Prootwaddles

[guymc]

Prootwaddles were quite prominent in the longest-lasting TFT campaign I was ever in (ran over 4 years) as comic relief, but occasionally as a real burden for the player characters.

It seems the local Prootwaddles in the area worshipped a deity they called "Pvod". (I wonder where that came from...?) Since the "sacred shrine" to Pvod was in an old quarry, it was basically a pile of rocks with a face painted on it.

The Prootwaddles brought Pvod offerings of food (which they usually went back and ate themselves later, having forgotten where it came from). They also sat around the idol at least once or twice a week in what passed for Prootwaddle sacred services. During this time, the wind would whistle through the pits, tunnels and caves of the old quarry, and the Prootwaddles listened quietly and intently to it, hoping to hear the Voice of Pvod. (It was the only time the Prootwaddles were ever quiet, in fact.)

Every now and then, a Prootwaddle *would* think he heard something and leap to his feet. (Well, struggle to his feet, actually.) The lucky, favored worshiper would excitedly proclaim the latest Word of Pvod. Often, this sparked an argument which led nowhere. Sometimes, though, they actually came to an agreement and acted on what Pvod told them to do. This was almost never good news.

One such pronouncement became an "annual" tradition --Pvod Provide Day. I say "annual" because Prootwaddles don't use calendars well, and they tended to celebrate Pvod Provide Day rather irregularly, sometimes several times a year.

On Pvod Provide Day, Pvod's command was that everyone provide for the Prootwaddles as gifts from the mighty Pvod. This resulted in what you might think of as "Halloween on Steroids" with groups of Prootwaddles running through the town yelling "Pvod Provide", seeking handouts.

Food was usually best, and often consumed on the spot, but the Prootwaddles were always glad to get other sorts of basic supplies, plus anything shiny. Most people in the area went along with the gag just to keep the Prootwaddles moving instead of standing around you chanting. A lot of town merchants shut their doors for the day, knowing no real business would get done anyway. Some people just stayed in, pretended they weren't home, locked their doors, and ignored it if anyone knocked.

Pvod Provide day sent us off on adventures more than once, generally because some Prootwaddle or another took off with something shiny that he wasn't supposed to have -- or was dangerous to leave in the hands of careless Prootwaddles.

By the way, I always visualized them as short (halfling sized), pudgy and bottom-heavy. Think weebles with stumpy little legs.

[ak_aramis]

Guy, that sounds like excellent fodder for a solo module... <hint><hint>

[Halgar]

Under the old rules, they could only use clubs. I figured that an experienced Prootwaddle adventurer would be really good with a club. Since they couldn't have the Literacy skill, I figured that when a Prootwaddle got a penny or two, he'd pay someone who was literate to paint words on him. You think YOU have a bad job...

[CardDiceian]

I always imagined the Prootwaddles to look something like the Pinheads from Todd Brownings 1932 film 'Freaks'.

[Steve Jackson]

Ragged, raucous, cheerful little creatures of impulse and appetite.

[stefanj]

@CardDiceian: Now imagining the Prootwaddle solidarity chant:


Goobah-gobbah, goobah-gobbah, ONE OF US, ONE OF US!

[Shadekeep]

I never used them, and barely recalled them from TFT. Hearing the name again, I assumed they are a tribal race of penguin people. I think I'd use them if they were that - clannish, superstitious, and ungainly-on-land little penguin hominids. I could see those posing an interesting quandary for players if handled right.