© Daniel S. Wall, April 16, 2026.
***
“When you whisper in a cave, the cave hears you. Speak with confidence, and it will know you don’t have anything to hide.”
– Folk Wisdom common to adventurers.
***
Chiroptids are a kindred of bat-like humanoids dwelling deep inside the largest of caves and dungeon networks. Often assumed to be hostile to creatures of the day, Chiroptids are actually rather indifferent to the fate of most living things. They will, however, keep tabs on anyone entering their domain. What frequently turns them against an adventuring party is an arrow fired in haste or a spell directed at a passing shadow.
With rare exceptions, Chiroptids of advanced ability devote themselves to the craft of spell casting. They are prone to use hit and run tactics against any who prove themselves a danger. Chiroptids will rarely strike on their own. When they decide a given intruder needs to be dealt with, they will usually wait until an enemy runs into conflict with some 3rd party. At such times an extra spell may well make the difference, often with its victims non-the-wiser as to the actual source of their misfortune. In such cases, Chiroptids are often quite content to see their targets abandon a quest as they are to seek lasting harm. Should someone chased out of a cavern return again, however, Chiroptids will do everything they can to bring about their demise.