Smirre

Small beast, Neutral Evil

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)

Hit Points 44 (8d6 + 16)

Speed 40 ft., Swim 20 ft.

STR 12 (+1) · DEX 16 (+3) · CON 14 (+2) · INT 12 (+1) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 12 (+1)

Skills Deception +3, Perception +6, Stealth +5, Survival +6

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16

Languages Understands Common and Sylvan but cannot speak them; can converse freely with other Beasts

Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Traits

Beast Diplomacy. Smirre has Advantage on Charisma checks made to influence or strike bargains with other Beasts.

Keen Smell. Smirre has Advantage on Wisdom (Perception) and Wisdom (Survival) checks that rely on smell.

Relentless Tracker. Smirre can perfectly track any creature whose scent he has caught within the last 7 days, ignoring difficult terrain caused by snow or dense undergrowth while moving toward his quarry.

Actions

Multiattack. Smirre makes two attacks: one with his Vicious Bite and one with his Claws.

Vicious Bite. Melee Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) Piercing damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it is automatically knocked Prone.

Claws. Melee Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) Slashing damage.

CR 1/4 Goose Martin

The farm goose Martin (Morten) is a big, well-fattened domestic gander with snow-white feathers, a heavy body, broad webbed feet, a long neck, and a sturdy orange-yellow bill. At first he looks plump, clumsy, and comical, so the wild geese see him as a “human henchman.” Yet during migration he slims down, his muscles strengthen, and his wings grow as powerful as those of wild birds, so he begins to look like a noble creature.

His original home is a peasant farmyard in the province of Skåne in southern Sweden. The character’s background and name come from Swedish folklore and the traditions of Saint Martin’s Day, celebrated on November 10–11, when roast goose—Mårtensgås—is customarily served. It was for that very holiday that Nils’s mother planned to slaughter the fattened Martin. Throughout the adventure he proves himself a loyal, caring, and courageous companion.

Lore

She is more than a hundred years old, and every wild goose has heard of her and considers it an honor to join her flock. She’s named for Kebnekaise, the tallest and most majestic mountain in northern Sweden, the place her birds fly to every spring in flawless formation.

Akka’s look betrays her great age. From head to tail she’s wrapped in gray feathers, and — unlike younger birds — her plumage is perfectly uniform, without a single lighter spot. The most noticeable thing about her is a damaged wing that never fully unfolds, the relic of an old injury; but the flaw is only cosmetic: it’s never kept her from covering vast distances.

From The Fairy Tale Compendium · Fern Flower Press