Gnomes

Gnomes

Pharosian Name: Nomanari
Fey Name: Nori'qo

Gnomes are arguably the most humanoid of the Fey, being quite similar in stature to immature Halflings, though they tend to be differentiable because of their vibrant hair colors, angular ears, and massive eyes. Most Gnomes also tend to have more child-like proportions than Halflings, though this distinction can be harder to pin down. Gnomes cling to the Rainy Country as their point of origin, but they place a particular emphasis on Faenor itself as their true home, with the Rainy Country simply being the closest place on Eashavar to the faerie realm. Gnomes tend to be hyperactive, adventurous, and overly curious, their lives fast-paced and energetic.

General Information

Physical Description

Gnomes are little folk that are between three and four feet in height, bearing skinny or child-like proportions, with vibrant hair that shifts in color and large eyes. Most do not grow facial or body hair, with small chin-tufts or moustaches being the most that males can conjure. Females sometimes have long eyebrows, which can extend off to the sides in a whisker-like strand that remains rigidly sideways even if it lifts off from the face. Gnomes have short attention spans, and jump from fixation to fixation on a whim. On the other hand, when they are given a distinct purpose they can devote their whole lives to its accomplishment, especially when that purpose allows them to explore various facets of existence.

Gnomes bereft of adventure and new experiences fall into a state known as bleaching. This is comparable to a form of depression, but it manifests physically through a graying of their vibrant hairs and ashening of their skin. Bleaching ages Gnomes greatly, and even when a Gnome manages to recover from a prolonged case of it, their lifespans will have been reduced due to their exposure to its effects. Because of this, Gnomes literally must be on a constant journey of learning and discovery or they will die.

Community Structure

Gnomes age rapidly in their youth, reaching adulthood within their first decade of living. They are typically raised by one or two parents during this period rather than extended familial groups or tribes (as tends to be the case with other Fey). After reaching adulthood, most Gnomes split off to wander the world on their own, and it is rare that they ever reconnect with their family. Gnomes treat everybody they meet as a potential friend and bond with others easily, so they don't quite feel the need for anything like a permanent family. To others, Gnomes can often come off as overbearing, getting too comfortable a little too quickly.

Most Gnomes spend their lives hopping from place-to-place and town-to-town, never settling down for long. They typically find the rigid social norms and hierarchies of mortals to be comical and absurd, albeit interesting from a theoretical perspective. They tend to be a particularly sarcastic people and many go out of their way to demonstrate their derision of laws and norms through pranks and mockeries of the rule-following folk. Often, they can get away with it, because they're just perceived as troublesome children and slapped on the wrist by the local guard.

Many Gnomes feel a particular affinity towards small animals, especially rodents. Though the exact source of this connection is uncertain, Fey lore holds that they manifest a spiritual connection to these animals in place of their physical one. It is not unusual for Gnomes to be able to speak with animals in rudimentary ways, as well as to imitate their calls and noises, much like a parrot might.

Gender and Relationships

Though humanoid, Gnomes tend to have very little sexual dimorphism. Facial hair is present on a rare few male Gnomes, whereas females sometimes have the aforementioned lifted eyebrows, but there are more Gnomes with neither feature than there are with. They similarly have little understanding of gender, viewing it as just another absurd social norm which they might inappropriately mock or parody. This can get them in trouble with those who more strongly value gender as part of their identity.

Most Gnomes are as quick to hyperfixate on people as they are on concepts, and this hyperfixation often follows the same pattern as a crush to an outsider's perspective. It is rarely an infatuation with one's looks or personality, though, but rather with how interesting and new the target seems. This infatuation can leave as quickly as it came, which can catch potential partners off-guard. Few Gnomes are truly interested in long-term relationships, though physical intimacy can be of interest to them as part of this hyperfixation phase. Most Gnome children are the product of highly momentary trysts which are long forgotten by the time of their birth.

Race (5e)

Gnomes (5e)

ability score increase: +1 Intelligence

age: Gnomes mature around the age of 10, and can live up to 200 years old.

