Gnome, Ice

Known as the Barbegazi, the ice gnomes can be found in isolated ice-bound locations throughout the Lost Lands, from the village of Quawnot on Libynos to the Stoneheart Ice Plateau of Akados. Few leave their glacial homes, but those that do exhibit the usual gnomish traits of intense curiosity and naïve wanderlust. These glossy whiteskinned gnomes sport impressive shocks of blue-white hair that resemble icicles. They have adapted to their cold homes and hardly notice that they live in buildings made of ice or that the chill wind cuts through the clothes of other races.

Chilly

To say the Barbegazi are used to the cold is an understatement. Even in a full-on blizzard they can be found in short sleeves. They move across the ice as if it were solid ground, sit on ice carved furniture as if it were a feather mattress, and seem impervious to even the bitterest temperatures. In their isolated villages and towns they hunt seals, walrus, and polar bears, cut holes in the ice to fish, and enjoy many games. One of these involves slinging round stones down the ice and scoring points based on whose rock hits whose.

Tricksters

Few who have spent time with the Barbegazi have avoided suffering from their pranks. Often these are not dangerous, just embarrassing, but the ice gnomes sometimes forget that others are not immune to the cold. Buttocks frozen to a chair is embarrassing and painful, but the laughing ice gnome just makes it worse. In defense of their homes the Barbegazi turn this tendency towards pranks to lethal effect, creating traps that bury intruders under tons of snow or toss them into bottomless ravines.

Racial Traits

Ability Score Modifiers +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, –2 Charisma: This ability replaces the standard gnome ability score modifiers.

Ice Magic: Ice Gnomes add +1 to the DC of any saving throws against cold spells that they cast. Ice Gnomes with Charisma scores of 11 or higher also gain the following spell-like abilities:

1/day—chill metal and icicle blast (as burning hands, but deals cold damage).

The caster level for these effects is equal to the gnome’s level. The DC for these spells is equal to 10 + the spell’s level + the gnome’s Charisma modifier. This ability replaces gnome magic.

Cold as Ice: You are immune to cold damage. However, you are vulnerable to fire damage. This ability replaces hatred, illusion resistance, and keen senses.

Snow Walk: Because of its oversized flat feet, a barbegazi can walk on top of deep snow and suffers no penalties when moving through snowy or icy terrain. This ability replaces defensive training.