Hedge Beast

Hedge Beast is an umbrella term to describe a certain species of Hobgoblin that inhabits the Hedge. They look like earthly animals but are goblins of a much greater intelect.

Overview
"Quit staring. What, you’ve never seen a talking bird before?"

Similar to many “species” of hobgoblin, the term Hedge Beast is more a descriptor than a race  or  breed. Within its far-reaching descriptor are included the vast majority of those hobgoblins who appear largely as mundane animals but have human (or greater) intellect and the ability to speak. They are sometimes helpful, in their own way, to the Lost. But it can also be risky to trust a Hedge Beast too far. Their appearance is deceiving; they  are  neither  ordinary  animals  given  intelligence nor creatures of pure symbolic personality. The hobgoblin formed like an intelligent lion is not guaranteed to react with a pure lion’s instinct, or to be nearly as noble as mythical lions are said to be. Hedge Beasts are what they are, and just as all hobgoblins, what Hedge Beasts are is often quite capricious.

Most Hedge Beasts are difficult to distinguish from their  mundane  kin  until  they  open  their  mouths. Their physical statistics vary wildly from species to species Unlike their non-fae kin, however, Hedge Beasts have the ability to speak in human tongues and most are gifted with human (at least) intelligence. Hedge Beasts come in an almost infinite variety of “species”: birds of the air, fish of the sea and rivers, beasts of the land. There are predator and prey Hedge Beasts, and everything in between. Even small crawling vermin might have intelligent reflections in the Hedge. There is only one limit to their size, shape or species: by definition, Hedge Beasts are intelligent hobgoblin analogues of mortal animals. A briarwolf is not a Hedge Beast, for there are no canids like a briarwolf in the mortal world.

Similar to  humans  or  changelings, Hedge Beasts run the gamut in personality, intellect and ability. Some are wickedly cunning and delight in mischief, while others are  more  charitable  in  nature,  and  might  be  given  to  assist changelings freely if some measure of fair recompense is offered. Unlike many hobgoblins, Hedge Beasts have little problem traveling outside of the Hedge, because they are protected by their physical resemblance  to  mundane  animals. While an  ursine Hedge  Beast  might  have  trouble  passing  easily  in  a  downtown urban area, a feline or canine one will not, especially if it has the wit to avoid the mundane animal collectors.

Other than their human (or better) intellect, Hedge Beasts usually have only very weak supernatural abilities, putting them at a disadvantage to many other hobgoblins in fae realms. Because of this, many either befriend or at least cooperate with other hobgoblins, especially  hobs  and  sprights,  in order to gain additional protection from the oft-dangerous world they dwell within. They may similarly seek out the Lost or humans in this capacity. Changelings can represent  a  Hedge Beast companion by purchasing  the  new  Merit listed below.

Sample Hedge Beasts
Statistics are given below for two different “breeds” of Hedge Beasts. Just as mundane  animals,  Hedge Beasts  use the highest of their Wits or Dexterity for their Defense, rather than the lowest.

Feline Aide-de-Camp (Companion 3)

Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 3, Resolve 2

Physical Attributes: Strength 1, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2

Social Attributes: Presence 2, Manipulation 3, Composure 2

Mental Skills: Academics 1, Investigation 3, Politics 2

Physical Skills: Athletics 1, Brawl 2, Larceny 1, Stealth 1

Social Skills: Empathy 3, Expression 2, Intimidation 1, Persuasion 4, Subterfuge 3

Merits: Common Sense, Fast Reflexes 1, Inspiring

Willpower: 4

Initiative: 7

Defense: 3

Speed: 10 (Species Factor 6)

Health: 3

Wyrd: 3

Contracts: Hearth 2, Vainglory 2

Glamour/per Turn: 12/3

Insect Advisor (Companion 1)

Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 2, Resolve 3

Physical Attributes: Strength 0, Dexterity 2, Stamina 1

Social Attributes: Presence 1, Manipulation 2, Composure 1

Mental Skills: Academics 2, Investigation 2

Physical Skills: Athletics 1, Stealth 2, Survival 2

Social Skills: Empathy 4, Expression 2, Persuasion 3

Merits: Encyclopedic Knowledge

Willpower: 4

Initiative: 3

Defense: 2

Speed: 5 (Species factor: 3)

Health: 1

Wyrd: 1

Contracts: Dream 1; Eternal Autumn 1

Glamour/per Turn: 10/1