Gnome

Gnomes are among the smallest of the major races, if not the smallest. The first modern gnome was born in the arborean city of Daimorin around the year 9000 PDF., a female named Severine Kaplan. Kaplan was the result of several generational mutations that made each child shorter and more elvish-looking. Due to her birthplace Daimorin being a city built in a gigantic tree crown where a large size was but a detrament, she and her descendants eventually became the dominant species there. After about 500 years the city was entirely inhabited by gnomes and a smaller population of dwarves and halflings. Similar variants of gnomes have popped up in a few other cities as well, but due to the race as a whole being relatively young it isn't as widespread as other races such as elves or tieflings. Due to this they also look relatively unchanged compared to their ancestor, remaining at an average of just about 1 meter tall with similarly elf-like features and square builds.

Due to their prevalence in Daimorin and their rarity outside said city, this article will focus more on the former regarding culture and common mentalities. Gnomes as a whole are a quite rare subspecies with only about 5 000 gnomes currently alive, all of them in what used to be Europe. However, with their high birth rates and stubborn will to survive they are only going stronger as time goes on. It has even inspired a saying in Daimorin that ended up as their motto: "Big people come in small shapes". 

Gnome Variations

Just like many other subspecies, gnomes have a few different variants regarding shapes and sizes in different cities. They all share a common template in their general shape but vary in other details. However, due to their rarity and youth there aren't many variants out there.

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Daimorin Gnome

The first type of gnome and the most numerous. Regarding the height and build among the types of gnome, the Daimorin one is around the middle standing at an average of 1 meter tall and a very square and a bit stocky build. Their faces look very much like elves of other cities with sharp noses, pointy ears and a sharp jawline, but their eyes are very big and round compared to the more elegant elven eyes. One unique aspect of the Daimorin gnome is their long arms and prehensile feet, very adapted to climbing around their arboreal tree home. Their most common hair colour is black and their eyes come in various shades of brown.

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Akadence Gnome

The Akadence gnome is a bit taller and more human-like than the Daimorin variant, growing to a maximum of 1,25 meters with a body shape mirroring the Akadence human. Their faces follow suit with human-like round noses, eyes and a more square jawline. Compared to the other gnome variants the Akadence gnome possesses a large amount of body hair. They seem to grow beards more easily and males tend to have a lot of chest hair (like most species this varies from gnome to gnome). Their most common hair colour is black and their eyes come in brown, blue and green.

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Oshanbu Gnome

Physically, the Oshanbu Gnome is very unimpressive. Out of the three gnome variants they are notably the smallest, only reaching 1 meter at the most and averaging around 0,8 meters with a very scrawny general build. Their faces are long and a bit stretched out with large eyes and loses. However, the Oshanbu gnome is one of the best adapted races for underground life and definitely so among gnomes. Their small bodies require very little food and their small stature coupled with large clawed hands make them natural diggers. Their most common hair colour is brown and the eyes are pitch black.

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Basic Information

Anatomy

Gnomes are, as noted, the smallest of the more populated races. They are humanoid in build with two relatively long arms and short legs. Their general shape differs a bit depending on variant though. An Akadence gnome is built just like a small human, but a Daimorin gnome is built more like the now extinct hairless chimpanzee with their longer arms and strong upper body muscles. Meanwhile an Oshanbu gnome is built like an emaciated human with mole-like traits. Otherwise they all have the same internal structure as their human ancestor.

Genetics and Reproduction

A gnome can give birth to many children during their lifetime. They reproduce the same way a human does, but a single child is rare. Most of the time it's twins, triplets or on occasion even quadruplets. They are born after only about 4 months. However, a gnome baby is extremely weak. There are several cases where none of the kids survived the childbirth, and very few batches all survive their first year. In most families only one child grows up healthy without dying early. It's believed to be because of their mutation origin, the kids ended up to small and frail to survive most of the time. Thereby the many children.

Growth Rate & Stages

Those gnome children that do survive grow slowly but consistently. Unlike humans who grow slowly during childhood then very quickly during their teenage years gnomes grow at a steady pace until they reach their full adult size at around 18-20 years of age. They still undergo the other bodily changes during puberty like humans though.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Gnomes are only found in three european cities: Daimorin in former France where they originated, Akadence in former south Germany and Oshanbu in former northern Italy.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The Oshanbu Gnome is unique among not just gnomes, but all current races, thanks to their enhanced senses and adaptation for underground life. While their body is overall weak, their vision is greater than the other variants and they can spot things further ahead than them even in deep darkness. They can also naturally detect vibrations in the earth to a degree, giving them a limited radar sense perfect for finding and hunting burrowing animals. A few younger individuals can even detect still buried objects like a mineral-based type of echolocation. This is presumably the next step in evolution for the Oshanbu gnome.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Daimorin is located in what used to be France, so just as the french language has evolved over time so has the french names. Names tend to be corruptions of the languages equivalent to the plants and animals that live both in and beneath the massive tree city, like Dimeveré after the Solar Dimetrodon or Liellavon after the gnomish word for ivy.

