Ysgardian Races: Deep Gnomes (Svirfneblin)

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Arkon
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Ysgardian Races: Deep Gnomes (Svirfneblin)

Post by Arkon »

Deep Gnome (Svirfneblin)

Though differing in minor ways from their Prime World Brethren, most keep the same characteristics and ideals as them.

Far beneath the surface of the earth dwell the Svirfneblin, or Deep Gnomes. Small parties of these demihumans roam the Underdark's mazes of small passageways searching for gemstones. They are said to dwell in great cities consisting of a closely connected series of tunnels, buildings, and caverns in which up to a thousand of these diminutive creatures live. They keep the location of these hidden cities secret in order to protect them from their deadly foes, the kuo-toa, Drow, and mind flayers.
Svirfneblin are slightly smaller than rock gnomes, but their thin, wiry, gnarled frames are just as strong. Their skin is rock-colored, usually medium brown to brownish gray, and their eyes are gray. Male svirfneblin are completely bald; female deep gnomes have stringy gray hair. The average svirfneblin life span is around the 500 to 600 years but nobody knows exactly how long they live.
Svirfneblin mining teams and patrols work together so smoothly that to outside observers they appear to communicate with each other by some form of racial empathy. They speak their own dialect of gnomish that other gnomish subraces are 60% likely to understand. Most deep gnomes are also able to converse in Underworld Common and speak and understand a fair amount of kuo-toan and drow. These small folk can also converse with any creature from the elemental plane of Earth via a curious "language" consisting solely of vibrations (each pitch conveys a different message), although only on a very basic level.
All svirfneblin have the innate ability to cast blindness, blur, and change self once per day. Deep gnomes also radiate non-detection identical to the spell of the same name. Deep gnomes have 120-foot infravision, as well as all the detection abilities of rock gnomes.

Habitat/Society:
Svirfneblin society is strictly divided between the sexes: females are in charge of food production and running the city, while males patrol its borders and mine for precious stones. A svirfneblin city will have both a king and a queen, each of whom is independent and has his or her own sphere of responsibility. Since only males ever leave the city, the vast majority of encounters will be with deep gnome mining parties seeking for new lodes.

Ecology:
Stealth, cleverness, and tenacity enable the svirfneblin to survive in the extremely hostile environment of the Underdark. They love gems, especially rubies, and will take great risks in order to gain them. Their affinity for stone is such that creatures from the elemental plane of Earth are 90% unlikely to harm a deep gnome, though they might demand a hefty tithe in gems or precious metals for allowing the gnome to escape.

Social:b[/]
Svirfneblin tend to be not very social to outsiders and when they do get in contact with them it is rarely they speak off things happening within there colony. There are a few svirfneblin that have gone out and see other planes and people but they are rare and only man have seen gone out. The few that have left the “safe” underground have been explorers and are known as great miners and craftsmen. From stories that has been told by woman that married svirfneblin that hey had a longer life span then normal people of there kin, and there were even rumours that those who were not able to get children did got them. Svirfneblin are very friendly ones you are there friend and very social once you get to know them.
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