Hi, Hive!
May I introduce you to the Moss Gnome, the fourth creature created in the Creature by Poll series (the first one guided by me)?
Moss Gnome
Small Fey (Gnome)
Hit Dice: 3d6+3 (13 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 50 ft.
AC: 13 (+1 size, +2 Dex)
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/-5
Attack: Poison touch +0 melee touch or sickle +0 melee
Full Attack: Poison touch +0 melee touch or sickle +0 melee
Damage: Poison touch 0 and poison, sickle 1d4-2
Face/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Poison, spell-like abilities, summon plants
Special Qualities: DR 5/cold iron, gnome traits, low-light vision, speak with nature, tree stride
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6
Abilities: Str 6, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 16
Skills: Animal Empathy +8, Climb +3, Handle Animal +10 (+8 with non-animals), Heal +5, Hide +14*, Knowledge (nature) +7, Listen +12, Move Silently +6, Profession (herbalist) +8, Spot +10, Survival +8
Feats: Alertness, Great Fortitude
Climate/Terrain: Any forest
Organization: Solitary, pair or copse (3 - 12 and 1 - 4 plant creatures with 3 or less HD)
Challenge Rating: TBD (seems 2ish or 3ish to me)
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement: 4 - 9 HD (Small)
The moss gnomes, who refer to themselves as sylvwids are a small fey race somehow related to gnomes, tending the plants of the forest. Generally peaceful, they do act if something threatens their habitat.
A moss gnome looks much like a gnome in appearance, but it is clearly a fey. It's hair is composed of grasses, moss, and short vines, and it's eyes are the color of emeralds. A sylwvid's ears are long and pointed, resembling elf ears. Their skin is usually a brown color. Moss gnomes usually wear simple clothing in earth tones. There are both males and females of the race.
Despite being neutral in alignment themselves, they understand that good creatures are more likely to show respect for the forests than evil creatures, and thus favor good creatures. Yet, they do not show any close ties to non-feys, and among the feys, only good ones are generally respected. Even gnomes are only rarely seen among them, despite their relations. The only creatures really likely to become a close friend of a moss gnome are plant creatures.
Despite their preferences, it is not unknown for a moss gnome to succumb to evil behaviour todefend the forests, and there are hints that certain sylwvids develop disturbing powers, transforming them into a truly evil variety of gnomekin.
While moss gnomes normally advance by Hit Dice, several of them advance by character class. Most choose the paths of the druid or the ranger.
Moss gnomes speak sylvan, gnome, and elven.
Combat
moss gnomes usually leave combat to their plant allies, but if necessary, they join combat with either their strange greening poison or their sickles.
Poison (Ex): Poison touch, DC 12, primary 1d4 dex, secondary creature becomes greenish and grows leaves.
Spell-like Abilities: At will - diminish growth, obscuring mist and plant growth; 3/day - barkskin, entangle, goodberry, and spike growth. As a 5th level druid (DC: 13 plus spell level)
Summon Plants (Sp): Once per day, a moss gnome can summon a number of plant creatures, with a total HD of double the moss gnome's HD, with no creature having more than 1/3 the total in HD. These creatures remain for 1 hour, and cannot use their own summoning ability (if any) for 1 hour.
Gnome Traits: Moss gnomes share a number of abilities with forest gnomes, as follows:
Moss gnomes have the innate ability to pass without trace (as the spell).
+2 racial bonus to saving throws against illusions.
+4 dodge bonus against giants.
Speak with Nature (Ex): Moss gnomes can freely talk to animals, plants and rocks, as the spells speak with animals, speak with plants and stone tell. In addition, this ability allows the moss gnome to use its Animal Empathy skills on plants with an Int score below 3 (including plants without an Int score).
Tree Stride (Su): Three times per day, a moss gnome can duplicate the effects of the tree stride spell as cast by a druid of 5th level.
Skills: Moss gnomes receive a +4 racial bonus to Hide checks, *which improves to +8 in a wooded area. Also, moss gnomes receive a +2 racial bonus to Listen checks, for their keen hearing.