Beauty Ideals

In Daimorin it's advantegous to be a good climber due to being able to do the important high-altitude jobs like hunting and scouting for dangers. So if you are a trained climber and/or are naturally adapted for it then you are more likely to be saught after. This has also naturally resulted in long arms and large feet being viewed as attractive and beautiful.

Gender Ideals

Since male Daimorin gnomes are more physically adapted to climbing they are more likely to get the prestigious jobs in the tree crown like scouting and the safer hunting. So the ideal career path expected for many male gnomes is to be a part of the climbing division. Meanwhile females are less adapted to climbing and more capable on flat ground than males are. Therefore they're more likely to end up in the more dangerous ground division to lay traps and hunt prey on the surface. This segregated view on gender roles have resulted in many unhappy citizens and much political satire, but since most other life paths don't favour a particular gender it's not a massive debate.

Average Technological Level

Compared to cities like Onimore or Arcshire, gnomes of Daimorin are fairly primitive. Most if not all of their constructions are made of wood and metal is a foreign concept, so while they are masters in creating bridges and similar simple infrastructure their most complex weaponry come in the form of crossbows and magic-supported ballistas. Gnomes of Oshanbu and especially Akadence match the rest of their brethren races in technological level.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Daimorin is located in the center of what used to be France, so this means that the french language has evolved and mixed over time into what we now know as gnomish. Some words have survived the passing of time but for the most part only the dialect has survived.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Almost everything in Daimorin centers around nature and the tree they live in. Their houses and other constructions are made from its wood, their jobs and positions all help the tree survive and their traditions all focus around it. When a young gnome can climb to the viewing platform close to the top on their own they get the title of Grimebois, roughly meaning "wood climber", which functions sort of like a rite of passage to be a respected adult.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

The gnomes and other races of Daimorin have a great respect for the forest and especially the tree they live in. Every year during late summer they celebrate Lête L'arbortel (roughly translated as Festival of the Immortal Tree). Here they bring out all food reserves they can spare in a grand feast with several games for the Daimorin people. The main event is when all the stately magicians traverse to the bottom of the tree to perform a longevity ritual to make sure their home stays strong and healthy. After this is the main feast, which continues until the day ends.

Common Taboos

If you live in Daimorin and associate with any kind of fire without it being part of your job description, chances are you will be arrested on the spot. A wayward spark is all that is needed to light the completely wooden city on fire and destroy it. Therefore evocation magic users are strictly watched over and require a special license from the leadership in order to use fire magic. Otherwise it is gravely forbidden to even light a stick on fire.

Historical Figures

Despite their status as one of the youngest races, some gnomes have already attained immortal status in the history records:

• Severine Kaplan, The Original Gnome. As her title implies, Severine Kaplan was the first modern gnome to evolve. She was born in 9001 PDF. in Daimorin (it is possible there were earlier gnomes, but due to their high deathrate as children they would have died beforehand). Kaplan was known to be very feisty and a local hooligan in her younger years, but mellowed out a little as she got older. She lived to the ripe old age of 432 years, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, grand-grandchildren and grand-grand-grandchildren.
• Sinée Rouane, The Dragon Rider. Sinée Rouane is a ground hunter in Daimorin and has been for almost a hundred years. She achieved legendary status when she and her crew ran into a adolescent green dragon, whose scales and claws were highly sought after. It spotted them and flew off, but while the crew fell back Rouane decided to leap toward it and grab on to the leg. She got on its back and thus did what no gnome has managed to do before or since; ride on the back of a dragon. When it dove toward the ground she jumped off into a tree, but not before cutting off a few scales. She is remembered for this even today.
• Calpos Baffleby, The Gunslinging Gnome. A gnome was among the adventurers who established a connection between their home Akadence and the neighboring Ouverton. Calpos Baffleby had been known in Akadence for a while as a bounty hunter who specialized in firearms and was handpicked to brave the unexplored surface and reach Ouverton, and with the missions success he will be remebered for a long time.

Common Myths and Legends

Part of the reason Daimorin holds Lête L'arbortel in such high regard is because of the belief that the tree gives them a longer life. If it stays healthy, so does its people. Therefore its survival is top priority for the people (that and if it falls the city falls with it). So far there hasn't been any scientific proof if this is true especially since gnomes are long lived no matter where they live, but science has never been major in Daimorin so nobody really questions this belief. The documented fact that the tree exhibits magical properties combined with the gnomes longevity is the main reason behind this myth.

Daimorin Gnome

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Human

Scientific Name

Homo Sapiens Primigena

Origin/Ancestry

France

Lifespan

420 years

Average Height

1 meter

Average Weight

15-20 kg

Average Physique

Varies between subspecies, but the most common variant is square and slightly stocky.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Varies between anything from dark brown to a dim golden hue depending on the variant.