Originally known for their bloodstained wool caps, these changelings are the infamous servants of the Unseelie Court. At one time, a horde of redcaps known as the Host terrorized the countryside at night, particularly on All Hallows Eve. Fortunately, most redcaps have abandoned the grisly habit of dyeing their hoods in human blood, though some are said to continue this practice.
Unlike trolls, redcaps intimidate people not with their physical strength, but with sheer bad attitude. Their tempers are violent and their manners atrocious. Though few redcaps are outright stupid, fewer still are clever. They hold all authority in contempt unless said authority beats their brains in or flatters them. Even the best of them fight dirty; the worst are murderous thugs. There may be some redeeming quality to these kith, but most changelings never bother to look.
Redcaps´ determination may be their saving grace. Songs tell of redcaps slaying dragons and other threats to the fae. They are prized as bodyguards by masters who can earn their respect and tolerate their antics. Such masters are advised to keep healers and custodians close at hand.
Redcaps´ appetites often rival their ferocity; they are renowned for their eating prowess and often indulge in gorging contests that would make a shark vomit. Fae lore calls them "bulldogs" and states that a redcap´s will is as strong as his bite. Those actually bitten by redcaps shudder at that thought...
In bygone days these faeries bit the fingers from their victims and wore the bones for belts. Some Unseelie still practice this horror, and compound it by leaving the victims alive to boot. Sidhe knights consider killing redcaps an honor and a duty; this makes life difficult for those few who follow the Seelie Court instead of the dark one. Seelie redcaps do their best to contain their innate bloodlust and channel it towards nobler ends - like battling their own Unseelie kind.
Appearance:
Redcaps tend towards stocky builds, with grayish, mottled skin and thick, bandy legs. Even Seelie redcaps have horrid bloodshot eyes, skeletal noses and rubbery, wrinkled faces. Worst of all are their ghoulish mouths, filled with yellowed crooked, flat teeth used for grinding their pray to a pulp.
Seemings:
Childling redcaps are bullies - playground tyrants and dog-maimers whose activities are more sadistic than deadly.
Wilders are worse; these are the gangsters of the fae, vandals and malcontens who despoil things for fun. Many go in for body-piercing and take one step beyond by adorning themselves with bolts and screws bored through their flesh and into their bones. A redcap´s first such piercing is considered something of a rite of passage among the kith.
Grumps are the Unseelie favored, dominating their cousins with might and reputation. Some younger redcaps make the mistake of challenging these "old fogies"; a few even live to regret it. Seelie grumps are treasured warriors, like barbarian knights.
Lifestyles:
Redcaps prefer the cities, where their activities go unnoticed. Most join gangs (or return them) and "work" as strikebreakers, graffiti artists, boxers and muggers.
Affinity:
Nature
Birthrights:
Dark appetite - Redcaps can literally eat anything; they´ve been known to chew through cars, bite safes in two and eat their way out of locked rooms. Bulldog teeth are brutally flat and hard as steel; no one wants to understand their digestive system. Though they prefer human (or animal) meat, redcaps will eat anything.
As long as a redcap´s mouth fits around the object to be devoured, he can eat it. Large objects can be bitten into smaller pieces. Digesting something that no humans can digest (wood, steel, toxic waste) requires one point of Glamour.
Bully Browbeat - Redcaps can intimidate anything, even chimera. Difficulties of all Intimidation rolls are reduced by one, if not more. Dream creatures will likely do as the redcap commands, though a sentient one can resist by rolling its Glamour rating against a difficulty of the redcap´s willpower.
Frailties:
Bad Attitude - No one likes a redcap; he suffers a difficulty penalty (+2 or more) in any social situation except browbeating. Some noble houses will try to lock up or kill a redcap on general principle.
Quote:
"What´re you doin´ out so late, little boy? Don´t cha know it´s not safe...?"
Outlook
Boggans - Wimps.
Eshu - Good storytellers, but don´t let ´em bet you anything.
Nockers - Their bones break as easily as their toys do.
Pooka - Rugs.
Satyrs - Great drinking buddies and boon companions; if you wanna get laid, look up a satyr.
Sidhe - Weak, but powerful in their own mysterious way. If you can´t break ´em, avoid ´em.
Sluagh - These guys even creep me out.
Trolls - Good and worthy opponents, or buddies if you can befriend ´em.
-Mark Rein-Hagen
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