XVART

Small Humanoid (Xvart)

Hit Dice: 1d8 (4 hp)

Initiative: +1 (Dex)

Speed: 30 ft.

AC: 13 (+1 size, +1 Dex, +1 natural)

Attacks: Short sword +0 melee

Damage: Short sword 1d6-1

Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.

Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft.

Saves: Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +0

Abilities: Str 8, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 8

Skills: Hide +6, Listen +4, Move Silently +6, Spot +4

Climate/Terrain: Temperate and cold land and underground

Organization: Gang (4-9), band (10-100 plus 100% noncombatants plus 1 2nd-level sergeant per 20 adults and 1 leader of 4th—6th level), warband (10-24), or tribe (40-400 plus 1 2nd-level sergeant per 20 adults, 1 or 2 lieutenants of 4th or 5th level, 1 leader of 6th-8th level, and 1-6 giant rats)
Challenge Rating: 1/4

Treasure: Standard

Alignment: Usually chaotic evil

Advancement: By character class

Xvarts are a cruel, cowardly race of humanoids that live in hilly, cavernous regions. They occupy a place in humanoid society somewhere between goblins and kobolds. Although weak individually, they are extremely prolific, and are almost always encountered in large groups.

   The small, bald, blue-skinned creatures often act as intermediaries between kobolds and goblins, usually dominating the latter.

   Xvarts speak their own language; those with Intelligence scores of 12 or above speak Common or Goblin.

COMBAT

Xvarts will attack a party of humans only if they have a tremendous numerical advantage. Xvarts fear humans, but hate halflings, and will attack them even if the xvarts do not have a tremendous edge in numbers. Xvarts will also attempt to bully kobolds whenever possible.

   Xvarts will almost always try to ambush and overwhelm their opponents, preferring not to fight fairly at any time. Xvarts like to fight sleeping or resting opponents, circling them and brutally attacking before their prey knows what has hit them.

   Skills: Xvart gain a +4 racial bonus to Move Silently and Hide checks.

XVART SOCEITY

Xvart society is crude by human standards, but effective in keeping the small creatures alive. Xvarts will lair in a complex of caves or in the deep forest. Xvarts are mostly resistant to the elements, wearing simple cloth doublets. They prefer blues and greens to dress in, and except for their orange eyes, they blend into their surroundings well.

   Xvarts live for only 50 years, and it is a tough existence for them. Most creatures are larger and more powerful than they are. Xvarts mate twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. Each mating produces two children, which are cared for communally until age seven when they are old enough to assume their tribal duties of hunting and caring for the camp.

XVART CHARACTERS

A xvart’s favored class is fighter; xvart leaders tend to be fighter/sorcerers. Xvart clerics worship Maglubiyet (the Goblin deity) and can choose two of the following domains: Chaos, Evil, and Trickery.

The Xvart first appeared in the Fiend Folio (1981).