Deep Gnomes/Svirfneblin

*"Tell you a joke? Really? Have you seen exactly what kind of place the Hollow is? A joke! I'll give you a joke! You are if you think this is a place for jokes!"- Schnidgack Cragstasher, svirfneblin rockwarden, to a visting adventurer, mistaking him for a prankster.*

*"They call themselves, svirfneblin, in their own tongue. I call them enemies of Lolth."-Alaustree Omrabar, drow priestess, to her army of fanatics before leading a raid into The Hollow.*

*"They're salvation! That's what they are!"-Jek, human, former slave of drow priestess Alaustree Omrabar, answering questions about who had rescued him.*

## Physical Description:

Deep gnomes share very few physical traits with their tinker cousins, making it obvious to even the most casual observer that they are nearly separate races. They share the same stature and oversized limbs but the similarities end there. Deep gnomes have large, pale eyes with pupils that lack any color, making them appear blind to the casual observer. Their skin is a stone grey color, almost slate, blending in with the rocks of the Hollow. Those who do grow out their beard and hair reveal shades of white or silver exclusively, though most deep gnomes are clean shaven and the males are typically bald. They are muscular and stocky, in some ways physically closer to dwarves than gnomes. In terms of dress, svirfneblin wear simple, practical clothing that both help them blend in with their surroundings and protect them from harm. Deep gnomes value function over form and place little value on flashy colors, unless those colors come from gemstones. Body modification is almost unheard of among the svirfneblin, another difference from the tinkers.

## History:

The Hollow is a dangerous place. It's an alien, murderous realm hiding beneath the surface and home to all manner of monsters and beasts. However, there is an industrious people who have managed to survive and even thrive down in the darkness without giving into evil impulses. These simple folk toil away in their mines, seeking to live ignored in their hidden cities. The ancient origins of the deep gnome are unknown. While some scholars connect them to the mind flayer flight into the Hollow after the invasion of the space-dwelling beholders, some other, conflicting, reports suggest the svirfneblin always lived in the Hollow, even before the arrival of the aberrations. Perhaps they are one of the races that can be considered Apian natives. The svirfneblin say very little about their origins, refusing to answer outsiders on matters of history or religion. Regardless of their history, the deep gnomes remain reclusive in their hidden cities, not doing harm but rarely helping outsiders. It is the only way they can keep safe. While their records are silent for long stretches, the codes of friendship with both mongrefolk and the magma dwarves stand out as points of pride in their histories. Those rare moments when the deep gnomes stepped out from isolation to offer their hand in friendship to worthy allies. Even today, these three races hold true to the ancient bonds of friendship their ancestors forged.

## Geography:

Svirfneblin are found exclusively in the Hollow. The rare one found on the surface is either an exile, trader or adventurer. Their cities are hidden from almost any who seek them, even friends and thus even the most accurate maps of the Hollow only include rough estimates of possible locations based on hearsay and whispered rumors. Occasionally, magma dwarf citadels or mongrefolk tribes will host visiting svirfneblin and they can be encountered there.

## Personality:

While deep gnomes may seem grim and reserved, nothing is farther from the truth. Deep gnomes are kind, loving and jovial folk who, once certain that someone means them no harm, present brilliant smiles and happy songs. Deep gnomes must be reserved at first to survive in such a harsh place but it is not who they are. Friends of the deep gnomes are given tales of great gleaming gemstones, poetry as impressive as any elven verse, and great quantities of friend mushrooms and lichen. Svirfneblin are loyal to their friends and kin, treating hospitality laws as sacred. It takes a lot to convince a deep gnome to allow you into his home but when you do, he'll die to protect you rather than break the bonds of hospitality. They love the earth itself, a good day's work and gemstones. Most deep gnomes are master gem cutters and even those who aren't, value the ownership of gems just for the sake of owning them. Magma dwarf traders often comment on the quality of the craftsmanship in the cutting of the stones and of the stones themselves. Svirfneblin are proud of their work ethic and have little tolerance for those who do not pull their weight. They have an understanding that the young, elderly, or disabled cannot contribute the same as an able-bodied gnome in his prime but they are expected to contribute in some small way appropriate to their situation. As long as they are truly doing all they are capable of doing, these gnomes are treated no different than the hardest working miner.

