The Strange Bestiary
In Oz, sporadic wars break out in a remote corner of Gillikin Country, a place known for the pervasive purple hue found in everything and everyone living there. The two peoples contesting with each other are the Flatheads, who dwell on the mountain, and the Skeezers, who live in a glass city in the middle of the lake near the mountain. The ongoing conflict is about fishing rights. The Skeezers refuse to allow their mountain-dwelling neighbors to fish their waters and have even gone so far as to transform the wife of the Flatheads' leader into a golden pig.
Su-Dic, the Flatheads' leader, is a disreputable man and wizard who gained his position by usurping it from three adepts who brought peace and stability during their reign. Flatheads have become much more militaristic since Su-Dic came to power. Hostilities continue to worsen, and many people fear the conflict will result in open war.
Flatheads appear human in every way except for the tops of their heads, which are as flat as boards. The shape of their skulls leaves no room to hold their brains, so each Flathead keeps his brain in a canister that he carries with him wherever he goes.
A Flathead's most prized possession is the canister holding his brain. Stealing a canister and carrying it off makes the Flathead confused and foolish until the object is returned.
Motive: Defeat the Skeezers
Environment (Oz | Magic): In a depression at the top of a mountain in Gillikin Country
Health: 9
Damage Inflicted: Minor wound (3 points)
Movement: Short
Combat: Flatheads typically carry clubs. Not normally violent, they try to capture their enemies and bring them before Su-Dic for judgment.
A group of four Flatheads can focus their attacks against one target to make one attack roll as a level 5 creature, inflicting a moderate wound (5 points) on a hit.
Interaction: Flatheads are normally simple, mountain-dwelling people—peaceful enough, if a bit suspicious of outsiders.
Use: The PCs are sent to negotiate peace between the Flatheads and the Skeezers. If the Flatheads can be freed from the rule of the wicked Su-Dic, they might give up their war-making and return to their peaceful lives.
GM Intrusion: A Flathead drops its canister and becomes violent instead of foolish. The Flathead attacks as a level 5 creature until its canister is returned to it. As a level 5 creature, it gains +2 to Armor and +15 to health, and it deals 5 points of damage.
Su-Dic: level 6; health 21; Armor 2 (from a spell); long-range spell attacks on up to three targets as a single action (5 points of fire or ice damage per attack)
Skeezer: level 3; all tasks related to fishing, boating, and swimming as level 5.