The Knuckledust Technocracy of the Gnomes
The three islands off the coast of the Burning Arm of Lorthal, under the shadows of the Blackrock Range, residing at the very edge of the Smogtide Bay. Here, lies the technocratic kingdom of the Gnomes - the Knuckledust Isles.
Ruled by the High Technocrat, an elected official of meritocratic oligarchs. The capital is not a specific place, rather, it is the place from which the High Technocrat had graduated and studied at in one of the Great Gnomish Universities. This position is kept for a period of four years before the elections begin once again. Those that prove themselves in this government is ruled by the smartest and the most skilled, that succeed over everyone - thus it is a very competitive society. No laws are present in this region, in the sense that there are no ethical laws against experimentation on living subjects. Gnomes do not think on these matters, and prefer to enact progress wherever it may be - thus practices of necromancy exist in this region - trying to excel all schools of magic in all aspects, artificer groups and sorceries. Cities are led by great universities, colleges, academies and schools as primary centres of culture and social interaction. Led by Deans or Principals, who afford every aspect to promote education, knowledge, technology and magic. Each university acts as a multi-faceted point of society for the gnomes - they are the religious centres, the guilds, the marketplace, the ports and the whole living space of society. Everyone goes to university, even if the stress, the rivalries and the competition literally drive them to death.
Other than the spiritual essence of innovation and progress - otherwise the Gnomes do not believe in the gods - rather, they believe that they were given life, but they do not give ample worship to their progenitor deity, rather they act in her stead to constantly progress everything, everyone and the whole world.
The greatest centre of experimental magic, research and technology in all the lands of Aetheus.
Work in progress.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Ruled by the High Technocrat, an elected official of meritocratic oligarchs. The capital is not a specific place, rather, it is the place from which the High Technocrat had graduated and studied at in one of the Great Gnomish Universities. This position is kept for a period of four years before the elections begin once again. Those that prove themselves in this government is ruled by the smartest and the most skilled, that succeed over everyone - thus it is a very competitive society. No laws are present in this region, in the sense that there are no ethical laws against experimentation on living subjects. Gnomes do not think on these matters, and prefer to enact progress wherever it may be - thus practices of necromancy exist in this region - trying to excel all schools of magic in all aspects, artificer groups and sorceries. Cities are led by great universities, colleges, academies and schools as primary centres of culture and social interaction. Led by Deans or Principals, who afford every aspect to promote education, knowledge, technology and magic. Each university acts as a multi-faceted point of society for the gnomes - they are the religious centres, the guilds, the marketplace, the ports and the whole living space of society. Everyone goes to university, even if the stress, the rivalries and the competition literally drive them to death.
RELIGION
Other than the spiritual essence of innovation and progress - otherwise the Gnomes do not believe in the gods - rather, they believe that they were given life, but they do not give ample worship to their progenitor deity, rather they act in her stead to constantly progress everything, everyone and the whole world.
TECHNOLOGY & MAGIC
The greatest centre of experimental magic, research and technology in all the lands of Aetheus.
GEOGRAPHY
Work in progress.
PERILS
- Not getting an education.
- Failed experimentations going wildly wrong.
- Constructs failing and going berserk.
- Magic that breaks and becomes broken in certain areas of the islands.
- Volcanic exposure, acid storms and snow.
- Perils of earthquakes that collapse their caverns and tunnels reaching even below sea-level.
JOYS
- Succeeding in a great discovery.
- Succeeding against a rival - outliving them, if they commit suicide, retire or fail in their experiments.
- Becoming a state-funded project that can have wider implications for the world at large.
PRODUCTS
- New technology.
- Constructs.
- Self-sufficient methods of dealing with social life (like 1930s America utility advertisements and kitchenware - modern stuff)
- Fluorescent lighting (from magic iridescent lights)
- Alchemical ingredients, materials and potions. Potential chemical and biological weapons.
- Magical floating-disk trains and railways.
HOPES
- To discover the next big thing.
- To invent something world-changing.
- To become dominant over others that treat them like Small Folk.
- To make their knowledge known worldwide.
Type
Geopolitical, Technocracy
