Rise n' Shine Thursday: The Terror of the Twin Reflection & The Dwelves of the North
Thursday, December 18, 2025
5 AM. The coffee is brewing, and the frost on the cabin windows is thick enough to see your own face in it.
That reflection is exactly what we are talking about today. Since today represents the "home stretch" of the week, and the real-world holiday is National Twin Day (and surprisingly, Answer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf Day), we are going to lean into the concept of "Reflections," "Duplication," and the frozen inhabitants of the North.
In the real world, today is National Twin Day. It’s a fun day for siblings. But in the frozen hellscape of Thrivaldi, twins aren't cute. They are a threat. However, before we get to the horror, let's look at the inhabitants of the North Pole that fit today's "Buddy the Elf" theme perfectly.
1. THE INHABITANTS: THE RIME-DWELVE
Dwelves are an off combination of Dwarves and Elves. Though they are short, they are stout, and intelligent. Their unique ancestry provides them with the best of two worlds as they kin to the skills and abilities of both Elves and Dwarves, as well as some unique developed traits like being immune to the cold.
Dwelves are hard to come by and the only known place of their inhabitance is at the North Pole in Santa's elusive village. These cunning creatures are typically good in nature, as well as caring and warm-hearted but will come together with other Dwelves to defend their integrity. At first glance these creatures appear to be Dwarves, Gnomes or Halflings but are truly different.
Kindred: Rime-Dwelve (Frost Dwarf-Elf)
The Rime-Dwelve is a creature of the deep ice, possessing the resilience of stone and the chilling grace of the winter fey.
Attribute Table
| Kindred | Lvl | STR | CON | DEX | SPD | INT | WIZ | LK | CHR |
| Rime-Dwelve | 2 | 24 (16x1.5) | 21 (12x1.8) | 17 (14x1.2) | 10 (10x1.0) | 26 (17x1.5) | 20 (17x1.2) | 10 (10x1.0) | 24 (16x1.5) |
Combat & Equipment Table
| Combat Adds | Health (CON) | Armor Value | Winter Arsenal | Special Abilities & Talents |
| +17 | 21 | 8 (Reinforced Winter Furs & Frost-Steel Plates) (Warrior Bonus: 16 Hits) | Frost-Bitten Greataxe: 5d6 + 17 (+2 Spite Dmg on 6s) Heavy Snow-Crossbow: 4d6 + 17 (No blizzard penalty) | Glacial Resilience: Immune to cold. Winter Fey Ancestry: No sleep, Adv. vs Charm. Pack Tactics: +2d6 (not 1d6) in groups. Ice-Walk: No slip on ice. Whiteout Vision: +4 to Spot hidden foes. |
2. THE MONSTER: THE MIRROR-ICE DOPPELGANGER
The Shadow in the Glare.
We’ve established that the ice in Thrivaldi is magical ("Frost-Glass" and "Iron-Ice"). So, what happens when you stare into that ice for too long? Sometimes, the reflection stares back. And sometimes, it climbs out.
This isn't a biological creature. It is an elemental construct of frozen light and jealousy. It waits in frozen lakes, glaciers, or polished shields.
The Trigger: If a player spends a turn "Searching" or "Resting" near a reflective surface, the GM rolls a hidden d6. On a 1, the Doppelganger peels itself off the surface.
Monster Statistics Table
| Role | MR | Attributes | Special Ability | Weakness |
| Assassin / Mimic | Copy | Exact Copy of Victim's STR, CON, DEX, and SPD at spawn time. | The Synchronized Strike: Always attacks the copied char. If Player rolls doubles, Monster counts as doubles (Crit damage back to player). | Shatter the Source: Smash the mirror/ice patch to deal instant Half Damage to the monster. |
3. THE LOOT: THE TWIN-SOUL COOKIE
Since today is also National Bake Cookies Day, we need a consumable item. But this isn't just a snack; it's a tactical tool.
Origin: Baked by the Hedge Wizards using the Vitality Gold Syrup we talked about yesterday.
Effect: When you snap this cookie in half and share it with an ally:
The Bond: For 1 hour, the two players are "Twinned."
The Benefit: If one player is healed, the other player heals for half that amount for free.
The Cost: If one player takes damage, the other takes 1 point of Sympathetic Pain.
4. THE GM EVENT: "BUDDY'S GREETING"
Because it is also "Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day", let's add a little levity to the grim dark.
The Encounter: The players find a Speaking Stone buried in the snow.
The Curse: Anyone who touches it is cursed with Uncontrollable Joy.
Effect: The player cannot use Stealth. They must shout greetings to every monster they see ("SANTAS! I KNOW HIM!").
Bonus: However, this confused shouting acts as a Confusion Spell (L2 SR) on enemies, who are baffled by the sudden cheerfulness in a war zone.
So, watch your reflection in the ice today. If it winks at you, smash the mirror.
Next Stop: The Friday Wrap-Up.
Product Identity & Legal The following items are designated Product Identity of Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. / The Adventures of Captain Hedges: The world of Zimrala and the continent of Thrivaldi, the specific "Hedge Wizard of the Shreveport Cabin" persona, the Rime-Dwelve, the Mirror-Ice Doppelganger, and the Twin-Soul Cookie. Monsters! Monsters! and Humans, Humans (1st Edition) are trademarks of Ken St. Andre and Troll Godfather Press and are used with permission. The statistics and game mechanics provided herein are designated as unofficial playtest material for the Tygerian Isles campaign setting. © 2025 Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. All rights reserved.
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