Gnome

Gnomes are among the most inquisitive of races. They seek knowledge in all its forms and tend to careers which allow them to fulfill this thirst: bards, historians, alchemists, and librarians, as well as spies. The gnomes rule the nation of Zilargo, one of the oldest nations of Khorvaire.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Gnomes are one of the smallest humanoid races, even smaller than the halflings. They resemble their eladrin cousins, with pointed ears, chiseled facial features, high cheekbones, and sharp jaws. Gnomes from Thelanis have a more wild look to them, while gnomes from Khorvaire wear the same garb as many other races.


Gnome skin tones range from tan to brown to gray. Their hair can ve almost any color, including white, blonde, brown, orange, or even green. Their eyes are glittering black orbs.


Like eladrin, gnomes are extremely long-lived, living 300-year lifespans. Unlike eladrin, however, gnomes start showing their age at 100 years old, with their hair going white and their skin show wrinkles and weathering.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Thelanis

The gnomes originated on the plane of Thelanis, and a large number of them still reside there. These gnomes are wilder than their Khorvairian counterparts.
Thelanis gnomes on Eberron mostly reside in Pylas Pyrial, a glittering tower of alabaster and gold. Over the centuries, the Zil have maintained a relationship with Pylas Pyrial when it has appeared. Pylas Pyrial is ruled by the Summer Council, which includes gnomes and eladrin. While the Triumvirate has no formal power within the Gate of Joy, the Trust has infiltrated the feyspire and have agents amongst its ruling council.

Zilargo

On the plane of Eberron, Zilargo is the gnomish homeland. Lying southeast of Breland in southern Khorvaire. It is situated between Breland on the north and west and the goblinoid nation of Darguun on the east. Zilargo has been effectively independent since 962 YK, and their independence was ratified by the Treaty of Thronehold in 996 YK. Zilargo is the major shipbuilding center in Khorvaire and also produces fine gems from its mines in the Howling Peaks and the Seawall Mountains.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Gnomes are fey in nature and retain some of the traits carried over from Thelanis. Gnomes have low-light vision, and can see in the thinnest of light. Many gnomes possess spell-like abilities, such as speaking with animals, conjuring ghost sounds or dancing lights, using prestidigitation, or turning themselves invisible.

Civilization and Culture

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Gnomes have an innate thirst for knowledge, and always ask questions of those around them. Gnomes have made up for their small stature by sharpening their knowledge as a weapon. They often use diplomacy as a tool, but are not above using blackmail or espionage as a tool either. They frequently keep knowledge to themselves, and hide both their truths and their emotions from others. Most gnomes wear a false smile, all the while absorbing information from those around them. Even good gnomes tend to use manipulation of knowledge, and often justify it by using their skills for good rather than for evil.


Family and clan bonds are immensely important to gnomes, and are the only others that a gnome will trust. A gnome's family will help them out without question, but the expectation of the opposite is held. Clan bonds are not as strong as family bonds, but some clans, like House Sivis, retain a high level of trust amongst clansmen.

Common Taboos

Don't talk openly about the truth

History

Migration from Thelanis

Gnomes originated on the plane of Thelanis, with the other races of the fey. On Thelanis, the gnomes joined the eladrin of the Summer Court. These gnomes inhabited the various eladrin feyspires.


At some point in the past, during one of the frequent coterminous periods between Thelanis and Eberron, a large number of gnomes migrated to Khorvaire. While some of these gnomes spread across the continent, most settled in an area on the southern portion of Khorvaire. The gnomes settled between the Howling Peaks and the Seawall Mountains, congregating mainly along the coast of the Thunder Sea. These gnomes were much more primitive than the gnomes of today.
Though the land was inhabited by tribes of kobolds, including the Haka'jhar tribe, the gnomes managed to push the kobolds back to the two mountain ranges to the north of their territory. The gnomes also clashed with the Dhakaani Empire, using guerilla tactics to help prevent the goblins from entering their lands. The Dhakaani Empire's Ghuurash Codex provides details about "jungle rats" that infested the coast between the Howling Peaks and the Seawall Mountains. The gnomes failed to stop the goblin empire, though, and were either enslaved or forced deeper into the wilds. But conquest was far easier than occupation, as the gnomes used guile to trick the goblins into fighting each other. Eventually, though, the Dhakaani Empire fell to an incursion from Xoriat, allowing the gnomes time to grow. These more primitive gnomes took over the abandoned cities of the Dhakaani and the daelkyr, devouring their knowledge and adding it to their own