Campaign Worlds/Keshyré/Creatures/The Rük
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Rük, as goblins are known in Keshyré, are commonly thought to be multiple species. The rük are actually just one species with the black rük being the primary species and the two lesser species (grey and red) of rük being subservient to the black rük. The rük correspond roughly to the goblinoids races.
As they are one species their origin differs: only the black and grey rük females are able to bear children and only the black rük males are able to sire children. Black rük females, which are rare, that mate give birth to a single black rük child or two to three grey rük children. As the black rük females are rare the males often mate with grey rük females siring red rük litters of 6 to 8 offspring all male and all sterile.
Most other species find the rük to be repulsive and as such the rük are opportunist when it comes to finding places to dwell, hardy and capable of surviving on almost any food source they will live anywhere they can.
They are similar to goblins with some differences.
d20 Statistics
Statistics for using The Rük in the d20 systems or Dungeons & Dragons.
Red Rük, 1st-Level Warrior
Small Humanoid (Rük)
Hit Dice: 1d8+1 (5 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 size, +1 Dex, +2 leather armor, +1 light shield), touch 12, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/–3
Attack: Club +2 melee (1d6) or sling +3 ranged (1d4)
Full Attack: Club +2 melee (1d6) or sling +3 ranged (1d4)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Darkvision 120 ft.
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +1, Will –1
Abilities: Str 11, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +5, Listen +2, Move Silently +5, Ride +4, Spot +2
Feats: Alertness
Environment: Anywhere
Organization: Solitary, Gang (4–9 any combination of rük), or band (10 to 15 red rük, 3 to 5 grey rük plus 2 black rük and 1 black rük leader of 2nd–4th level), warband (20–30 red rük warriors, 10 to 15 grey rük warriors, 1 to 2 3rd-level black rük sergeants, 1 black rük lieutenant of 2nd–4th level, 1 black rük leader of 4th–6th level), or tribe (40–400 plus 300% nonCombatants plus 1 3rd-level black or grey rük sergeant per 20 adults, 1 black rük lieutenant of 4th or 5th level per 80 adults, 1 black rük leader of 8th–10th level, 1 black rük cleric (shaman) of 8th–10th level, and 20–40 dire wolves.
Challenge Rating: 1/3
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +0
Red rük stand 3 to 3-1/2 feet tall and weigh 40 to 45 pounds. Its eyes are usually dull and glazed, varying in color from red to black. A red rük’s skin color ranges from any shade of orange to a deep red; usually all members of a single litter are about the same color. Red rüks wear clothing of dark leather, tending toward drab, soiled-looking colors. Red rüks speak Rük; those with Intelligence scores of 12 or higher also speak Common.
Most red rüks encountered outside their homes are warriors.
Combat
Being bullied by their bigger, stronger kin has taught red rük to exploit what few advantages they have: sheer numbers and malicious ingenuity. The concept of a fair fight is meaningless in their society. They favor ambushes, overwhelming odds, dirty tricks, and any other edge they can devise.
Red rük have a poor grasp of strategy and are cowardly by nature, tending to flee the field if a battle turns against them. With proper supervision, though, they can implement reasonably complex plans, and in such circumstances their numbers can be a deadly advantage.
Skills: Red rük have a +4 racial bonus on Move Silently and Ride checks. Challenge Rating: Red rük with levels in NPC classes have a CR equal to their character level –2.
Red Rük as Characters
Red rük characters possess the following racial traits.
- – 2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, –2 Charisma.
- Small size: +1 bonus to Armor Class, +1 bonus on attack rolls, +4 bonus on Hide checks, –4 penalty on grapple checks, lifting and carrying limits 3/4 those of Medium characters.
- A red rük base land speed is 30 feet.
- Darkvision out to 120 feet.
- +4 racial bonus on Move Silently and Ride checks.
- Automatic Languages: Common, Rük. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Elven, Giant, Gnoll, Orc.
- Favored Class: Rogue.
- The red rük warrior presented here had the following ability scores before racial adjustments: Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.
Grey Rük, 1st-Level Warrior
Medium Humanoid (Rük)
Hit Dice: 1d8+2 (6 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 Dex, +3 studded leather, +1 light shield), touch 11, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+2
Attack: Mace, Heavy +2 melee (1d8+1/19–20) or sling +2 ranged (1d6+1)
Full Attack: Mace, Heavy +2 melee (1d8+1/19–20) or sling +2 ranged (1d6+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Darkvision 120 ft.
