Gnomes
Gnomes, sometimes known as Gloams, are a species found in Apa Axas. Like Humans and Halflings, Gnomes are a descendent of The Most-Favoured of The Vida Quda. Amongst the smallest of all races across Apa Axas, the Gnomes are a people who value ingenuity, community and secrecy. They are often found in forested or cavernous areas, forming small villages that are hidden in the small places of the world. The Gnomes are naturally shy people, and, as such, they have adapted to hiding, becoming quick of foot and mind while also gaining the ability to create illusions for short periods of time, usually to buy them enough time to escape the view of any hostile creatures. In fact, many Gnomes have to undergo intense training to enter areas that are heavily populated such as cities, or to travel with non-gnomes; an interesting side effect of this mental discipline causes gnomes found outside of their natural habitats to become resistant to certain magical effects.
Civilization and Culture
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Many gnomes do not feel safe anywhere outside their peaceful dens; most struggle to sleep outside of their homes, and those who are forced to travel they will often spend hours each day forming a den out of the local rocks and flora before settling in for the night. This sense of creation is a remnant of their connection to the Vida Quda, and it makes Gnomes adept at learning new technologies. It is said that the Gnomes were gifted the knowledge of Artificery by partial-machine visitors from another realm who bore their stature. The gnomes learnt these techniques in mere days, becoming just as gifted as the mysterious benefactors. Since the arrival of Lucidity, it is speculated now that this may have been a group of time displaced Kep Barna.
History
The Gnomes are descendants of the Most-Favoured, a savage group of humanoids created by the Vida Quda to inherit Apa Axas after The Great Stagnancy. The Gnomes were once the smallest and weakest of the species, and, to survive the perilous conditions imposed on them by their larger brethren, learnt to hide in the shadows. While they managed to just about survive, the Gnomes were close to extinction when Gloom Mona took pity on them. She sent one of her Menagerie, the Matron of All, the Otter Sto Ororge, to lead the Gnomes to safety, guiding them to the hidden places of the world.
The Gnomes discovered a newfound sense of safety in these quiet places, namely the forests and caves of the world, and the shadowy Underdark, and soon became adapted to their environments, creating Forest Gnomes, Rock Gnomes and Deep Gnomes respectively.
Common Myths and Legends
The Gnomes have their own take on The Murky Path. To the Gnomes, The Beacons guide the Gnomes through the Murky Path as bestial spirits, while the Travesties appear as their usual horrific forms. In addition, the Gnomes believe in 8 Beacons, rather than the usual four, as they are entities who have altered the destiny of the Gnomes in some way; the Golden Owl Vida Quda, the creator of the Gnomes who guides them to bounty, Gloom Mona the Nightcat, who taught the Gnomes who to hide in the hidden places of the world, Zemer Epsh the Raven Image, who taught the Gnomes to never trust their own eyes, Retch the Nightmare Squid, who taught the Gnomes to shun destruction, Channus the Owlbear who taught the knows to accept both order and chaos, and good and evil to be necessities, Gutrot the Plagued Rat, who taught the Gnomes to fear decay, Nidryshim the Everchanging Butterfly, who taught the Gnomes to be resilient and adaptable, and Sangroke Bliss the Sun Bear, who taught the gnomes to shun unnecessary violence.
While the pantheon remains the same for the Gnome subspecies, they place emphasis on different gods within the group. Forest Gnomes venerate the Vida Quda most, Rock Gnome prefer Gloom Mona and Zemer Epsh dedc-4be9-8c43-5ea0c7a53d09) while Deep Gnomes focus on Retch, Channus, Gutrot, Nidryshim and Sangroke Bliss.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
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