Editing Bleachling

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'''Bleachlings''' are a subspecies - or, perhaps more accurately, evolution - of [[gnome]]s from the world of [[Golarion]]. These rare gnomes are elder members of their species who have successfully survived the effects of the [[Bleaching]], the dread curse that affects all Golarion gnomes as they age and steals away their color, hope, and will to live. Though physically and mentally marked by their experience, bleachlings are fully healed of the deadly side-effects of this curse, and need never fear it again.

Other [[gnome]]s tend to fear and distrust bleachlings, regarding them in much the same way a [[human]] would regard a [[zombie]]; the Bleaching is almost always fatal, and combined with the tendency of gnomes to regard those suffering from the Bleaching as bringing it upon themselves... yeah, to many [[gnome]]s, bleachlings fall into the "things that shouldn't be" category. Especially because becoming a bleachling seems to make a former-gnome immortal; they seemingly ''stop aging'' after they undergo the transformation.

Whether because of this fearful distrust, or simply because they view unchanged [[gnome]]s as immature (in either the "kids who won't grow up" sense or "caterpillars who've not turned into butterflies yet" sense; it varies depending on the bleachling), bleachlings tend to withdraw from gnomish society entirely, often becoming hermits in woods, valleys, and mountaintops.

Bleachlings can be distinguished from regular gnomes by both their faded color-scheme - they never change back from the grays and whites of the [[Bleaching]] - and their calm, dreamy manner. Indeed, bleachlings are so serene and calm that many find them kind of eerie. Bleachlings almost ''never'' lose their temper, and maintain a cool discipline even in the midst of a battle. They also have an overwhelming affinity for nature, which many theorize stems from the effects of the Bleaching somehow purging them of their last broken links to the [[Plane of Faerie|First World]] and instead connecting them fully to the natural cycles of the [[Material Plane]]. As such, bleachlings overwhelmingly become [[druid]]s, or [[multiclass]] in that direction.

Mechanically, a bleachling has the following stats:
::+2 Constitution, +2 Charisma, –2 Strength
::'''Small:''' Bleachlings are Small creatures and gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty on combat maneuver checks and to their Combat Maneuver Defense, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.
::'''Slow Speed:''' Bleachlings have a base speed of 20 feet.
::'''Low-Light Vision:''' Bleachlings can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.
::'''Defensive Training:''' Bleachlings get a +4 dodge bonus to their AC against monsters of the giant type.
::'''Bleached:''' Bleachlings begin the game in the Middle-Aged age category at minimum. However, they are immune to the effects of the [[Bleaching]], as well as to the further effects of aging (any penalties incurred for starting age category remain), as per the [[monk]] and its ''Timeless Body'' feature.
::'''Bleachling Magic:''' A bleachling treats their caster level as +1 for casting [[Diviner|Divination spells]]. They may also cast ''Speak With Animals'' at will and, if they have a minimum of [[Wisdom]] or [[Charisma]] 11, they may cast ''Charm Animal'' 3/day with caster level equal to their level and DC 10 + spell's level + bleachling's [[Charisma]] modifier.
::'''Nature Affinity:''' Bleachlings gain a +2 racial bonus on Fortitude saves against diseases and poisons inflicted by fey, plants, and forest-related hazards.
::'''Hatred:''' Bleachlings receive a +1 bonus on attack rolls against humanoid creatures of the reptilian and goblinoid subtypes because of their special training against these hated foes.
::'''Illusion Resistance:''' Bleachlings get a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against illusion spells or effects.
::'''Obsessive:''' Bleachlings receive a +2 racial bonus on a Craft or Profession skill of their choice.
::'''Weapon Familiarity:''' Bleachlings treat any weapon with the word “gnome” in its name as a martial weapon.
::'''Languages:''' Bleachlings begin play speaking Common, Gnome, and Sylvan. Bleachlings with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following languages: Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, and Orc.
::[[Favored Class]]: [[Druid]] and one other of the Bleachling's choice.

Bleachlings may also take [[Gnome]] alternative racial traits. They are especially likely to take '''Academician''' (replaces '''Obsessive''', gain +2 racial bonus to one Knowledge skill) and '''Eternal Hope''' (replaces '''Defensive Training''' and '''Hatred''', grants a +2 racial bonus to saves vs. Fear and Despair, may reroll a 1 on a D20 and take the second result 1/day).

==Starfinder==
Bleachlings are still around after the Gap.  Their immunity to the bleaching has turned out to be hereditary and there are now gnomes who are born as bleachlings; how bleachlings manage to work up the motivation to even try to reproduce is unexplained but apparently it happens.  They're not the majority of the gnomish population yet but the day is coming when that will happen.  Bleachling gnomes use the standard gnomish traits in Starfinder except they get +2 intelligence where Feychildren get +2 Charisma.  They're not treated as outcasts anymore; if anything bleachlings are now the more socially well-adjusted of the two kin.  They find ready kinship with other intellectual races, and they excel in scholasticism and technomancy.  Their dour and detached outlook also makes them masterful at deadpan wit and grim humor, even if it's only a tiny flickering spark of joy in a bleak existence compared to the torrent of bliss that feychildren indulge in.

==Gallery==
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Bleaching ostertag.jpg
Bleaching 2e.jpg
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[[Category: Pathfinder Races]]