Zoogs Menacing inhabitants of the deep woods, zoogs are knows of zoogs and their ways would well to treat widely dreaded and sometimes mocked from a safe news of harassment in the forest and unexplained distance Unlike many feared races, the superstitions disappearances as a cause for alarm and legends about zoogs are well-founded—they are not “misunderstood,” but are just as dangerous and unsettling as the tales tell Small, animalistic creatures, zoogs lurk in shadowed forests and burrows, waiting for unwitting prey Terrifying puppet masters, the zoogs flutter threats and taunts as they lure victims ever closer to their doom At the same time, much of a zoog’s capacity to evoke terror is situational and atmospheric Beneath the benighted treetops, their small size and natural grace produce the sense that they could be anywhere, striking from any angle Caught in the open or confronted outside their natural environment, they seem more like oversized rodents that are almost laughable For this reason, zoogs stay out of sight, relying upon misdirection and confusion before they strike Most zoogs are content to dwell in their forest homelands, but they are curious beings, and are known to roam far abroad Zoogs often accompany members of other races, hoping for protection Occasionally, zoogs make a major foray into the outside world or decide to colonize another wood Anyone who 40 History Zoogs not document their past and only keep records of current agreements and treaties—which are considered sacrosanct—nor they share oral histories among their own people, as they have no interest in dwelling on what has gone before For this reason, zoog “history” is often whatever the zoogs decide to tell a human they have chosen to trick or befriend Because of the zoogs’ secretive nature, people are often surprised to learn a colony of zoogs has been infesting a nearby forest for years, learning only of the threat they pose after an attack on a local hunter Those living near the forest may know that something is happening, as stray animals or travelers keep vanishing, but they may not realize zoogs are behind such disappearances Zoogs tend to make their homes in dark and haunted forests, where they become masters of their environs Often far worse creatures than zoogs dwell therein, and the zoogs learn caution near a lich fortress or a troll den Larger and more powerful beings often ignore the small and comparatively weak zoogs, who can then take advantage of their proximity For example, in a forest containing a dragon, the zoogs are