Brownie

Description

This humanoid creature stands barely half the height of a human. It has brown, wrinkled skin, an odd flat face, and coarse, unkempt hair. Despite its ugly appearance, it bears a charming smile upon its face.

Brownies resemble tiny men about three feet in height, with brown, charmingly wrinkled skin and shaggy brown hair. They have little flat faces, no finger or toe nails, and pinhole nostrils. They are not particularly attractive creatures, but make up for it with their happy smiles and extroverted nature. Brownies are careless of their appearance, and are oft wont to dress in shabby attire that they ill-maintain.

Combat

While seemingly unarmed, brownies can produce small bows and other weapons that are woven out of magic. Their arrows can be tipped with a toxin that can place even large creatures in a deep sleep. Brownies fight craftily and well, but usually not as skillfully as their elven cousins. They are noted for their ability to drive away the evil Goblin, and to protect the families to which they are attached.

Special Arrows (Ex): Brownies employ arrows that can put a creature to sleep. Any opponent struck by this arrow, regardless of Hit Dice, must succeed on a DC 14 Fortitude save or be affected as though by a sleep spell. The save DC is Charisma-based and includes a +2 racial bonus.

Greater Invisibility (Su): A brownie remains invisible even when it attacks. This ability is constant, but the brownie can suppress or resume it as a free action.

Weave Weapon (Su): As a normal action a brownie can weave a weapon out of threads of magical energies. The weapon appears in the hands of the brownie and continues to exist while wielded. It strikes as a weapon of type good.

Wild Empathy (Ex): This ability works like the druid's wild empathy class feature, except that a brownie has a +2 racial bonus on the check.

Brownies as Characters

Brownie characters possess the following racial traits.

• -4 Strength, +6 Dexterity, +4 Charisma.
• 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 ¾ those of Medium characters.
• A brownie's land speed is 20 feet.
• Low-light vision.
• Spell resistance equal to creature's class levels + 13 (maximum 35).
• +1 racial attack bonus on attack rolls against goblins (including goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears).
• Skills: Brownies have a +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks, and a +2 racial bonus on Search, Spot, and Listen checks.
• Racial Feat: Brownies receive Stealthy as a bonus feat.
• +1 natural armor bonus.
• Automatic Languages: Common, Sylvan. Bonus Languages: Dwarven, Elven, Goblin, Gnome.
• Special Attacks (see above): special arrows
• Special Qualities (see above): greater invisibility, weave weapon, wild empathy
• Favored Class: Rogue.
• Level adjustment +3.

Brownie Society

Among the many and varied people of the fey, the brownies are often considered the best-natured and most benevolent. They are the farmers and peasants of the fey, and form tight-knit communities with strong family bonds. The brownies have their own unique brand of honor and courtesy, and will loyally serve their friends and those to whom they have formed an allegiance.

Many brownies will choose to dwell among humans in the countryside and can become quite attached to particular places or deserving families. While doing so, however, they take great care not to be discovered by their hosts. Such brownies can be quite protective, especially toward children or the cheerfully innocent, and will work to hinder goblin mischief and drive away evil fey.

Brownies work at night while people are asleep, and are known to perform any needed chores or serve favors without being asked. However they are quite grateful for any tasty morsels, bowls of creme, or sweet food left as a gift, and their appetite can be immense for such small beings. Brownies will also protect cattle and will perform mischief upon lazy servants.

It is common lore among country folk that brownies have a dislike of money and can become most offended by attempts to hire their services. If offered payment or a gift of a cloak and hood they will most often immediately depart, or may resort to malicious mischief. For the most part this lore is true, especially if the brownie has not attached itself to the household. However for a family that to which a brownie has taken particular favor, such an offense can be forgiven.

Advanced Benefits

In addition to the standard changes due to Hit Dice advancement, brownies also gain the following special benefits due to Hit Dice advancement.

• Spell resistance equal to creature's class levels + 13 (maximum 30).
• 2+ HD ― Spell-like Abilities: 1/day―mending, purify food and drink. Caster level equals class levels.
• 3 HD ― A brownie can weave masterwork-quality weapons of type good.