Stoneborn Dwarf Racial Traits

**Ability Score Modifiers:** Stoneborn characters gain a +2 racial bonus to Constitution and Wisdom, and -2 Charisma.

**Size:** Dwarves are Medium creatures and thus receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.

**Base Speed:** Dwarves have a base speed of 20 feet, but is never modified by armour or encumbrance.

**Languages:** Dwarves begin play speaking Common and Dwarven. Dwarves with high Intelligence scores can choose from: Giant, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Terran and Undercommon.

#### **Defence Racial Traits**

**Hardy:** Dwarves gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against poison, spells and spell-like abilities.

**Stability:** Dwarves gain a +4 racial bonus to CMD against Bull Rush and Trip attempts.

**Deep Warrior:** Stoneborn gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC against monsters of the Aberration and Marabunta type, and a +2 racial bonus on CMB to grapple such creatures.

#### **Feat and Skill Racial Traits**

**Greed:** Dwarves gain a +2 racial bonus on Appraise checks to determine worth of non-magical goods that contain precious metals or gemstones.

**Stonecunning:** Stoneborn gain a +2 bonus on Perception checks to notice unusual stonework such as traps and hidden doors located in stone walls or floors. They receive a check when they pass within 10ft of such features even when not actively looking for them.

#### **Senses Racial Traits**

**Darkvision:** Dwarves can see perfectly in the dark up to 60ft.

#### **Offense Racial Traits**

**Weapon Familiarity:** Dwarves are proficient with battleaxes, heavy picks and warhammers, and they treat any weapon with "dwarven" in its name as a martial weapon.

**Deep Hunter:** Stoneborn gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls against monsters of the Aberration and Marabunta type, and a +2 bonus on Survival checks to find and follow such tracks.

## **Overview**

### Physical Description

Short and stocky, about a foot less tall than humans but just as wide. Stoneborn grow their beards as long as possible, and pride themselves on how well groomed and well decorated their beards are - often braiding and adorning them with jewellery. All Stoneborn dwarves have elaborate tattoos somewhere on their body that denote social rankings, usually somewhere highly visible.

Age: Adult at 30, live to ~350.

Height: Male 4'3" to 4'10", Female 4'1" to 4'8"

Weight: Male 171-234lbs, Female 141-204lbs

### Society

Strong family structure, great reverence for elders and ancestors. A life as a Stoneborn is a life of duty unto death, they define themselves by the place they call home and refuse to leave no matter the forces that assail them there. While dwarves were traditionally clan based, the endless swarm of Marabunta that have been invading and gaining ground for years have forced unity on the clans. Thus the Stoneborn are ruled by a council of the chiefs of the largest clans, in a militarised and highly ordered state.

### Relations

The Stoneborn stand alone against a great threat that much of the world is either unaware of or refuse to acknowledge as a danger to anything but the dwarves. They have a strong ally in the multitude of displaced Earthborn dwarves, though the Stoneborn do not consider them true dwarves anymore. Other races are viewed with disdain for abandoning the Stoneborn to their fate, while an especially low opinion is reserved for Gnomes and Halflings due to a historic betrayal.

### Alignment and Religion

Stoneborn are honourable and traditional as a rule. They are most often Lawful Good.

### Adventurers

All Stoneborn dwarves reach a point in their life when they are suddenly aware of the limited time they have left, this is usually around middle age or just before, but can be much later. Upon this moment of clarity, there is usually a flurry of activity as the individual makes preparations to ensure their family's future and to ready oneself for death. Many will at this point plan to go on a 'Final Quest', some insane mission where death is the final destination, but something will be achieved in the undertaking. Part of this often includes the only time a Stoneborn will leave their underground citadels, as they travel the world searching for some answer, some artefact, some enemy. These are the Stoneborn that the world encounters, the adventuring death-seekers on a mysterious mission to salve their now restless soul.