Inspiration

Inspiration comes from the strangest places.

This came to me this morning after a mis-heard Van Morrison lyric:

Clockwork Gypsies

No. Appearing : 2-12
Armor Class: 3
Move in Inches: 9
Hit Dice: 2-5 (*)
% in Lair: 15
Treasure Type: F


Clockwork Gypsies have the same reputation as regular Gypsies (i.e., that they are all thieves), but in the case of the Clockwork version this is always true.

Clockwork Gypsies surprise on 1-4 on a d6.

* Hit Dice: Roll randomly (1d4+1) for the leader's hit dice, the rest are 2 HD.

When found in lair (clockwork caravans, pulled by clockwork horses), Clockwork Gypsies number an additional 3-18 in assorted states of repair.

Oil: Since Clockwork Gypsies must be in a good state of repair to be effective, they most frequently steal oil (bartering for it if they absolutely must). Once well oiled, they surprise as above; if un-oiled, they squeak horribly and surprise is impossible. Since they are oily, however, fire-based attacks deal double damage to them. (Lightning attacks do no damage, since they are not electrically operated.)