Gnomes
Gnomes, or the Forgotten Folk as they are sometimes known, are small humanoids known for their eccentric sense of humor, inquisitiveness, and engineering prowess. Having few overt influences on the world's history but many small and unseen ones, gnomes are often overlooked by the powers that be, despite their craftiness and affinity for illusion magic. Gnomes are present in nearly every human city and most caravan-stop villages where other cultures and non-human races are at least tolerated.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Gnomes are very small compared to most other races and, with an average height ranging between 3′0″‒4′0″ (0.91‒1.2 m) and a weight range of 40‒45 lb (18‒20 kg), gnomes are generally larger and heavier than halflings, though forest gnomes – ranging between 2′1″‒2′10″ (0.64‒0.86 m) in height and 21‒35 lb (9.5‒16 kg) in weight – tend to be smaller than halflings, leading some scholars to erroneously classify all gnomish races as "smaller than the Hin".
While halflings are commonly said to resemble short humans, gnomes are more comparable with elves, with whom they share pointed ears and high cheekbones, or even dwarves, due to their tendency to grow beards and live underground. Many gnomes have a more feral appearance than either, however, with hair that often sprouts from their heads in odd directions.
Biological Cycle
Gnomes are also very long-lived, often living as long as elves, which means living over three centuries is not uncommonly rare and five centuries is not unheard of. Generally, gnomes are considered to reach maturity at forty years of age. However, unlike elves or eladrin, gnomes show a greater degree of aging as they grow older and once a gnome has passed his or her first century, their hair begins to gray, if it was not already white, and their skin begins to wrinkle as in humans or dwarves. However, even the oldest gnome retains a vitality that would be extraordinarily unusual among many of the younger races.
Behaviour
Gnomes who leave home to seek an adventurer's life are rare, given the race's famed shyness and lack of ambition. Those that do are motivated by a number of factors, but the impulsive race is often driven by curiosity more than anything else. Many gnomes feel no more rationale for adventuring than simply to explore the world that surrounds them. A few, the more orderly ones that is, seek out adventure for more innately noble purposes, such as to help others, but these gnomes are rare. Other gnomes are driven to become adventurers by little more than simple avarice, as adventuring is often seen as a quick, if unsafe, avenue for wealth. Adventuring is not necessarily a welcome lifestyle among gnomes, despite the curiosity that fills the whole race, and sometimes is, in fact, seen as a betrayal of sorts to a gnome's clan.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Like other races, gnomish culture varies based on region and ethnicity, but a few characteristics are common to most gnomes. Among virtually all gnomes, great value is placed on one's ability to avoid trouble and stay out of the way of others. Children's games often involve elements of stealth and, among adults, drawing attention to one's self is considered a breach of etiquette. Most gnomes try to remain inconspicuous and quietly leave the scene of a fight. The few legends of gnomish heroes are not of powerful warriors but of subtle tricksters, who sneak past or trick their opponents rather than vanquishing them in combat. This in part comes from the long-standing issue gnomes have faced, namely their miniscule size compared to larger predators or enemies such as the fomorians of the Feywild, whom few gnomes can hope to stand toe to toe with in a fair fight.
Gnomes have an intricate society based on their love of all kinds of arts, pranks, and their long lives. Gnomes love indulgence, and they make most celebrations on a grand scale. Gnome weddings last for a week, even though gnomes don't view love the same way humans did. If love begins to go wrong between a couple they might break up, believing it was all just a prank by Garl Glittergold. Their society is based on art; all gnomes have to take up some form of art, whether music, painting, cooking, building, or any other form that is considered creative by the time they came of age.
When living among other races, particularly humans, in an urban environment, gnomes are often shopkeepers or work as everyday blacksmiths (leaving the fancy armor and weaponsmithing to the dwarves). They also work with brass, bronze, tin, and pewter, casting and etching practical household items. Other occupations include gemcutters, mechanics, sages, or teachers, the last in particular being a highly valued profession by human employers, who know that a single gnome could tutor multiple generations.
Facial characteristics
Gnomish hair varies wildly in color from blond and brown to more exotic colors like white, orange, or even green. Gnomish eyes are often—particularly in individuals who are native to the Feywild—glittering black or blue, although more natural eye colors are also known to the race.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Gnomes can be found throughout Ghemjana wherever there are other intelligent races.
Average Intelligence
Gnomes on average a very intelligent and crafty race.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Gnomes have Darkvision out to 60 ft. Gnomes are a naturally intelligent and creative race, with a charm about them unusual for other humanoids. Gnomes also have a strong affinity for all things magical. In particular they have a natural grasp of the arcane, innately possessing the ability to cast some cantrips. Gnomes also have a natural affinity for stealth, an affinity they could sometimes pass on to others, and illusion, both for the purpose of using it for themselves as well as seeing through other attempts at it. After the Spellplague, gnomes innately are able to use the "fade away" power to disappear temporarily from sight and additionally have a reflexive tendency to take cover and hide when suddenly endangered. Some gnomes learn also to combine their fade away ability with teleportation like that of an eladrin. Other gnomes are capable of casting dancing lights. Gnomes are talented illusionists, with a natural grasp of the arcane. Regardless of their other talents, all gnomes are capable of casting a cantrip or two and have the capacity to disappear from sight if they wish. Gnomes are well-suited to all forms of arcane training, particularly that of a bard, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard. They are the only non-elven/half-elven race capable of becoming Elven Dualist specialist wizards; in their case, Nelluonkkar (illusionist/necromancer).
Civilization and Culture
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Gnomes are an intelligent and innately curious race. Gnomes might lack the drive and ambition of other races, particularly humans, but their creativity gives them a strong ability for ingenuity. Most gnomes are content to live simple lives, acquiring knowledge merely as a hobby but others explore lost ruins, delve deep into the heart of the world, and conduct dangerous research in their unquenchable thirst for knowledge, leading more than a few to an untimely demise.
Gnomes are naturally witty and jovial, and they prefer to overcome obstacles through cunning and innovation rather than the obvious way. Ever curious, gnomes are drawn to adventure more often by a desire to see the world than out of greed or the hope of fame. It is this curiosity, along with their cunning and witty repartee, that make gnomes both entertaining friends and adept arcane spellcasters or scholars.
Most gnomes love gems, particularly rubies, but they are not avaricious. The gnomes that most people encounter are content to raise goats, grow potatoes, and live a life of honest hard work.
Origin/Ancestry
Humanoid
Lifespan
300 years to rarely 500; physically show aging but do not become infirm
Average Height
3'0 to 4'0
Average Weight
40 lbs to 45 lbs
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
The skin of gnomes runs in hues from reddish tans to earthy browns or even shades of gray, with exact hues somewhat dependent upon the ethnic origin of a gnome.
Geographic Distribution
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