D 1st Edition)

Frequency: Rare
No. Appearing: 2–20
Armor Class: 6
Move: 9"
Hit Dice: 1+1
% in Lair: 20%
Treasure Type: Individuals J, in lair U, S, T
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attack: By weapon (1–6)
Special Attacks: Mischief (see below)
Special Defenses: +1 to saves vs Spells, +10% to find/remove traps.
Magic Resistance: Standard
Intelligence: Very to Exceptional
Alignment: Neutral (tend toward Good)
Size: S (3–3½ ft. tall)
Psionic Ability: Nil
Level/XP Value: II/25 + 2/hp

Description: Brindlekin resemble halflings with a wilder cast: brindled fur-patches on their arms and faces, sharp eyes that gleam gold or green, and a tendency to twitch their noses when excited. They live in tight-knit clans but roam widely.

Brindlekin avoid combat when they can, preferring trickery. Once per day, a Brindlekin may use Confusion (single target, 1 round) or Faerie Fire as if cast by a 2nd-level druid.

These folk gather in clans of a dozen families, traveling in painted wagons or settling in hidden glades. Their culture prizes stories, songs, and dares, reckless challenges that often lead them into adventures.

Some scholars believe that Brindlekin are the rare offspring of halflings and gnomes. Other though point to a oft quoted saying among the Brindlekin that they are "children of the earth." Believing that the Brindlekin are the remaining children of long-forgotten gods. 

Brindlekin (D&D 5e)

Small Humanoid (Brindlekin), Neutral (Good)

Armor Class: 13 (leather)
Hit Points: 11 (2d6+4)
Speed: 30 ft.

STR 8 (–1)
DEX 15 (+2)
CON 14 (+2)
INT 11 (+0)
WIS 12 (+1)
CHA 13 (+1)

Skills: Stealth +4, Performance +3
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11

Languages: Common, Sylvan

Challenge: 1/4 (50 XP)

Mischief Magic (Recharge 5–6). As a bonus action, the Brindlekin casts faerie fire or forces one creature within 30 ft. to make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or become confused (as the spell, 1 round).

Nimble Escape. The Brindlekin can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action.

Actions

Short Sword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing damage.

Sling. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) bludgeoning damage.

Description: Brindlekin are curious wanderers, often mistaken for halflings at a glance. They sport brindled fur along their arms and cheeks, and their eyes glitter with mischief.

Brindlekin (Daggerheart Ancestry)

Brindlekin are small folk with wide, bright eyes and patches of brindled fur along their arms, cheeks, or temples. Their ears are fur-tufted, their voices lilting, and their laughter quick to come. Standing about 3 to 3½ feet tall, Brindlekin resemble a mix of human and fae, with a wild spark in their features. Their appearance often hints at animalistic ancestry: a striped lock of hair, whisker-like markings, or a nose that twitches when they’re excited.

Brindlekin are wanderers at heart. They travel in painted wagons or form temporary camps in forests and hidden glades, always eager to share stories, tricks, and dares. Their clans value daring and humor as much as hospitality, and they see risk-taking as a way to court fate. Many outsiders consider them reckless, but the Brindlekin say that courage is just laughter held a little closer to the heart.

They live slightly longer than humans, often reaching 120 years, though most spend their lives chasing trouble and adventure rather than comfort or longevity.

ANCESTRY FEATURES

Mischief Spark. Once per rest, mark a Stress to impose disadvantage on an enemy’s roll within Near range, or grant an ally advantage on a roll within the same range.

Nimble Step. You ignore movement penalties from difficult terrain, and you may always Hide if it is even slightly possible to do so.

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I have been sitting on this post for a while. I really want to move these guys over to AD&D, but they cover some of the same roles as my Glade Gnomes (more on them later) and gnomi. Do I need another species of small folk? Well...yes, because they are always fun and make the best sort of adventurers. But is there a niche for them? Maybe they will stay on Iriandor. Maybe even they are linked to that world in subtle and magical ways.