Rock Gnome

Lore

Rock Gnomes are a subrace of gnomes renowned for their ingenuity, craftsmanship, and curiosity. Unlike their forest-dwelling cousins, Rock Gnomes are deeply rooted in their pursuit of knowledge and innovation. They are the most industrious of the gnome subraces, often found in bustling workshops and laboratories, constantly tinkering and inventing. Their settlements are typically located in hilly or mountainous regions, where they can mine the earth's resources and delve into the mysteries of mechanics and alchemy.

Physical Characteristics

• Height: Typically stand between 3 and 3.5 feet tall
• Build: Sturdy and compact, with strong, nimble fingers
• Hair: Often shades of brown, grey, or black, usually kept short or tied back for practicality; some older gnomes may have streaks of metallic colors like silver or copper
• Eyes: Bright and inquisitive, with hues of blue, grey, or amber
• Skin: Light to medium brown, sometimes with a faint, almost metallic sheen

Society and Culture

Rock Gnome society revolves around their passion for invention and discovery. They live in well-organized communities that are often bustling hubs of activity, filled with workshops, forges, and libraries. Their homes are typically built into the sides of hills or mountains, cleverly designed to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Rock Gnomes place a high value on education and skill, often passing down knowledge through apprenticeships and communal teaching.

Key Aspects

• Inventiveness: Rock Gnomes are natural inventors, constantly seeking to improve their tools and technologies.
• Craftsmanship: They are master craftsmen, known for creating intricate and durable items, from delicate clockwork devices to powerful alchemical concoctions.
• Curiosity: Their insatiable curiosity drives them to explore and understand the world around them, often leading them to become great scholars and explorers.
• Community: Despite their individual pursuits, Rock Gnomes maintain strong communal ties, often working together on large projects and sharing their discoveries for the benefit of all.

Relations with Other Races

Rock Gnomes are generally friendly and approachable, eager to share their knowledge and learn from others. They maintain good relations with dwarves, who they admire for their mining skills and craftsmanship, and with humans and elves, who they often collaborate with on scholarly and technological endeavors. They tend to be wary of races that disdain progress or disrupt the natural order with brute force.

Common Traits

• Mechanical Aptitude: Known for their ability to create and repair intricate mechanisms and devices.
• Resourcefulness: Capable of finding creative solutions to problems, often using their extensive knowledge of various fields.
• Endurance: Despite their small stature, Rock Gnomes are hardy and can endure long hours of work in challenging environments.

Race Traits and Abilities

• Age: Mature at the same rate as humans; lifespan of 350 to 500 years.
• Alignment: Typically Good, often Lawful Good or Neutral Good.
• Size: Small (3 to 3.5 feet tall).
• Speed: 25 feet.
• Darkvision: 60 feet.
• Artificer's Lore: Double proficiency bonus on Intelligence (History) checks related to magic items, alchemy, or technology.
• Tinker: Proficiency with tinker’s tools. Can create tiny clockwork devices:
  • Clockwork Toy: Moves 5 feet in a random direction each turn.
  • Fire Starter: Produces a miniature flame.
  • Music Box: Plays a single song when opened.
• Gnome Cunning: Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic.
• Languages: Common, Gnomish

Encompassed species

• Gnome