Squelaiche

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Squelaiche is the leprechaun deity of trickery and illusions. His symbol is a clover leaf or a pointed red hat.

Publication history

Squelaiche was first detailed in the book Monster Mythology (1992), including details about his priesthood.^[1] His role in the cosmology of the Planescape campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground (1996).^[2]

Description

Squelaiche appears as a handsome male leprechaun, two feet in height, with a fine silk cloak and a pointed red cap.

Relationships

As the Seelie Court's Court Jester, Squelaiche may speak impudently even to Queen Titania. He is on especially good terms with fellow tricksters Nathair Sgiathach and Erevan Ilesere.

Realm

Squelaiche travels with the wandering Seelie Court from plane to plane.

Dogma

Squelaiche is a prankster and a pest, always seeking an opportunity to play a more hilarious joke on his hapless victims, but he is not always merely looking for fun. He genuinely loves tiny fey and will not permit them to be harmed or picked on by larger creatures. He is not stupid—"he is a Fool, not a fool," as Monster Mythology phrases it. He does have weak spots, however, in his overfondness for shiny gold and fine wine. He enjoys tweaking the sensibilities of lawful or evil people; he is very, very chaotic and playful, a creature of mercurial whims.

Worshippers

Squelaiche is worshipped by leprechauns and other tiny fey creatures.

Myths and legends

Squelaiche is believed to have been born from a magical plant on the plane of Arborea, an example of a deity from the natural world becoming adopted into the fey world.

Other versions

In Dragon #263, the Jester of the Fairy Court is Puck, or Robin Goodfellow, who is described as resembling a cross between a brownie and a goblin.^[3] A version of Robin Goodfellow also appeared in the Mystara supplement Tall Tales of the Wee Folk, where he is a sprite who often takes human form.^[4]

References