Size: Small

speed: 25ft

Languages:

race features:
Farvision: You can see twice as far in dim light, and retain the ability to distinguish colors and detail under these conditions.
Worldsoul: You begin with an extra skill or tool proficiency (beginning the game with the tool kit in the latter case), of your choice. Learning a language or proficiency takes half as long for you.
Gnomish Cunning: You have advantage on all Charisma saving throws. Once, when you fail a death saving throw, you may negate the effect as if the roll was skipped; this ability recharges after a long rest.

Ancestry (Pathfinder 2e)

Gnome feats emphasize their ability to communicate with animals, their connection to the Faerie Plane, and their tendency to jump from hyperfixation to hyperfixation.

Gnomes

Hit Points

8

Size

Small

Speed

25

Ability Boosts

Constitution, Charisma, Free

Ability Flaw

Strength

Traits

Humanoid, Fey, Gnome

Languages

Human Common, additional languages equal to 1 + your Intelligence modifier (if it's positive)

Special Abilities

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Low-Light Vision: You can see in dim light as though it were bright light, so you ignore the concealed condition due to dim light.

Heritages

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Chameleon Gnome: The color of your hair and skin is mutable. You can slowly change the vibrancy and the exact color, and the coloration can be different across your body, allowing you to create patterns or other colorful designs. It takes a single action for minor localized shifts and up to an hour for dramatic shifts throughout your body. While you're asleep, the colors shift on their own in tune with your dreams, giving you an unusual coloration each morning. When you're in an area where your coloration is roughly similar to the environment (for instance, forest green in a forest), you can use the single action to make minor localized shifts designed to help you blend into your surroundings. This grants you a +2 circumstance bonus to Stealth checks until your surroundings shift in coloration or pattern.
Sensate Gnome: You see all colors as brighter, hear all sounds as richer, and especially smell all scents with incredible detail. You gain a special sense: imprecise scent with a range of 30 feet. This means you can use your sense of smell to determine the exact location of a creature. The GM will usually double the range if you're downwind from the creature or halve the range if you're upwind. In addition, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Perception checks whenever you're trying to locate an undetected creature that is within the range of your scent.
Spelltouched Gnome: You have a deep connection with Faenor. Choose one cantrip from the primal spell list. You can cast this spell as a primal innate spell at will. A cantrip is heightened to a spell level equal to half your level rounded up. You can change this cantrip to a different one from the same list once per day by meditating to realign yourself with the Fae. This is a 10-minute activity that has the concentrate trait.
Worldly Gnome: You grew up as a bookworm or a natural craftsman. You become trained in one Lore skill and one other Intelligence- or Wisdom-based skill of your choice. At 5th level, you become expert in the chosen skills.

