Ferret
Explorer
This is my favourite, it emulates a raccoon
Baervan’s wanderer
The dry thud of metal on wood echoed mercilessly, through the woods. A small figure, crouching, the small-bodied gnome had hid behind the narrow-trunked pine tree, he pattered up into the tree following a small racoon, he jumped down and caught the axe.
“This is no place for a woodsman,” Spoke the Gnome, he had surprised the man, but no less then would a bear, it wouldn’t take long to work out the silly joke, he thought. He did flinch though, but a second later replied cockily, “Is this not a wood, and I not a man?”
“It is not your business here, you must leave,” He replied, Çade lay still in the tree; poised.
“Neither is….arghh,” Çade leapt down from the tree, and landed on the poor mans face, and scratched it, “Get the damn cat OFF!”
Torben blurred forward and stuck his leg round the man's thigh, then the man cascaded sideways, his leg gave way with a short crack, on the ground. Çade still scratched at the man's face and the man still squirmed. He pulled Çade off, and made short work of the knee, bandaged him up, the raccoon watching quizzically head tilted in wonder. After it was on a splint he cast a spell that sent the man asleep, and dragged him to the outskirts, making no effort to miss the large stones, and bumping the woodcutters head, Çade giggled. Why do you care so much? Came the mental word from Çade, I will not stoop to the level of a kobold, He replied. The easiest root is not always the best. I am a wanderer of Baervan, remember?
Gnomish communities, how ever isolated, are not naive about all those that may want to remove there peaceful solace, a brand of scouts and warriors, often travelling with Scarlet squirrels, trained to protect the boundaries of their gnomish homes.
Requirements
BAB: +4
Climb: 6 ranks
Wilderness lore: 4 ranks
Gnome
Has Baervan Wildwanderer as patron deity
Has Raccoon as Animal companion
HD d8
Class Skills: The Baervan’s wanderer’s skills (and the key ability for each skill) are, Climb (Dex) Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intuit Direction (Wis), Knowledge (plants) (Int), Pick pocket(Dex, Trained) Profession (Wis), Scry (Int, exclusive skill), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str), and Wilderness Lore (Wis).
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Baervan’s wanderer is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light armor, medium armor, and shields, any oaths taken remain, barring claw bracers, which they gain proficiencies in.
Saves and BAB as Ranger
Lvls
1 Raccoon buddy, Wildshape 1/day
2 Trackless step, Scent
3 Swim, Slow fall 40ft.
4 Uncanny dodge, Wildshape 2/day
5 Paws faster then the eye, Wildshape (tiny), Uncanny cling
6 Alert, Slow fall 80ft.
7 Scamper, Wildshape 3/day
9 Vigilant
10 Slow fall Any, Wild shape (Dire)
--Class abilities
--Forest Buddy: If the character hasn't already attracted a familiar, he gains this new friend at first level. The Racoon familiar can be of any species appropriate to the area. Alternately, a DM may allow the character to gain a new racoon animal companion that does not count against the character's total of companions.
--Wildshape (Sp): The spell-like ability to Polymorph self into Small to Medium (But not a dire animal, see below) animal, and then return to the normal state, once per day. Although, only one form may be taken unlike the standard use of the spell. Hit points are regained, as stated in the spell description, as if he or she has rested for a day. Lastly, he or she cannot be disorientated as per the spell. At fifth level, s/he gains the ability to turn into a medium-sized creature, and at fifth, they may assume the shape of a dire animal.
--Trackless step (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, the Baervan’s wanderer no longer makes tracks and cannot be tracked in the wilderness.
--Scent (Ex): A normal Gnome’s nose can detect brimstone; a highly trained Nose can do far more. The Scent Special ability is gained as per the Monster manual.
--Swim (Ex): Taking after the raccoon, The wanderer, gains a swim speed of 20ft.
--Uncanny dodge (Ex): Ever alert is the Wanderer of Baervan, so he can no longer be caught unaware and lose his dex to ac, by being flat-footed.
--Paws faster then the eye (Ex): The BW Gains a +2 on their pickpocket skill, Granted by the time spent with there familiar.
--Uncanny cling (Ex): an expert at climbing, they now retain there dex mod to AC.
--Alert (Ex): Gaining more then the usual wizard from their familiar, they gain the feat Alertness, but this stacks with any other previous bonus, (The Baervan’s wanderer has the feat, the feat again from the familiar and this ability for an overall +6 bonus).
--Scamper (Ex): The raccoon pays back its friend by teaching him how to climb, and he gains a climb speed of 20ft.
--Vigilant (Ex): Ever wary and ready, the guardian of the leaf, gains an unnamed bonus to his or her initiative, of +2.
--Slow fall (Ex): As the talent of the raccoon is transferred, they gain the ability to slow the fall; when ever in the reach of a solid surface, to slow the fall by 40ft. then 80ft at 6th level then at 10th any distance. As well, they may roll 1d6X10 and stop after that much, holding on to the surface with a climb check.
