XVART

These small humanoid creatures have bright blue skin and orange eyes. They usually wear loose cloth doublets.

Xvarts are mediary between goblins and kobolds and will generally attack the latter. They fear humans and will only attack a human party if the xvarts are greatly in the majority.

Ordinary xvarts fight with small swords for 2-5 hit points of damage; leaders use a hand axe, mace, flail or morning star with damage by weapon type. In every group of 20 xvarts there will be one carrying a net, used to entangle and hinder opponents in melee.

Though most xvarts are of the fighter class, a few (5% of a group encountered) will have magic-use at 1st or 2nd experience level. One or more tribal shamans will be found in a xvart lair.

If 100 xvarts are encoun-tered, one will be a strong leader-type, from 3½' to 4½' tall with 8-11 hit points and attacking as a monster with 2 hit dice. 

If encountered in their lair, there will always be a leader of 11 hit points and two lieutenants of 8 hit points each, 3-30 giant rats used as guardians and females and young equal to 120% and 200% of the number of males, respectively. Shamans and xvarts with magical abilities will be present in the appropriate proportions.

Xvarts speak their own language and are fluent in the goblin and kobold tongues.

Xvarts delight in taking prisoners for torture or ransom (or both). They have been known to assist or be assisted by wererats in these endeavors. Their lair is usually in an underground cavern or deep in the heart of a forest.