Gnomes
Basic Information
Anatomy
Humanoids
very short and slender
Additional Information
Social Structure
Gnomes live mostly in huge clans. The clans themselves are divided into family units. The oldest member will represent the family on the clan council, the oldest member of the clan will be sent to the town or city council etc.
The devotion of a Gnome to his family or clan is extremely high. Every personal misconduct can have a serious impact on the reputation of the family unit. Smaller misdemeanours are dealt with within the family, bigger ones have to be judged by the clan or even town council. On the other hand, tolerance for different life styles, for the urge of leaving the clan and travelling or for choosing a job outside the family business is very high. Most Gnomes will re-join the clan after some time for exploration and adventuring anyway.
Facial characteristics
Big eyes and pointy ears. in various colours, tanned faces and hair, also in many colours.
Average Intelligence
Very intelligent
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
The Tinkerer's Guild is firmly in the hands of the Gnomes. It serves not only as a representative institution for the Tinkerers within the city, but also as a voice for the Gnomish community.
The Rhynmouth Gnomish Council is the highest community organization for the Gnomes within Rhynmouth. It consists of the oldest members of all the Clans within the city.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Gnomish and Common
Culture and Cultural Heritage
The Family and the Clan are everything to a Gnome. They are extremely caring and loyal towards all family members. Help and support is extended freely and without the expectation of any payback. However, the reputation of the family and the clan also is extremely important and depends on the conduct of every single clan member.
History
Children of the Elder Dragon
Gnomes are the Children of the Elder Dragon Virida. She made her home in the Southern Jungles of Telamoth and delighted in helping a lot the native species there. She created the Winged Snake people and supported the Lizard Folk to evolve culturally and intellectually. Still she wanted to create a species, that would outshine the Orcs, Rostomir had created or the Lakelings of Azura. She created the Gnomes, who exceeded her expectation by far. They were magically extremely talented and intellectually curious. They also were good natured with strong feelings of responsibility and loyalty towards family and society. During the Dragon Wars Virida tried to stay neutral. She still managed to defend her territory against the minor dragons, but she never tried to fight her father Draugonir.The Elven Empire
When the Elves invaded, she did not expect them, to have come to conquer. That mistake proved to be fatal. She was not prepared to fight them and the Elven Arch Mages managed to surprise and kill her within the first year of them landing in Telemoth. They quickly took over the mountainous region, Virida used for her lair, and called it Alvanore. This would become the capital of the Elven Empire. After this surprise victory, the Elves had no problems of subduing all the other people in the South, including the Gnomes. The Elves had little respect for species, they did not consider Children of the Ancient One and saw no problem in subjugating the Gnome nation. The Gnomes were no longer allowed to learn or use magic. They had to give up control over their own cities and towns to Elven governors. They were also expected to pay tribute to the Elves and serve as a workforce for jobs, the Elves did not want to do themselves.The Gnomish Uprising
The Gnomes stayed under Elven control for three thousand years, but the families and clans never gave up working towards their day of freedom. They bided their time and secretly invented technologically advanced weapons to fight the Elves. Two hundred years ago, the Elven Empire was weakened and the time was right. The Gnomish Uprising started and very quickly the Gnomes managed to push the surprised Elves out of their capital, Brrzwick. They also managed to reconquer the surrounding land and towns. However, the Elven Empire hit back in a way, no one had foreseen. They cast the ritual of Deliverance and, without any warning, rained magic fire on Brzzwick. Thousands died in the bombardment. The rest had to flee. The Gnomes had become homeless.Exiles
For some time, survivors moved around Telamoth as refugees, but found it difficult to build a new homestead. Some made their way over to Calendêhl and built new communities there. About 150 years ago, one of the few Gnomish mages, Leovin Dahvinik, met the Lord Protector of Rhynmouth, Philip of Hardwick. The two men were united in a dream of a new, technologically advanced future, where knowledge and innovation would rule supreme over tradition and superstition. The Lord Protector invited Dahvinik to Rhynmouth to help build the best Academy in the whole of Telamoth, rivalled only by the Elven Universities. Dahvinik went to Rhynmouth and helped build the Silver Spire. Hardwick extended his invitation to all Gnomes and settled them in the Dun. He hoped their talent for innovation would help to fulfil his dreams for Rhynmouth. The Dun did indeed become one of the most technically advanced districts of Rhynmouth. About twenty years ago, Dahvinik made an epochal scientific discovery. He managed to store magic power within a crystal, he called Ethirium. This meant, the crystals could be used as magical batteries, making it possible for none magic users to use magical gadgets. This propelled Rhynmouth to a first class political power. Till today the Gnomes and their workshops in the Dun are the most competent tinkerers to work with Etherium and to craft the highly sought after magical gadgets and constructs.Common Myths and Legends
A legend, that is fiercely denied by the Gnomes as Elven propaganda, hints at the story of Virida using the Goblins, who has been living in the Flaming Mountains since the beginning of Telamoth, to create the first Gnomes.
Average Height
1.0 to 1.2m
Average Weight
20kg
Average Physique
Short and slender build.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Eye colour varies widely, can be blue, brown, but also purple or aquamarine. Hair colour is even more diverse, everything between white, pink, green, brown, blond etc., but never black.
Related Organizations
Related Technologies
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