Gnomes
Patron Deity
The patron deity of gnomes is Ithrak, Deity of Chaos
The gnomes of Aethria are a diminutive and vibrant race, standing between 3 and 4 feet tall, with wiry builds that belie surprising strength. Their appearances are as diverse as their personalities—skin tones range from earthy browns and greens to pale, almost luminous hues, reflecting their affinity for the land and magic. Hair colors vary wildly, from fiery reds to deep blues and silvers, often styled in intricate braids or left as untamed manes. Their large, expressive eyes are filled with curiosity, glowing faintly when they channel magical energy.
Gnomes are driven by an insatiable curiosity and an unyielding desire to uncover the unknown. They are inquisitive to a fault, sometimes poking into matters best left untouched, and their quicksilver minds are always seeking the next puzzle or challenge. A love for invention and experimentation courses through their veins, making them unmatched artisans and engineers. However, their chaotic tendencies, inspired by their patron deity Ithrak, often manifest in unpredictable and eccentric behavior, leading others to view them as both brilliant and maddening. Despite their chaotic nature, gnomes are loyal to those they hold dear and are fiercely protective of their kin.Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
Gnomish culture is a vibrant tapestry of invention, storytelling, and exploration. Their settlements are often nestled in hillsides or hidden valleys, blending seamlessly into the natural world while teeming with mechanical wonders and magical contraptions. Gnomes value creativity above all else, and their communities are filled with workshops, libraries, and theaters where ideas flourish. Festivals celebrating the unpredictable beauty of chaos are common, with gnomes donning flamboyant costumes and reveling in spontaneous displays of magic and ingenuity.
Though they revere Ithrak, the Deity of Chaos, for the boundless potential of transformation and innovation, gnomes are not wholly tied to any one god. Many gnomes also pay homage to Daelara for her nurturing growth or Fenralis for secrets and cunning. This diverse spiritual inclination reflects their belief in embracing all facets of the world’s unpredictability.
Common Myths and Legends
Gnomes trace their origins to the Epoch of Awakening, a time when the world’s tapestry was enriched by the emergence of younger races. Legend speaks of Ithrak, wandering the realms, scattering shards of chaotic energy like seeds upon the wind. When these fragments touched the fertile valleys and rolling hills of Aethria, they sparked the birth of the gnomes. Each gnome is said to carry a fragment of Ithrak’s chaotic essence, a spark that grants them their creativity, unpredictability, and resilience.
According to their myths, the first gnome, known as Tinkulus the Boundless, emerged from a swirling maelstrom of energy and earth. He forged a clockwork heart to control the chaos within him, a symbolic act that gnomes honor to this day through their mechanical inventions and experiments. Tinkulus wandered the world, weaving threads of chaos into structures of beauty and function, teaching his kin to channel their chaotic nature into creativity and discovery.
It is said that Ithrak whispered to the gnomes, saying, "Be my hand in the world, stirring its stillness into life. Build, break, and rebuild, for only through chaos is true beauty born." The gnomes took this as a sacred mission, embracing chaos not as destruction but as a force of renewal and discovery. They believe their connection to Ithrak grants them their natural affinity for illusion magic and their inventive spark, and they honor this through their ceaseless endeavors to bring whimsy and wonder to the world.
Parent ethnicities
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