Godsbarrow Gnomes

The gnomes of the Godsbarrow Forest are a rare subspecies of forest gnome found only in the northernmost corner of the Kingdom of Ordayn. 
Overview
Godsbarrow gnomes share many similarities with their more common cousins, the forest gnomes, such as height and physiology. However, unlike other gnomes, they possess a layer of fur all over their body, and have hands that end in claws. They are an incredibly solitary race, avoiding where possible other races (although this is as much out of fear as it is a desire to be left alone). 
History
All knowledge of the origins of the Godsbarrow Gnomes is held within the oral histories of the race, passed down from Matron to Matron, and so must be taken with a pinch of salt. It is said that, shortly before the commencement of the Age of Prosperity, there was a great battle between two rival families of forest gnomes, the Lomstools and the Moistlickers. This battle end in a pyrrhic victory for the Lomstools, who wiped out the Moistlickers, but saw most of their population wiped out. What remained was not enough to sustain a viable, healthy population. As a consequence, the Lomstools were forced to resort to interbreeding, in an event known as the Great Incestouing. 
Society
Godsbarrow gnomes live in a homogenous, matriarchal society. Unlike many of the races of Erru, they do not tend towards small family units. Instead, children are considered the domain of the tribe's Matron, who oversees their rearing and education.  In order to maintain a tribe's link to its Matron, whenever a godsbarrow gnome female comes of age, they engage in the ritual Scissoring of the Shrew, intended to ensure any children born to that female have a spiritual connection to the Matron.