© Daniel S. Wall, September 27, 2026.

***

“To a dwarf she appears strong; to the elf she appears slender; and to the orc, she seems furious. A Riaspa lives in the eye of the beholder.”

– Palaris, the Pure

***

It is difficult to describe Riaspa, because few can agree on all of their features, or even of the physical description of one particular Riaspa. Whether a given Riaspa could be counted as slender or stocky depends as much on the qualities of the person telling you about her as anything else. Each person who knows a given Riaspa seems to see at least something of themselves in her.

The flexible qualities of a Riaspa are not entirely limited to her physical appearance as their associates always seem to see their own moral qualities and personality characteristics in the behavior of a Riaspa. These creatures are blessed with a number of powers reflecting their ability to mirror and reflect the skills and powers of those around them. For their own part, Riaspa seem to revel in social interaction and take great pleasure in flirting with the values and skills of their companions.

Some might wonder just what a Riaspa is really like, but this question misses the point entirely. These creatures are always a reflection of those around them.

It should be added that most seem to be rather pleased by what they see in a Rhiaspa.

Rules for playing a Riaspa in Tunnels & Trolls can be found here.