Fluff Leech
Aw ... so cute—GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!!
I grew up watching Star Trek: The Next Generation so of course I was sucked into the final season of Star Trek: Picard despite not exactly loving the first two. I’ll save my full opinion of the show for another venue but it’s safe to say that Picard delivered on the fan service, with each episode chock-full of enough easter eggs to fuel several YouTube videos.
One of my favorite throwaway jokes comes in episode 6, when our heroes walk past a containment unit holding an Attack Tribble—turning the cute little pests so loathed by the Klingons into a face-biting horror worthy of a Ridley Scott movie.
Inspired, I decided we deserve we D&D players deserve our own fuzzy little leaping balls of death. My friends, I present for your gaming enjoyment, the Fluff Leech.
The Fluff Leech appears to be a harmless ball of fluff, ranging in size from a human fist to the average house cat. But once potential prey gets too close it will fly at its victim and latch on with ringed rows of razor-sharp teeth. Fluff leeches are opportunstic predators that are usually found in groups, waiting for the next meal to come to them.
Sample Encounter: What Happened in the Lab?
Once a well-ordered wizard’s laboratory, it is now smashed and abandoned. Remains of the wizard and his apprentice are scattered among the wreckage. Harmless-looking balls of pastel-colored fluff are nestled among the debris, along with valuable items and magical trinkets just begging for closer exaimination.
Details
The party instantly notices the chaos and destruction that has befallen the room. Shattered glass, broken furniture, and torn books lie scattered around. In the midst of the wreckage, the skeletal bodies of the wizard and his apprentice are sprawled on the floor, partially concealed by debris. The entire scene is eerily silent, with the exception of soft cooing sounds coming from seemingly harmless balls of fluff.
The PCs may decide to investigate the room for clues about what happened or to search for valuables. It’s an excellent location to put clues or treasure important to an ongoing quest. Among the destroyed laboratory equipment, they can find several magical trinkets and valuable items, perhaps a potion of healing, a scroll of magic missile, and a pouch of precious gemstones.
As the players move deeper into the laboratory, they might notice that the balls of fluff are more numerous near the remains of the wizard and his apprentice. If they decide to examine or touch one of the fluff balls, the fluff leeches will spring into action, using their Leaping Strike ability to launch themselves towards the nearest player character.
Make sure to include enough active fluff leeches to challenge the party’s size and level. Around 4-6 fluff leeches should present danger without overwhelming a low-level group.
After the encounter, the party can continue investigating the laboratory to uncover the truth behind the fluff leeches' presence. They may find notes or a journal left by the wizard, detailing the creation of the fluff leeches as an experiment gone awry. The wizard's research could serve as a warning to the party about the potential dangers of magical experimentation and provide an interesting story hook for future adventures.
I might have to use one of these for my AP fiction
This is brilliant!