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Wheelies were strange disc-shaped species found scattered across the wild land of Allansia.[1]
Description[]
These weird creatures were disc-shaped, with large faces in the centre of one side. From around the edge of their circular bodies sprouted four hands, enabling them to move by cartwheeling along![1]
One authority described their attack as follows:
“ The footsteps that you heard - which really ought to be called 'handsteps' - belong to three WHEELIES which now roll down the passageway towards you, forcing you back to the door. These creatures are peculiar beasts, having, instead of legs, an extra set of hands. They move by cartwheeling along at quite a rapid pace. Their heads - or at least their faces - are set in the centre of their chests. Whilst they are not well-practiced at swordsmanship given their awkward means of movement, they are excellent knife-throwers. Grasping knives from their belts as they spin along, they can launch them at a rapid-fire pace, like large catherine wheels. At the moment, three such knives are speeding their way towards you...[2] ”
Wheelies fought with small knives, which they can launch at high speed as they tumble along on their hands.[3]) Wheelies typically carried two knives - one for throwing and one for hand-to-hand fighting, although due to their odd physiology they were not so adept at this. Fighting with heavier and/or two-handed weapons was likewise rendered impossible.[1]
Additionally, some wheelies had been reported to use pellet blowpipes if their initial assault of thrown knives fails.[4]
Wheelies could sometimes find employment in the service of a lord or wizard, for they made good guards. Many a would-be thief will think twice when faced with a few of these whirling beings, throwing speeding daggers as they spin towards him.[1]
Some enterprising warlocks had attempted to create horseless chariots by chaining wheelies to each corner of the vehicle. However, they had to abandon the experiment after suffering a puncture - to themselves, courtesy of a thrown knife hurled by one of their wheelie chariot-bearers.[5]
Wheelies playing a round of "Heads and Tails".
The favourite gambling game of Wheelies is called Heads or Tails, featuring a humanoid prisoner, usually human, but most other races will do. Any victim unlucky enough to feature in such a game would usually be driven mad by their ordeal, and assuming they survive, can do nothing other than sink down into a dark corner and babble numbers to themselves.[6]
Origins and Distribution[]
Wheelies had been found in the retinue of both Balthus Dire of Craggen Rock,[2] and the Riddling Reaver at his retreat in south-western Allansia, near Arantis.[6]
Wheelies had also been encountered in the Ocean of Tempests region.[7] Most of these encounters suggested wheelies are only found on or near Allansia.
The origins of the wheelies were completely obscure, but given both their appearance and the fact they had been found serving the Riddling Reaver, it may be possible that they owed their existence to the trickster god Logaan.[8]
Further Notes[]
Further Information in Canon[]
More information can be found at:Source[10]
Out of the Pit
(Large) (pg119#*)
The Citadel of Chaos
(para139, para220#, para244, para316*, para346#)
The Riddling Reaver
(pg208*, pg209-210#)
Warlock Issue 2
(pg5#)
Notes[]
# - denotes a reference with statistics
* - denotes a picture
Appendix[]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Sourcebooks
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Out of the Pit - p.119/?? (stats & illustrated); The Citadel of Chaos - 139, 220 (stats), 244, 316 (illustrated), 346 (stats); The Riddling Reaver - p.208 (illustrated), pp.209-210 (stats); Warlock Issue 2 - p.5 (stats)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Citadel of Chaos - 316
- ↑ Dungeoneer - p.155
- ↑ The Citadel of Chaos - 220
- ↑ Warlock Issue 7 - p.15
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Riddling Reaver - pp.208-211
- ↑ Crystal of Storms - ???
- ↑ Non-canon
- ↑ Warlock Issue 2 - p.5
- ↑ Complete list of references catalogued by FF Titan Bestiary