Sprigin ⟨Gnome⟩

Sprigins, also known as gnomes, fieguls, or sprigs, are the shorn branch of the Kothogor. As descendants of the Kothogur, they are related to goblins and neblins. However, sprigins have lost the secret of metamorphosis, and have no greater forms to transform into larger versions of themselves.
Sprigins are simple and vivacious people, they go about life with an enthusiasm that is rarely seen in other races. It is said that sprigins see colors brighter than they are, hear music in even the most mundane sounds, and savor the flavor of the meanest meal. Boundless curiosity and irrepressible energy are the hallmarks of the sprigin people.

Physical Description

Sprigins are one of the smallest of the common races, generally standing just over 3 feet in height. They are surprisingly resilient, nonetheless, and not as weak as many of their foes assume. Though their diminutive stature reduces their ability to move quickly, sprigins often train to take advantage of their size, especially when fighting foes much larger than themselves.
Sprigin hair is typically quite fair, with subtle tinges of gold, red or blue. Their skin ranges from a subtle red-cream to a deep brown, and eyes are generally silver, green, gold or brown. Many prefer to augment their appearance with brightly covered makeups, face paints and hair dyes. They also tend to favor light colored clothing with bold and bright accessories, typically made from leather and fur, accessorized with jewlery of bone, feathers and colored stones.
Sprigins possess highly mutable facial characteristics, and their proportions often don't match the norm of other humanoid races. Many have overly large mouths and eyes, an effect which can be both disturbing and stunning, depending on the individual. Others may have extremely small features spread over an otherwise blank expanse of face, or may mix shockingly large eyes with a tiny, pursed mouth and a pert button of a nose. Sprigins rarely take pride in or show embarrassment about their features, but members of other races often fixate on a sprigin's most prominent feature and attempt to use it as the focus of insults or endearments.

Society

Sprigins are one of the more itinerant races of Temnia, eager to explore the world and take in what it has to offer. Sprigins can be found anywhere, but rarely in enclaves or even groups. Those who have chosen to leave Tkwel tend to follow an individual flight of fancy.
The people of Temnia tend to see sprigins as charming rubes, confusing their enthusiasm with naivete and their small stature for weakness. Some would write them off as hendonistic savages, owing to their general apathy towards “higher ideals,” their indifference to social taboos, their free usage of intoxicating substances, and their tendency to find beauty in even the simple things.

Relations

Sprigins find humans to be the most interesting of the races, since there is such a wide variety of human experiences. Sprigins are specifically very fond of the Varyag, since traveling the world is integral their society, but they are also fond of the Miryag. Tyrennhians are too condescending for sprigin taste.
Sprigins tend to find dwarves to be stodgy and dull, endlessly fascinated with history books, metalwork and assorted stone. Sprigins also find themselves constantly (if unintentionally) running afoul the murky labyrinth of dwarven social conventions, which sprigins can find frustrating.
Sprigins are generally disdainful of the Yelin, who act as if they are too good for sprigins. Aldawara typically treat sprigins better, and both have a deep respect for nature, though sprigins tend to find aldarwa too ponderous. The erume have the most in common with the sprigins, and are held in the highest esteem.
Sprigins are distrustful of the shi’ruul, since their avian appearance is reminiscent of the Ayochek that tormented the Sprigins for generations. The same holds true for the Dragonborne.

Alignment and Philosophy

Sprigins are curious, impulsive and boundlessly enthusiastic. They seek to make the most of their lives and have little patience for complex and ponderous tasks or ideas. This leads them to lean towards chaotic alignments. Sprigins are generally good-natured, and most have spent their lives protecting their kith and kin from larger, nastier adversaries. This requires a spirit of honesty and cooperation that pushes sprigins toward good.

Adventures

Sprigins typically leave their home and tribe to explore the world around them, and will find wonder in the barren expanse of the Visanti wastes or in the tumult of the streets of Vathker. Material goods tend to hold little lasting value, and are worth only what new experience it can bring them. It is said that sprigins have an almost innate sense of unnatural things, and those who would seek to explore the dangerous corners of the world feel comfort with a sprigin to guide them. Allies often find that their stature and temperament belies the strength of arms and strength of character sprigins can bring to bear.

