Svartalfar

Svartalfar are the descendents of fey who settled on the Plane of Shadow. By bonds of oath and bonds of blood, they became servants of a dark god. They can be found anywhere the dark god’s work is being done. Often they take the role of the leaders or protectors of cults dedicate to dark gods. Other times they use their darkly seductive natures to torment others, preferring to inflict spiritual pain over physical. They are often blamed for bringing nightmares or tragedy, even if they had no role in the events.

Physical Description: Svartalfar appear human in form, except for ears which are pointed like an elf‘s. Their skin is very pale, to the point of almost being white. Their hair color ranges from a dark blonde to bone white and both males and females wear it long and loosely bound. In addition to looking human, svartalfar have similar builds and life spans.

The most alien thing about the svartalfar is their eyes, which are solid black. They decorate their torsos and upper arms with geometric tattoos. These tattoos hold spiritual and tribal significance to the svartalfar. It is said that you can read a svartalfar’s entire life story in his tattoos.

Among their own kind, svartalfar wear dark colored clothing that show off their tattoos. For males this means that they wear only dark colored breeches and black leather boots. Females usually dress in a similar fashion, but add a halter top to the ensemble. Among other races they always add a long sleeved tunic and a hooded cloak to avoid outsiders seeing their tattoos.

Society: Most svartalfar live in small tribes of interconnected families. They are very loyal to their families and to their god, but wary of all others. The svartalfar claim that they fled the First World to escape some as yet unnamed persecution. They thus look on all other races as either potential tormentors or likely to standby while the svartalfar are tormented.

Despite that, svartalfar can form intensely strong relationships with individuals of other races. If someone succeeds in convincing a Svartalfar that they are trustworthy then they will have earned a friend for life. It is said that you know that you have earned a svartalfar’s trust if he shows you his tattoos.

Many are shocked to discover that svartalfar have a great love of beauty in all things. They decorate their homes and other structures with art and other items gathered from throughout the world.

Alignment and Religion: Among their own people, svartalfar have a very strict hierarchy and code of conduct. Everyone knows their place and how they work to advance the society as a whole. Their entire society is a meritocracy. A svartalfar moves up or down in society based entirely on his own merits.

Adventurers: Most svartalfar who become adventurers are outcasts from their society. They are those who either failed to make it in society, or who felt stifled or uncomfortable in their rigid society. More recently however, many younger svartalfar have begun to become adventurers to prove themselves in society. While still rare, it is becoming more common to find svartalfar wandering the world in search of adventure.

Male Names: Akonamu, Belat, Ceteztir, Edool, Etuto, Kofan, Narex, Oxerem, Toridoax, Xamavood.

Female Names: Azonen, Dazxa, Emila, Feti, Iluca, Irilara, Nifa, Soratire, Soxiy, Vene.

Racial Traits

  • +2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, -2 Constitution: Svartalfar are fast and darkly seductive, but they are more frail than most other races.
  • Medium: Svartalfar are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties for their size.
  • Normal Speed: Svartalfar have a base speed of 30 feet.
  • Low-light Vision: Svartalfar can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.
  • Fey Type: Svartalfar are fey for the purposes of any effect related to creature type.
  • Shadowblend: Svartalfar have an innate connection to the Plane of Shadow. Anytime they are in dim lighting conditions, they have total concealment rather than partial concealment.
  • Light Sensitivity: Svartalfar are dazzled by bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
  • Shadow Magic: Svartalfar get a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against shadow spells and effects. Svartalfar add +1 to the DC of any saving throws against shadow spells that they cast.
  • Weapon Familiarity: Svartalfar treat the spiked chain as a martial weapon.
  • Languages: Svartalfar begin play speaking Common and Sylvan. Svartalfar with high Intelligence scores can choose any language they want (except secret languages).

Random Starting Ages

Adulthood Intuitive1 Self-Taught2 Trained3
15 years +1d4 years
(16 – 19 years)
+1d6 years
(16 – 21 years)
+2d6 years
(17 – 27 years)
Middle Age (35 years) Old (53 years) Venerable (70 years) Maximum Age (70 + 2d20 years)

1 This category includes barbarians, oracles, rogues, and sorcerers.
2 This category includes bards, cavaliers, fighters, gunslingers, paladins, rangers, summoners, and witches.
3 This category includes alchemists, clerics, druids, inquisitors, magi, monks, and wizards.

Random Height and Weight

Gender Base Height Height Modifier Base Weight Weight Modifier
Male 4 ft. 10 in. +2d10 in.
(5 ft – 6 ft. 6 in.)
120 lbs. +(2d10×5 lbs.)
(130 – 220 lbs.)
Female 4 ft. 5 in. +2d10 in.
(4 ft. 7 in. – 6 ft. 1 in.)
85 lbs. +(2d10×5 lbs.)
(95 – 185 lbs.)

Racial Feats

The following feats are available to a svartalfar character who meets the prerequisites.

Alternative Racial Traits

You can exchange one or several of your character’s normal racial Traits, but of course you cannot exchange the same racial trait more than once.

As with any alternate or optional rule, you must first get the permission of your GM to exchange any of your character’s normal racial Traits for those listed here.

  • Ability: This is placeholder text.
  • Normal Speed: This is placeholder text.

Favored Class Alternatives

Instead of receiving an additional skill rank or hit point whenever they gain a level in a Favored Class, svartalfar have the option of choosing from a number of other bonuses, depending upon their Favored Classes. The following options are available to all svartalfar who have the listed Favored Class, and unless otherwise stated, the bonus applies each time you select the listed Favored Class reward.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Wayfinder #2. © 2010, Paizo Fans United. Author: Thomas Baumbach, Mark Becker, Tom Beckett, Eoin Brennan, Ryan Costello Jr., Liz Courts, Paris Crenshaw, Russell Estes, Crystal Frasier, David Fryer, Scott Gable, Trevor Gulliver, Michael Kortes, Elizabeth Leib, Hal Maclean, Dave Mallon, Jonathan McAnulty, Thomas Morrison, Eric Morton, Dain Nielsen, Ernesto Ramirez, Joseph Scott, Jason Sonia, Neil Spicer, Ian Turner, Larry Wilhelm.

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