Pathfinder Race: Stoneborn

The stoneborn are a race that I developed for use in my home setting. Though they share some features with the archetypal fantasy dwarf, my goal was to emphasize their non-humanity, encouraging players to think beyond "short bearded human". While they could be used side-by-side, I would generally recommend choosing one or the other given their mechanical similarities. 

Stoneborn

Literally carved from rock and imbued with life by a mysterious gemstone, stoneborn are an enigma to the other mortal races. They are known as vicious protectors of their underground cities and frequent wanderers, though they are often reluctant to give a reason why.

Stoneborn physiology reflects their origins: their rocky exterior is hard enough to turn aside blows, while their furnace-like interior allows them to digest nearly anything and grants great resistance to poisons and disease.

The creation of new stoneborn is a long and complex process. When a stoneborn wishes to carve a child, it undertakes a period of prayer or meditation, which establishes a mental link with the child's soulstone. It must then search out this soulstone, a process which may take years if the soulstone is deep underground or in a distant land. Once the soulstone is located, the parent will meticulously carve the child from the surrounding rock according to a mental image which comes to them during the search. The child steps forth from the rock physically fully-formed, but is not considered an adult until it has reached at least ten years of age. Upon death, the process is reversed and the body reverts to a stone statue.

Stoneborn settlements usually consist of a surface trading post, where outsiders are warmly welcomed, and tightly guarded mines, where outsiders are killed on sight. The reason for this is simple--these mines usually contain large numbers of uncarved soulstones which, if removed from the rock, can never be carved into new stoneborn.

Physical Description: Stoneborn stand about four feet tall and have solid, stocky builds. They have no hair and sharp, angular features. Rarely, their richly-colored pupils will catch the light much like a cut gemstone. Their skin has an earthy cast to it, reflecting the stone from which they were carved.

Society: Stoneborn communities frequently arise near sites where soulstones are found, and mining of other valuable materials often supports these settlements. Stoneborn society is close-knit, and they will often congregate with other stoneborn in foreign cities.

Relations: Stoneborn generally have good relations with races who respect their secrecy. Conversely, those who would invade their mines receive no mercy, and possession or trade of soulstones will earn their undying hatred.

Alignment and Religion: Stoneborn vary greatly in outlook, though a particular community is likely to share similar alignments. All stoneborn revere their creator god, as it provides the sparks of life found in soulstones.

Adventurers: Many adolescent stoneborn undertake a pilgrimage as a rite of passage into adulthood. In theory, the purpose of the pilgrimage is to seek out new sources of soulstones. Some stoneborn take a more freewheeling approach to the pilgrimage, often arousing the ire of the communities they pass through. Stoneborn searching for their child's soulstone are also often found traveling the world.

Stoneborn Racial Traits

+2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, -2 Dexterity: Stoneborn are sturdy of body and spirit, but slow-moving.

Medium: Stoneborn are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.

Slow and Steady: Stoneborn have a base speed of 20 feet, but their speed is never modified by armor or encumbrance. 

Birthstone: Stoneborn receive one of the following bonuses:

   Basalt: Stoneborn with this racial trait are treated as one level higher when casting spells with the fire descriptor or using granted powers of the Fire domain, the bloodline powers of the fire elemental bloodline, and revelations of the oracle's flame mystery.

   Gneiss: Stoneborn with this racial trait are treated as one level higher when casting spells with the earth descriptor or using granted powers of the Earth domain, the bloodline powers of the earth elemental bloodline, and revelations of the oracle's stone mystery.

   Granite: Stoneborn with this racial trait receive an additional +1 natural armor from the Sturdy trait.

   Marble: Stoneborn with this racial trait receive a +2 bonus on saves against death effects and negative energy, and automatically stabilize when brought below 0 hit points.

   Obsidian: Stoneborn with this racial trait have their unarmed damage increased by one step (for example, 1d3 becomes 1d4).

   Sandstone: Stoneborn with this racial trait receive a +5 bonus to base speed.

Darkvision: Stoneborn can see in the dark up to 60 ft.

Resilient: Stoneborn receive a +4 racial bonus on saving throws against disease and poison.

Stability: Stoneborn receive a +4 racial bonus to their CMD when resisting a bull rush, drag, reposition, or trip attempt while standing on the ground.

Stone Familiarity: Stoneborn receive a +2 racial bonus to skill checks related to stone.

Sturdy: Stoneborn receive a +1 natural armor bonus to AC.

Languages: Stoneborn begin play speaking Common and Terran. Stoneborn with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Dwarven, Giant, Gnome, Goblin, and Undercommon.