Naming Traditions

Sprigin names are not given true names until the coming of age, at which point the child and their parents will decide upon the true name in a ritual called gnomtioc. Sprigin names are purely descriptive, and are gender neutral. Some sprigins will translate their names when speaking common, feeling that they need to properly describe their name to others, while some simply use the gnomish word, since the language has contextual implications that may be lost in translation.
Translated Names: Stalking Sword, Valor’s Heart, Reflective Word, Storm’s Arrow, Joyous Song, Springtime Sun.
Untranslated Names: Akhan, Kechin, Cashan, Tinapi, Panyuk, Shanitu

Racial Traits

Standard Racial Traits

• Ability Score Racial Traits: Sprigins are physically weak but surprisingly hardy, and their attitude makes them naturally agreeable. They gain +2 Constitution, +2 Charisma, and –2 Strength.
• Type: Sprigins are Humanoid creatures with the gnome subtype.
• Size: Sprigins are Small creatures and thus gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty to their Combat Maneuver Bonus and Combat Maneuver Defense, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.
• Base Speed: (Slow Speed) Sprigins have a base speed of 20 feet.
• Languages: Sprigins begin play speaking Gnome. Sprigins with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Dwarven, Elven, Giant, and any human language. See the Linguistics skill page for more information about these languages.

Defense Racial Traits

• Defensive Training: Sprigins gain a +4 dodge bonus to AC against monsters of the shapechanger subtype.
• Addiction Resistance: Sprigins gain a +4 racial saving throw bonus against addiction, and takes one less point of ability damage from drug use (minimum 0).
• Poison Resistance: Sprigins gain a +2 racial saving throw bonus to Fortitude saves against poisons.

Feat and Skill Racial Traits

• Keen Senses: Sprigins receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks.
• Formcunning: Sprigins receive a +2 bonus on Perception checks to notice creatures of the shapechanger subtype while they are not in their native form, such as lycanthrope in hybrid or animal form. They receive a check to notice such creatures whenever they pass within 10 feet of them, whether or not they are actively looking.
• Camouflage: Sprigins gain a +4 racial bonus on Stealth checks while within areas with the Plains terrain type.

Offense Racial Traits

• Hatred: Sprigins receive a +1 bonus on attack rolls against humanoid creatures with the shapechanger subtype because of their special training against these hated foes.
• Weapon Familiarity: Sprigins treat any weapon with the word “gnome” in its name as a martial weapon.

Senses Racial Traits

• Low-Light Vision: Sprigins can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.

Alternate Racial Traits

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Sprigin Subraces

Sprigin of Temnaran

Rock Sprigin

The most common of the sprigin, and the most commonly seen of the sprigin people, the rock sprigin are nomads at heart. Some will spend their days wandering the world in a vain attempt to see everything it has to offer. Others will stay in one place and discover everything their surrounding have to offer.
Rock Sprigin are the default Sprigin outlined above.

Spirit Sprigin

All sprigin have a connection to the Spirits of Tkwel, but some few are born with "shared soul" to one of these spirits, typically a spirit of the waters, the woods or the wind. This entanglement makes them reticent to leave their homeland, and are thus rarely seen outside Tkwel.

Alternate Racial Traits

Spirit Sprigin have the following racial traits by default:

Water Sprigin

The sprigin who live near the waters and shores of Tkwel. While they will roam up and down the riverlands and coasts of Tkwel, they rarely venture into the drylands. The water sprigin have the closest relationship with the Varyag, and also are the most commonly seen in the trading villages which make up most of the interaction between the sprigins of Tkwel and the outside world.

Alternate Racial Traits

Water Sprigin have the following racial traits by default:

Wood Sprigin

The sprigin of the forest are less ebullient and more reclusive than their water and rock cousin. Life in the forest of Tkwel is serene and beautiful, but fraught with peril. The wood sprigin live closer to the Ayochek than their free-roaming kin, and having such dire predators lurking in the shadows makes these sprigin much less interested in the unexplored. There are more wood sprigin than their water or spirit cousins, but most remain within the forests that they revere and protect.

Alternate Racial Traits

Wood Sprigin have the following racial traits by default:

Sprigin of Quan Shu

Thayas Sprigin

The sprigin of Quan Shu, desperate for protection from the conquering armies of Narim Tzin, struck a bargain with a being from beyond the scope of mortal understanding. Thayas'ulgurak agreed to shelter the gnomes, and in exchange, they work to bring their lord and savior fully into Temnia.

Alternate Racial Traits

Thayas Sprigin have the following racial traits by default:

Random Starting Ages

Intuitive	Self-Taught	Trained
2d6+30	3d6+30	4d6+30

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Random Height & Weight

Gender	Height (inches)	Weight (pounds)
Male	4d8+76	(4d8*9)+220
Female	4d8+73	(4d8*9)+180

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Races of Temnia