Malady of the Moss Maiden

MOSS MAIDEN (#13/31, #13/365) [TTHA] 

Appearance: This is a woman covered from top to toe with the lumpy, shaggy greys and greens of moss and lichen. On seeing a stranger she will hold her hands out in greeting and offer a crooked smile, revealing pointed teeth.

Distribution: Forests and Jungles across Titan.

 

Effects: A locket of Moss Maiden's hair is imbued with her powerful intrinsic magical abilities. Anyone wearing the locket around their neck can activate a one-use healing power which will restore all their scores back to their Initial level.

 

Cost: City 100gp, Town 150gp, Village 200gp (per locket)

 

Availability: Very Rare

Further Notes: The Moss Maiden is believed to be related to the Dryad (see p. XX) and the Wodewose (see p. XX).

MOSS MAIDEN (#14/31, #14/365) [OOTP IV]

SKILL: 3

STAMINA: 5

ATTACKS: 1

WEAPON: Small Claw

ARMOUR: Light

DAMAGE MODIFIER: None

HABITAT: Forests, Jungles

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1

TYPE: Plant/Humanoid

REACTION: Friendly

INTELLIGENCE: High

The MOSS MAIDEN is a nature spirit that inhabits woodlands and other forested areas of Titan, and is thought to be related to similar entities such as the Dryads and the Wodewoses. She appears as a woman covered from top to toe with the lumpy, shaggy greys and greens of moss and lichen. On seeing a stranger she will hold her hands out in greeting and offer a crooked smile, revealing pointed teeth. However, despite this slightly sinister countenance, the Moss Maiden is actually a Goodly creature, happy to offer help and advice to those of a similarly heroic yet kind-hearted alignment. 

The Moss Maiden lives in a peculiar structure within the forest, resembling a huge spherical bird's nest, woven from twigs and moss, and found just off the beaten trail, among the trees. Here she will be working hard, and heroes that assist her have been known to receive gifts, including healing, wishes of teleportation and time-loops, or enchanted items such as crystal orbs and magical balls of yarn. However, such aid does not come cheap and the Moss Maiden will typically expect an equally valuable and useful gift in return.

While the Moss Maiden is not a physically powerful creature, woe betide the fool who slays her in combat. This sorry individual will suffer the Curse of Ageing; they will feel stiff and weak, ache in every joint, with limbs that don't seem to want to work. Their hands will become bony and twisted and their face will become ancient. The curse-sufferer must reduce their SKILL by -3, their STAMINA by -6, and have a -2 penalty to their Attack Strength in combat.

One of the famous Moss Maidens from myth and legend, was Lina of the Writhing Wood, in the ancient Flat Lands, who knew the Secret of a Secret. Legend has it, a mighty hero with the magical power of True Sight, whose name is sadly lost to time, met with Lina and reported quite a different spectacle. Apparently the inside of the Moss Maiden's nest is decorated with gold, jewels and fine tapestries; a palatial dwelling where the Moss Maiden, a beautiful green-skinned woman clad in silver robes, sits on a throne. The truth in this account has yet to be verified by any active adventurers however.