Rock Gnome
Rock gnomes were a curious, childlike race very much unlike their cousins, the svirfneblin (or deep gnomes) and the forest gnomes. When most people thought of gnomes, they were thinking of the rock gnome. Rock gnomes embodied the characteristics of their creator and patron deity, Garl Glittergold, choosing to spend their long lives by filling each day with as much fun and enjoyment as possible.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Rock gnomes possessed a natural brownish tint to their skin; the presence or absence of light had little effect upon it. Young rock gnomes possessed any of a large number of hair colors that faded to gray or white upon reaching adulthood.
Ecology and Habitats
Rock gnomes favor temperate climates. Outside of urban neighborhoods, they prefer either hilly or forested regions as they provide better seclusion and thus protection.
Behaviour
Rock gnomes possessed many of the traits of other races, particularly humans, attributed to children. Most rock gnomes enjoyed life to their very fullest; asking questions endlessly, playing pranks on friends and strangers, and finding new and interesting hobbies were just a few of the countless chores that rock gnomes burdened each day with. Much like a child, a rock gnome possessed very little tolerance for long term mental focus unless the task at hand was of notable interest.
While their joyful, child-like viewpoint of life gave the impression that a rock gnome would be incapable of achieving something as mundane as physical labor, rock gnomes managed to use their keen intelligence to turn something as generally unexciting as work into a fun and enjoyable expenditure of their time and energy.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Rock gnomes gathered in small towns, rarely reaching 500 adults. They considered large cities to be uncomfortable, partially because of the great amount of demand the Big Folk had for their skills. Rock gnomes were comfortable deep underground almost as much as on the surface world, possessing skill in ore and gemcutting that surpassed that of the dwarves, along with notable skills in toymaking and clockwork engineering. Rock gnomes were also the finest producers of the unusual weapons known as "guns."
Rock gnome homes were burrows, small but clean cave-like carvings into stone and hillsides. Married gnome couples had rooms for each to use, though rock gnome children generally slept together in a single room. Rock gnome burrows were constructed by clan, allowing underground tunnels to conjoin one another for defense and other purposes.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
If the rock gnomes have a homeland, they would probably count it as the half-mythical island of Lantan.
Other than Lantan, the rock gnomes are not found in large numbers in any other country or city. Rather, small communities of a dozen or so families might be found almost anywhere, well hidden in the terrain or sometimes in their own urban neighborhood. That being said, a number of settlements are known to exist in the Western Heartlands, the Dalelands, and the woodlands of the Great Dale and Thesk.
Though unknown to most-every civilization of Toril, rock gnomes additionally inhabited and ruled a secret realm below the Sunrise Mountains known as Songfarla the Hidden Kingdom.
Civilization and Culture
Beauty Ideals
Male gnomes typically kept beards groomed in a neat manner.
Average Technological Level
Rock gnomes possess great skill in ore and gemcutting, surpassing that of the dwarves, along with notable skills in toymaking and clockwork engineering. Rock gnomes were also the finest producers of the unusual weapons known as "guns."
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Gnome, Common, Home region
Commonly speak Chondathan, Draconic, Dwarven, Goblin, Illuskan, Sylvan, and Terran.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Rock gnomes were especially easy going with dwarves and halflings, especially those who appreciated a good joke. They were typically more cautious and subdued around the Big Folk (humans, elves and the other medium size humanoids), taking a considerably longer time (a day longer, perhaps) to consider them a friend and ally. They considered all forms of goblinkin to be extremely untrustworthy and gave them a very wide berth if possible.
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