## Society:

Deep gnome society is a highly organized one, where each member of the community is given the tools needed to succeed at their assigned tasks. Leadership of the various svirfneblin communities is in the hands of a council of elders, the men and women of the community who are most revered for their wisdom and work ethic. This council will also occasionally summon and awaken an earth elemental to ask for council on whatever situation is concerning them. Svirfneblin towns all double as mines and refinement centers. With the majority of the population mining gemstones from the depths of the earth, or cutting them into proper shapes, the remaining gnomes serve as guardians or cooks. Deep gnomes eat as a community, a time of bonding and valuing another day of survival and prosperity. This ritual of a final day meal is so important that adventuring deep gnomes do their best to force their party to share an evening meal before bed as a celebration of their continued survival. Deep gnomes greatly value children and families and pregnant woman are given lighter duties and double food portions. Each child born is considered a blessing to adored, each marriage is celebrated by the community. Deep gnomes care as much for pageantry as their surface kin and love a celebration just as greatly but, like most things done by deep gnomes, outsiders will never see them.

## Religion:

While Gnarl Glittergold is respected among the svirfneblin, they primarily worship Callarduran Smoothhands, Gnarl's cousin. The patron of their people, Callarduran taught them stealth and gem cutting, which he himself is a master of. He encourages cooperation among all deep gnomes and militant protection of their communities.

## Alignment:

Most deep gnomes are lawful or neutral good. They lack the mischievous ways of the tinker, forest or even sea gnome but they are among few Hollow races to genuinely be noble beings.

## Relations:

Deep gnomes are isolationist mostly by necessity but they do have allies. Mongrelfolk and magma dwarves both have written contracts of friendship and camaraderie that are deeply treasured by the gnomes. These treaties have saved the colonies of these different peoples more than once. They will also openly talk with the desmodu when encountered and the two races have amicable relations. All other Hollow races are avoided or fought. Deep gnomes will be on friendly terms with their surface cousins and with surface dwarves when they meet, though this happens rarely.

## Language:

Deep gnomes speak common, gnome and undercommon. Many also learn terran to better communicate with their elemental guardians.

## Adventurers:

The odd deep gnome adventurer is typically an explorer or a merchant, either topside or not. Occasionally, lone survivors of caravans or deep gnome settlements will strike out on their own rather than risk wandering in The Hollow. This is the typical lot of a deep gnome adventurer. There are a few however who feel gnome curiosity and leave their homes for the simple desire to see Apia, or to find as many gemstones as they can.

## Names:

Deep gnomes have names similar to dwarves with a simple first name and then a clan name, usually indicative of what that particular family has done. As deep gnomes are very proud of their families and family linage, a deep gnome will often use his entire name even with not necessary.

**Example male names:** Fredgu,Thothan, Zogland, Snugend, Gudmink, Thakthund, Brockted, Zidlers, Dracke

**Example female names:** Bulschid, Shatra, Kicknid, Gruta,Islis, Sherbila, Fretiedi, Usseeschi, Adlianni, Grusnelki

**Example Family names:** Fossilfinder, Cragsorter, Garnetcutter, Seamlifter, Grimedesigner, Quartzrinser, Blockcatcher, Gemsealer, Depositbiter, Claysniffer, Pebblebiter

## Traits:

As listed below...

-2 Strength, +2 Dexterity

Small Size +1 bonus to Armor Class, +1 bonus on attack rolls, +4 bonus on Hide checks, –4 penalty on grapple checks, lifting and carrying limits 3/4 those of Medium characters.

Automatic languages: Common, Undercommon, Gnome.

Bonus Language: As tinker gnome

Darkvision 60 feet

Stonecunning: +2 racial bonus on Search checks to notice unusual stonework, can automatically make a Search check for this purpose when they come within 10 feet of unusual stone, and can intuit depth underground.

+2 racial bonus on saving throws vs. spells and spell-like effects

Weapon Familiarity: Gnome Hooked Hammers

Increase the saving throw DC of all Illusion spells cast by +1.

Spell-like Abilities: 1/day - Resistance, Daze, Lullaby, caster level equals 1/2 character level, DC 10 + spell level + Cha modifier.

+4 racial bonus on Hide checks, +8 when underground.

Favored Class: Rogue