Gnome

Ingenious and full of energy, gnomes are considered to be distant cousins of the dwarven race. Even shorter than the dwarves and not equally bulky, this small-framed race compensates for the lack of muscle with ever working brains and a great aptitude for invention. Their cheerful attitude, curiosity and humour puts the gnomes among the most likely to have a good feast or a carefree dance. Apart from their joyful time, they have created some of the most impressive mechanical wonders of Etharis. Cannons, automatons, flintlocks, and explosives are all reputed to be results of gnomish brilliance. If you are looking for a gnome in a populated city, you just have to wait for the explosion to guide your steps. During the Era of Expansion, gnome settlements outside the shelter of mountains were annihilated and forced them to seek shelter in the neighbouring dwarven city of Stehlenwald. Whilst the dwarves were gazing on adamantine, the gnomes were staring at other veins of the mountain, their ingenious minds hatching a plan to win the war. They came up with a new weapon: explosives. As the dwarves charged in with their shiny new impenetrable armour, they were backed up by the sound of explosions as gnomes hurled cannonballs and dynamite at the enemy. They followed the dwarves into their centuries-long isolation. When the dwarven king voluntarily joined the Burach Empire, the gnomes followed. Now with trade reaching all across the empire, the gnomes can lay hands on even more exotic and volatile materials, pushing (or blowing) their science to new heights each passing day.
Things to Note:

• Gnomes are most commonly found in Rauland in the Burach Empire, but they have spread pretty far throughout the Empire and even beyond in some cases.
• Gnomes are generally liked, except by those who prefer the traditional ways of living.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Intelligence +2

Growth Rate & Stages

Gnomes mature at the same rate humans do, and most are expected to settle down into an adult life by around age 40.

Behaviour

Base walking speed is 25 feet.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

• Darkvision
• Gnome Cunning

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Gnomes love names, and most have half a dozen or so. A gnome’s mother, father, clan elder, aunts, and uncles each give the gnome a name, and various nicknames from just about everyone else might or might not stick over time. Gnome names are typically variants on the names of ancestors or distant relatives, though some are purely new inventions. When dealing with humans and others who are “stuffy” about names, a gnome learns to use no more than three names: a personal name, a clan name, and a nickname, choosing the one in each category that’s the most fun to say.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

The Gnomish language, which uses the Dwarvish script, is renowned for its technical treatises and its catalogs of knowledge about the natural world.

Lifespan

350-500 years

Average Height

3-4 feet

Average Weight

40 lbs.

Average Physique

Size is Small.