Ancestry Feats

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Name	Traits	Level	Prerequisites	Benefits
Animal Chatterer	Gnome	1	-	You recognize the chattering of small creatures as its own peculiar language.	Show spoiler You recognize the chattering of small creatures as its own peculiar language. You can communicate basic concepts to small animals, but you cannot have a directed conversation with them.
Faenor Magic	Gnome	1	-	Your connection to Faenor grants you a primal innate spell, much like those of the Faeries.	Show spoiler Your connection to Faenor grants you a primal innate spell, much like those of the Faeries. Choose one cantrip from the primal spell list. You can cast this spell as a primal innate spell at will. A cantrip is heightened to a spell level equal to half your level rounded up.
Gnome Obsession	Gnome	1	-	You might have a flighty nature, but when a topic captures your attention, you dive into it headfirst.	Show spoiler You might have a flighty nature, but when a topic captures your attention, you dive into it headfirst. Pick a Lore skill. You gain the trained proficiency rank in that skill. At 2nd level, you gain expert proficiency in the chosen Lore as well as the Lore granted by your background, if any. At 7th level you gain master proficiency in these Lore skills, and at 15th level you gain legendary proficiency in them.
Gnome Polyglot	Gnome	1	-	Your extensive travels, curiosity, and love of learning help you to learn languages quickly.	Show spoiler Your extensive travels, curiosity, and love of learning help you to learn languages quickly. You learn three new languages, chosen from common languages and uncommon languages you have access to. These languages take the same form (signed or spoken) as your other languages. When you select the Multilingual feat, you learn three new languages instead of two.
Gnome Weapon Familiarity	Gnome	1	-	You favor unusual weapons tied to your people, such as blades with curved and peculiar shapes.	Show spoiler You favor unusual weapons tied to your people, such as blades with curved and peculiar shapes. You are trained with the glaive and kukri. In addition, you gain access to kukris and all uncommon gnome weapons. For the purpose of determining your proficiency, martial gnome weapons are simple weapons and advanced gnome weapons are martial weapons.
Grim Insight	Gnome	1	-	Others’ attempts to scare you often grant you insights about your would-be bullies that you can then exploit.	Show spoiler Others’ attempts to scare you often grant you insights about your would-be bullies that you can then exploit. If you roll a success on a saving throw against a fear effect, you get a critical success instead, and the source of the fear effect is flat-footed to you until the end of your next turn.
Life-Giving Magic	Gnome	1	-	The upwelling of innate magic refreshes your body.	Show spoiler Once per minute, when you cast an innate spell from a gnome heritage or ancestry feat, the upwelling of innate magic refreshes your body. You gain a number of temporary Hit Points equal to half your level (minimum 1) that last until the end of your next turn.
Vibrant Display	Gnome	1	Chameleon Gnome heritage	Whereas most gnomes’ coloration is static or changes slowly, you can cause your hair, eye, and skin color to scintillate in brief and disorienting bursts.	Show spoiler Whereas most gnomes’ coloration is static or changes slowly, you can cause your hair, eye, and skin color to scintillate in brief and disorienting bursts. Once every 10 minutes, when you use the Feint action, you can compare your Deception check result to the Perception DCs of all adjacent creatures rather than just one creature within melee reach. It’s possible to get a different degree of success for each target. These changes are imprecise and usually short-lived, so while they allow you to periodically change your appearance in unpredictable ways, they are of little use in providing camouflage or aiding a disguise.
Animal Elocutionist	Gnome	5	Burrow Elocutionist	You hear animal sounds as conversations instead of unintelligent noise, and can respond in turn.	Show spoiler You hear animal sounds as conversations instead of unintelligent noise, and can respond in turn. You can have full conversations with all animals, and you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Make an Impression on animals (which usually uses the Diplomacy skill).
Eclectic Obsession	Gnome	5	Gnome Obsession	Your desire for stimulation has led you from one pursuit to another and granted you a smattering of expertise with myriad crafts and professions.	Show spoiler Your desire for stimulation has led you from one pursuit to another and granted you a smattering of expertise with myriad crafts and professions. Once per day, you can reflect on snippets you’ve learned to temporarily become trained in one Lore skill of your choice. This proficiency lasts for 10 minutes or until you critically fail a check with that skill. Since this training is temporary, you can’t use it as a prerequisite for a permanent character option like a feat or a skill increase.
Gnome Weapon Innovator	Gnome	5	Gnome Weapon Familiarity	You produce outstanding results when wielding unusual weapons.	Show spoiler You produce outstanding results when wielding unusual weapons. Whenever you critically hit using a glaive, kukri, or gnome weapon, you apply the weapon's critical specialization effect.
