The rune circles described here feature a variety of effects, and most are particularly relevant to dwarves, gnomes, and goliaths.
Deep Hollow Circle: Bound to the Elemental Plane of Earth, a deep hollow circle strengthens the power of summoning magic used within its boundaries. This powerful bond allows spellcasters to summon more creatures than they otherwise could.
Whenever a creature with in this 20-foot-radius circle uses a summon monster or summon nature’s ally spell to summon a creature with the earth subtype, she summons an additional creature. This creature is identical to the one summoned normally and is treated as a creature summoned by the original spell cast. This means, for example, that the second creature can be dismissed, it vanishes if it goes beyond the range of the spell, and so on. Only one additional creature is summoned with each casting, regardless of the number of creatures that the spell itself summons.
After being summoned, the creatures have no special link to one another. They function just like multiple monsters summoned by the same summoning spell.
If a dwarf or gnome spellcaster uses a deep hollow circle, the creatures summoned are also improved as if the spellcaster had the Augment Summoning feat.
Strong conjuration; CL 18th; Craft Rune Circle, Earth Sense, summon monster or summon nature’s ally (any level); Price 50,000 gp.
Dwarfheim Circle: This powerful rune circle magnifies the spellcasting power of all dwarf spellcasters within its bounds.
Any dwarf who stands within this 20-foot-radius circle can use spells as if they had been improved by the Quicken Spell metamagic feat. Already quickened spells are unaffected, as are spells from magic items. Spells so quickened are still prepared and cast at their unmodified levels, and even spontaneous casters gain the benefit of the circle. As with the Quicken Spell feat, only one quickened spell can be cast per round.
In addition, any dwarf standing within the circle can activate one spell-like ability per round as a free action. Using the circle in this manner counts against the limit of casting one quickened spell per round.
Strong transmutation; CL 18th; Craft Rune Circle, Quicken Spell, creator must be a dwarf; Price 50,000 gp.
Dwarven Holdfast Ring: Dwarf cities are built to be defensible, with numerous fallback positions designed to let a few stout dwarf warriors hold off large numbers of enemy forces. A key part of these plans involves strategically placed rune circles that increase the defender’s martial abilities and help them resist magical attacks.
Any dwarf who stands within this 10-foot-radius circle gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls. Dwarves within the circle also gain a +2 deflection bonus to Armor Class against attacks made by evil creatures and a +2 resistance bonus on saves against effects created by evil creatures. Furthermore, the circle protects dwarves within from mental control just like the protection from evil spell.
These bonuses activate instantly as soon as a dwarf steps into the circle, and they are lost immediately upon leaving.
Moderate enchantment and moderate abjuration; CL 11th; Craft Rune Circle, heroism, magic circle, creator must be a dwarf; Price 20,000 gp.
Gnome Chanting Circle: Many gnome villages include a chanting circle. The circle is infused with the spirit and liveliness of the gnome race, allowing gnome bards to share their songs and stories with more passion and skill, and infusing the music of gnome bards with the power of the earth.
Any creature standing in a gnome chanting circle gains a +5 bonus on Perform checks.
In addition, illusion spells cast by a spellcaster standing within the circle are harder to resist than normal. Increase the DC needed to resist illusion spells cast by spellcasters (of any type) standing within the circle by 1.
Any gnome who stands within this 20-foot-radius circle can concentrate on one bardic music ability each round as a free action.
Strong conjuration; CL 18th; Craft Rune Circle, Spell Focus (illusion), greater harmonize; Price 15,000 gp.
Gnome Charming Circle: Gnome communities blend into the countryside, since gnomes prefer to live without walls or other defenses separating them from the natural world. This lifestyle leads to tranquil communities and a peaceful environment, but occasionally monsters take advantage of this lack of defenses to attack a community. At other times, dangerous animals simply wander through a gnome settlement. One gnome bard standing within a charming circle can usually resolve these and even more sinister incursions peacefully.
Any gnome who stands within this 20-foot-radius circle can use one of his daily uses of bardic music to cast charm monster as the spell with a caster level equal to his bard level (or the level of the class that grants him the bardic music ability).
Strong enchantment; CL 12th; Craft Rune Circle, bardic music ability, charm monster, creator must be a gnome; Price 15,000 gp.
Goliath Speaking Circle: Goliath shamans work diligently to keep their far-flung and relatively primitive race together. In times of trouble, they must be able to communicate quickly over rough mountain terrain. Through generations of careful work, the shamans have built a simple network of rune circles that allow such communication. The expense of these rune circles means that only a few exist, and those near the largest and most prosperous goliath villages. Even such sporadic communication has allowed the villages to support one another by sending warriors quickly should one of the villages need aid.
Any creature standing within this 5-foot radius circle can use sending, as the spell, as a full-round action. This special version of sending can only be used to contact individuals within the bounds of another (different) goliath speaking circle, but the caster need not know the creature contacted—he need only attempt to contact creatures within the bounds of a specific goliath speaking circle.
Moderate evocation; CL 10th; Craft Rune Circle, sending; Price 20,000 gp.
Goliath Rage Ring: The barbarian warriors of the goliath tribes fight with a nearly unmatched ferocity, but this rage fatigues the warriors, making them less effective in prolonged battles. To ensure that these warriors can defend their villages and homes with the peak of their abilities, goliath spellcasters create rune circles that support the rage of their warrior allies with the endurance of the earth itself.
Any round during which a creature remains completely inside the boundary of a goliath rage ring does not count against the duration of the creature’s rage ability. If the creature leaves the 40-foot-radius circle at any point during a battle, that round counts against the duration of the creature’s rage ability as normal.
Moderate enchantment; CL 10th; Craft Rune Circle, rage; Price 10,000 gp.
Healing Circle: The energy of life flows through this rune circle and into any spellcaster using healing magic within its boundaries. Many powerful churches use this powerful rune circle to improve their healing spells. Rune circles built in this manner are often made to blend seamlessly with the rest of the temple’s decor.
Any creature standing within this 10-foot-radius circle casts all conjuration (healing) spells as if they were improved by the Maximize Spell metamagic feat. Already maximized spells and spell-like abilities are unaffected, as are spells from magic items. Spells so maximized are still prepared and cast at their unmodified level.
Strong conjuration; CL 18th; Craft Rune Circle, Maximize Spell, mass cure light wounds; Price 50,000 gp.