The Sparrials are a small, vaguely feline race, descended from a tree-dwelling
predator. They are bipedal; their hands have four skeletally-thin opposable
fingers with retractable claws. They are sleekly furred; most coats have
varying patterns of brown or rust, but albinos are relatively common. The
mouth is the most "alien" feature; closed, it does not look unusual,
but it contains several fleshy organs and grids of rough, serrated bone
that serve as teeth.
Environment: Sparrials are native to a .95 G Terrestrial world,
with an average temperature of 65 degrees F -- cool by human standards.
They have a wider temperature tolerance than humans, however, and can live
anywhere a human can. They breathe a standard Terran oxygen mix at .97 atmospheres.
Advantages and Disadvantages: Sparrials have a -3 to ST, +2 to
DX, and +1 to HT. They automatically have the advantages of Night Vision,
+2 Acute Taste and Smell, and +3 to Detect Lies skill vs. humans, Sparrials
and most other races (they can "smell" fear). If they take a turn
to prepare -- using the Step and Concentrate maneuver -- they can make leaps
of twice their normal Jump distance. They have the racial disadvantages
of Kleptomania (stealing small personal items is a common form of Sparrial
competitveness), Gluttony and Stubborness. A Sparrial has normal height
and weight, by human standards, for its ST.
As the racial advantages and disadvantages of Sparrials balance out, there
is no point cost to play a member of this race.
Psychology: Sparrials are active and adventuresome, but can be
very patient when there is need. They tend to be quarrelsome among themselves
until a "pecking order" is established, through argument, battle
or clever thefts. Sparrials steal from those around them in much the same
way humans trade quips and insults -- to establish dominance and show their
worth without combat.
Sparrials react very strongly to scent. They dislike some races, and like
others, purely on the basis of odor. Human scent varies widely, in Sparrial
view. The first time a human meets Sparrials, roll 1 die and subtract 3,
and record the result. This determines how Sparrials like his odor; that
is the Sparrial reaction bonus (or penalty) to that person thereafter.
Sparrials have two sexes. Males are slightly smaller and faster than females.
