I think they originated in something called The Fantasy Trip: they certainly turned up in at least 1 other RPG. They're diminutive humanoids -- possibly with unusually-shaped faces -- whose main attribute, once you're round the Reduced Height, Reduced Strength, and Non-Improved Dex, is that their maximum Intelligence tended to be 6 on a 3d6. And among their characteristics is that they can (and do) forget to breathe. So every few turns, the prootwaddle has to roll to see if s/he remembered. if not, they (irritatingly) don't die, but just fall into a coma until they remember. They also fixate, especially on Player Characters. And they say "proot". Quite loudly. And more repeatedly as they get Interested. Which is one of the reasons (I suspect) for the forgetting to breathe -- they're too busy remembering what it is that's caught their attention, how many friends they want to share it with, and how to pronounce their racial call.
Basically, if you're Alone in a Dungeon, and you hear, down a corridor, a mournful "proot! Proo-oot!", Don't Go That Way. Even if the option is a dragon, or Boris Johnson. Strong men have killed themselves rather than know that, every time they move, a voice will say "proot ?" (in a rising tone).
Bless you, and all the best for the Welsh-themed thingummie. Mind out for the Sheep-In-Suspenders.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
I owe you ....
Date: 2009-03-06 12:56 pm (UTC)I think they originated in something called The Fantasy Trip: they certainly turned up in at least 1 other RPG. They're diminutive humanoids -- possibly with unusually-shaped faces -- whose main attribute, once you're round the Reduced Height, Reduced Strength, and Non-Improved Dex, is that their maximum Intelligence tended to be 6 on a 3d6. And among their characteristics is that they can (and do) forget to breathe. So every few turns, the prootwaddle has to roll to see if s/he remembered. if not, they (irritatingly) don't die, but just fall into a coma until they remember. They also fixate, especially on Player Characters. And they say "proot". Quite loudly. And more repeatedly as they get Interested. Which is one of the reasons (I suspect) for the forgetting to breathe -- they're too busy remembering what it is that's caught their attention, how many friends they want to share it with, and how to pronounce their racial call.
Basically, if you're Alone in a Dungeon, and you hear, down a corridor, a mournful "proot! Proo-oot!", Don't Go That Way. Even if the option is a dragon, or Boris Johnson. Strong men have killed themselves rather than know that, every time they move, a voice will say "proot ?" (in a rising tone).
Bless you, and all the best for the Welsh-themed thingummie. Mind out for the Sheep-In-Suspenders.