Dustbunnies

By Schpook (dgpaul@cycor.ca)

Introduction

Those little balls of lint that hide under our beds, couches even our closets. They have a reputation and they're proud of it. In some places they even have a social structure and hierarchy, living in fear of the dreaded vacuum...

Background

For the longest time, since families have moved into hard floored abodes with nooks, crannies and covered up spots, people have talked about the balls of lint that seem to grow there on their own. "I could knit a kitten out of one of those," or "Watch out the dust bunnies are getting out of control... if you don't do something about them they'll come out and get ya," were heard by children, Dreamers and fae alike... and so the spirit's of the Dust Bunnies came into being. Or maybe it was the joke of some Pooka or Tuatha de Danaan. Who knows? They don't. They're not really big on history, because a sweep of the broom or vacuum could send them spiralling to their next incarnation.

They are probably the most numerous, but oft overlooked of the fae beings in existance... because they hide and many are really small. They also don't like dealing with the "Destroyers" who wield the brooms and vacuums and lint brushes. They generally are well hidden from the ravages of banality but fall when in a particularily sterile enviroment. Dust bunnies are mostly slow moving -- unless blown by wind.

Varieties

Note: If a dust bunny tries to stay still in a breeze it starts taking health levels of damage according to the strength of the breeze.

Fuzzies: When they first are reincarnated it usually is as a fuzzy. These are the lowest on the "social" ladder of the dust bunnies. They are much smaller than a dime even down to a small piece of lint and are often found in groups. They are usually the ones who travel the most. They have a habit of attaching themselves to clothing to find new and safer places to colonize. They subsist on lint or dust. Once they have munched enough lint and dust, they become...

(Health levels: no damage, Incapacitated, death)

Fuzz balls/wads: These are the "adolescent" form of the dust bunnies. They like hiding out in dark corners, especially under beds, couches, and in closets. They munch on dust, lint, hair, and fur. They rarely leave their abode, gaining a sense of security from the fact that they survived the fuzzy stage. Occasionally whole groups will try to catch a wind and go join a dust bunny colony if they aren't secure in their location. Once they have devoured enough dust, lint, and hair or fur they graduate to full fledged dust bunnies.

Health levels: no damage, Crippled, Incapacitated, Death

Dust critters: These are the famous dust kittens/ bunnies. These have weathered the storms and found a "safe" hidey-hole. They can move about fairly freely in their safe place and discover very minor arts -- no more than 1st or second dot. and only one or two dots at that. This is usually the largest size which can be up to the size of a rat. They also learn how to communicate with non-dust bunny chimerae and some gallain. Some even have deals with Monsters Under The Bed and In The Closet. These dust bunnies can consume almost anything up to their size. A Lost Sock, pen or some such are their favorite prey... for example.

Health Levels:

Small: Wounded, Crippled, Inc., Death
Medium: Injured, Wounded, Crippled, Inc. Death
Large: Injured, Wounded, Mauled, Crippled, Inc. Death
Queen^*: Hurt, Injured, Wounded, Mauled, Crippled, Inc. Death

^*These are the wisest and best learned of the Dust Bunnies. They may have a few dots in arts.

Dust Monsters: These are dust bunnies that are amok. They start consuming fuzzies, and fuzz wads, even dust critters (which is against dust bunny laws except in certain circumstances) growing at an alarming rate. If they are near some dust bunny society, that society usually engages in a shredding of the Monster before it gets too big. The Monsters also become more and more intelligent, able to learn more Arts... If they aren't vacuumed or shredded by other dust bunnies, they grow to the point where they can attack child then human-sized victims. They seem to overcome their frailties and have a more powerful birthright, being able to absorb living matter. Fortunately, these are very rare, but there is talk of a dust bunny society voluntarily absorbing each other to fend off intruders. In fact, once they've grown to that point, it is usually really hard to recognize them for what they are.

Dustbunny Division

Dustbunnies who are torn apart have their staminas reduced by one (but never below one unless its a fuzzy) Each new part must then make a stamina roll. Treat it as a soak diff 8 versus damage equal to the number of health levels of the previous incarnation. (Large Dust Critters split into two Fuzz Wads would take 5 damage. Note: Dust critters can only be split into Fuzz wads) Failure means death. A botch means no chance for reincarnation. They can split themselves up voluntarily... this lowers the diff on the soak to 6.

Society

Although no one outside of Dustbunny society is sure, there are rumours of entire colonies tucked away in the walls or attics of homes, but no one has verified them. The truth is rather frightening. Dustbunnies operate under a strict class structure according to size. The reason for this is obvious: a larger dust bunnies can absorb the smaller ones without a problem. One doesn't argue when one's opponent can obsorb oneself. The part of a dust bunny empire most forgotten by any mundane inhabitants of a building is where the leader of the dustcritters will be. This Queen of the Dustballs masterminds the plans for complete take-over of the household. Her troops are bunnies, mold, and rot. Sometimes, being at the top is an icky place.

Affinity

Prop

Birthrights

Absorption: They possess the ability to absorb inanimate matter that is smaller than them into their bodies, making them grow. This may lead to increased health levels. This costs a point of temp. glamour.

Cling: They can stick to anything.

Frailties

Frail: They are easily torn apart by brooms or vacuums which actually do damge to them. Or by hand even.