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +1, Will –1
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8
Skills: Hide +3, Listen +2, Move Silently +3, Spot +2
Feats: Alertness
Environment: Anywhere
Organization: Solitary, Gang (4–9 any combination of rük), or band (10 to 15 red rük, 3 to 5 grey rük plus 2 black rük and 1 black rük leader of 2nd–4th level), warband (20–30 red rük warriors, 10 to 15 grey rük warriors, 1 to 2 3rd-level black rük sergeants, 1 black rük lieutenant of 2nd–4th level, 1 black rük leader of 4th–6th level), or tribe (40–400 plus 300% nonCombatants plus 1 3rd-level black or grey rük sergeant per 20 adults, 1 black rük lieutenant of 4th or 5th level per 80 adults, 1 black rük leader of 8th–10th level, 1 black rük cleric (shaman) of 8th–10th level, and 20–40 dire wolves
Challenge Rating: 1/2
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +1
Grey rük stand 6 to 6 ½ feet tall. Grey rük are the larger brethren of red rük and considerably more aggressive. Grey rük’s hair color ranges from dark reddish-brown to dark gray. They have dark grey. Large males have blue or red noses. Grey rük’s eyes tend to be yellowish or dark orange, while their teeth are yellow.
Their garments tend to be brightly colored, often blood red with black-tinted leather. Their weaponry is kept polished and in good repair.
Grey rük speak Rük and Common.
Most grey rük encountered outside their homes are warriors.
Combat
Grey rük have a strong grasp of strategy and tactics and are capable of carrying out sophisticated battle plans. Under the leadership of a skilled strategist or tactician, their discipline can prove a deciding factor. Grey rük hate elves and attack them first, in preference to other opponents.
Skills: Grey rük have a +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks.
The grey rük warrior presented here had the following ability scores before racial adjustments: Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.
Grey Rük as Characters
Grey rük characters possess the following racial traits.
- +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution.
- A grey rük’s base land speed is 30 feet.
- Darkvision out to 120 feet.
- +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks.
- Automatic Languages: Common, Rük. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Dwarven, Infernal, Giant, Orc.
- Favored Class: Fighter.
- Level adjustment +1.
Black Rük
Medium Humanoid (Rük)
Hit Dice: 3d8+3 (16 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 17 (+1 Dex, +3 natural, +2 leather armor, +1 light wooden shield), touch 11, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+4
Attack: Greatclub +5 melee (1d8+2) or javelin +3 ranged (1d6+2)
Full Attack: Greatclub +5 melee (1d8+2) or javelin +3 ranged (1d6+2)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Darkvision 120 ft., scent
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +1
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 9
Skills: Climb +3, Hide +4, Listen +4, Move Silently +6, Spot +4
Feats: Alertness, Weapon Focus (greatclub)
Environment: Anywhere
Organization: Solitary, Gang (4–9 any combination of rük), or band (10 to 15 red rük, 3 to 5 grey rük plus 2 black rük and 1 black rük leader of 2nd–4th level), warband (20–30 red rük warriors, 10 to 15 grey rük warriors, 1 to 2 3rd-level black rük sergeants, 1 black rük lieutenant of 2nd–4th level, 1 black rük leader of 4th–6th level), or tribe (40–400 plus 300% nonCombatants plus 1 3rd-level black or grey rük sergeant per 20 adults, 1 black rük lieutenant of 4th or 5th level per 80 adults, 1 black rük leader of 8th–10th level, 1 black rük cleric (shaman) of 8th–10th level, and 20–40 dire wolves)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +1
Black rük are very large and muscular, standing 7 to 7 ½ feet tall. Their hides vary from dark grey to jet black with thick coarse hair of reddish brown to brick red. Their eyes have a savage look to them an range from dark green to black with no visible pupil. Their ears are wedge shaped and their mouth is full of long sharp teeth with huge molars in the back. Their heads are shaped much like a bears and they have the same fine sense of smell. Their tough hides and sharp claws also resemble those of a bear but are far more dexterous.
Black rük speak Rük and Common.
Combat
Black rük prefer to ambush opponents whenever possible. When hunting, they normally send scouts ahead of the main group that, if they spy prey, return to report and bring up reinforcements. Black rük attacks are coordinated, and their tactics are sound if not brilliant.
Skills: Black rük have a +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks.
Black rük as Character
Black ruk characters possess the following racial traits.
- +4 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, –2 Charisma.
- Medium size.
- A black rük’s base land speed is 30 feet.
- Darkvision out to 120 feet.
- Racial Hit Dice: A black rük begins with three levels of humanoid, which provide 3d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +2, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +1, Ref +3, and Will +1.
- Racial Skills: A black rük’s humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 6 x (2 + Int modifier). Its class skills are Climb, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, and Spot.
- Racial Feats: A black ruk’s humanoid levels give it two feats.
- +3 natural armor bonus.
- +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks.
- Automatic Languages: Common, Goblin. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Elven, Giant, Gnoll, Orc.
- Favored Class: Fighter.
- Level adjustment +1.
RuneQuest Statistics
Statistics for using The Rük in Mongoose RuneQuest.
Basic Roleplaying Statistics
Statistics for using The Rük in Basic Roleplaying.
