Svirfneblins

In the dark below earth, svirfneblin protect their enclaves, keeping their small communities safe from the terrors of the lightless depths. Serious creatures with slate-gray skin, these gnomes vary greatly from their surface cousins by choosing to live in the shadowy depths and protect the world above from the foul creatures sharing their chambers, vaults, and tunnels.

Svirfneblin Racial Traits

• –2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom, –4 Charisma: Svirfneblin are fast and observant but relatively weak and emotionally distant.
• Gnome: Svirfneblin are humanoids with the gnome subtype.
• Small: Svirfneblin are Small creatures and gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty to their CMB and CMD, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.
• Slow Speed: Svirfneblin have a base speed of 20 feet.
• Defensive Training: Svirfneblin gain a +2 dodge bonus to Armor Class.
• Senses: Svirfneblin have darkvision 120 ft. and low-light vision.
• Fortunate: Svirfneblin gain a +2 racial bonus on all saving throws.
• Skilled: Svirfneblin gain a +2 racial bonus on Stealth checks; this improves to a +4 bonus underground. They gain a +2 racial bonus on Craft (alchemy) checks and Perception checks.
• Hatred: Svirfneblin receive a +1 bonus on attack rolls against humanoid creatures of the reptilian and dwarf subtypes due to training against these hated foes.
• Stonecunning: Svirfneblin gain stonecunning as dwarves.
• Spell Resistance: Svirfneblin have SR equal to 11 + their class levels.
• Svirfneblin Magic: Svirfneblin add +1 to the DC of any illusion spells they cast. Svirfneblin also gain the following spell-like abilities: Constant—nondetection; 1/day—blindness/deafness (DC 12 + Charisma modifier), blur, disguise self; caster level equals the svirfneblin’s class levels.
• Languages: Svirfneblin begin play speaking Gnome and Undercommon. Those with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Aklo, Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, Orc, and Terran.

Alternate Racial Traits

The following racial traits may be selected instead of existing svirfneblin racial traits. Consult your GM before selecting any of these new options.

Healthy: Svirfneblin gain a +4 bonus on Fortitude saves against disease and poison, including magical diseases. This racial trait replaces fortunate.

Stoneseer: Svirfneblin add +1 to the caster level of any spells with the earth descriptor they cast. Svirfneblin also gain the following spell-like abilities: Constant—nondetection; 1/day—magic stone, stone shape, stone tell; caster level equals the svirfneblin’s class levels. This racial trait replaces svirfneblin magic.

Favored Class Options

The following options are available to all svirfneblin who have the listed favored class, and unless otherwise stated, the bonus applies each time you select the favored class reward.

Alchemist: Add one extract formula from the alchemist’s list to the alchemist’s formula book. This formula must be at least one level below the highest formula level the alchemist can create.

Oracle: Add one spell known from the oracle spell list. This spell must be at least one level below the highest spell level the oracle can cast.

Ranger: Add DR 1/magic to the ranger’s animal companion. Each additional time the ranger selects this benefit, the DR/magic increases +1/2 (maximum DR 10/magic). If the ranger ever replaces his animal companion, the new companion gains this DR.

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