Project Persona	Concentrate, Gnome, Illusion, Primal, Visual	5	-	Where others etch their armor to serve as a conduit for their imaginations, your vivid mind and bold personality allow you to project a more fitting persona over your lackluster armor.	Show spoiler Where others etch their armor to serve as a conduit for their imaginations, your vivid mind and bold personality allow you to project a more fitting persona over your lackluster armor. You change the shape and appearance of your armor to appear as ordinary or fine clothes of your imagining. The armor's statistics don't change. This effect lasts as long as you remain conscious and are wearing the armor. A creature can disbelieve the illusion by Seeking or touching your armor. The DC equals your Will DC.
Cautious Curiosity	Gnome	9	at least one arcane or occult innate spell gained from a gnome heritage or gnome ancestry feat	You've learned a few magical techniques for getting yourself both into and out of trouble unnoticed.	Show spoiler You've learned a few magical techniques for getting yourself both into and out of trouble unnoticed. You gain misdirection and silence as 2nd-level arcane or occult innate spells. The tradition of these spells must match the tradition you use for your gnome ancestry options. You can cast each spell once per day and can target only yourself.
Faenor Adept	Gnome	9	at least one primal innate spell	Over time your Faeries magic has grown stronger.	Show spoiler Over time your Faeries magic has grown stronger. You gain faerie fire and invisibility as 2nd-level primal innate spells. You can cast each of these primal innate spells once per day.
Life Leap	Gnome, Move, Necromancy, Teleportation	9	-	You phase through a space that a living creature occupies in a flash, spontaneously appearing on the opposite side of it in a vibrant display of colorful light.	Show spoiler As long as you are adjacent to a living creature, you phase through a space that it occupies in a flash, spontaneously appearing on the opposite side of it in a vibrant display of colorful light. You move from your current location to another location that's still adjacent to the same living creature, but on the opposite side or corner of the creature's space. To determine whether a position is valid, use the same rules as for flanking: a line through the center of the two spaces must pass through opposite sides or corners of the creature's space. You pass through the creature's life force, appearing in the selected location; this doesn't trigger reactions based on movement. You must be able to see your destination, and you can't move farther than your Speed would allow.
Vivacious Conduit	Gnome	9	-	Your connection to Faenor has grown, and its positive energy flows into you rapidly.	Show spoiler Your connection to Faenor has grown, and its positive energy flows into you rapidly. If you rest for 10 minutes, you gain Hit Points equal to your Constitution modifier × half your level. This is cumulative with any healing you receive from Treat Wounds.
Gnome Weapon Expertise	Gnome	13	Gnome Weapon Familiarity	Your gnome affinity blends with your class training, granting you great skill with gnome weapons.	Show spoiler Your gnome affinity blends with your class training, granting you great skill with gnome weapons. Whenever you gain a class feature that grants you expert or greater proficiency in a given weapon or weapons, you also gain that proficiency in the glaive, kukri, and all gnome weapons in which you are trained.
Instinctive Obfuscation	Gnome, Illusion, Visual	13	at least one arcane or occult innate spell gained from a gnome heritage or gnome ancestry feat	The magic within you manifests as a natural reaction to threats.	Show spoiler The magic within you manifests as a natural reaction to threats. Once per day, when you are attacked by a foe, you gain the effects of mirror image but with two images instead of three. The tradition of this action matches the tradition of your gnome ancestry options.
Homeward Bound	Gnome	17	-	The connection between you and Faenor resonates within your body stronger than it does for most gnomes, allowing you to cross the threshold between Eashavar and Faenor.	Show spoiler The connection between you and Faenor resonates within your body stronger than it does for most gnomes, allowing you to cross the threshold between Eashavar and Faenor. You gain plane shift as a primal innate spell. You can cast it twice per week. This can be used only to travel back and forth between Faenor and Eashavar. Due to your body's natural resonance, you can act as the spell focus, and you don't require a tuning fork.

You Might...

• Bounce from obsession to obsession with almost no transition time.
• Treat every stranger as a potential friend, assuming familiarity long before most people would even learn their name.
• Openly mock rules, titles, and rigid hierarchies, not out of malice but because they’re fascinatingly ridiculous to you.

Others Probably...

• Find your attention span baffling, especially when it vanishes mid-conversation or mid-task.
• Misinterpret your questions as nosiness or rudeness rather than enthusiasm.
• Get offended or confused by your mockery of their customs, mistaking curiosity and jokes for disrespect.

by Paizo Inc. (Community Use Package)

by Paizo Inc. (Community Use Package)