Gnomes

Always hungry for new experiences, gnomes constantly wander both mentally and physically, attempting to stave off a terrible ailment that threatens all of their people. This affliction—the Bleaching—strikes gnomes who fail to dream, innovate, and take in new experiences, in the gnomes’ absence of crucial magical essence of the old world. For a Gnome, their innate curiosity and wanderlust fuels a type of primal magic within them, and after the magic of the world faded, it became a survival imperative for their species. The Bleaching slowly drains the color—literally—from gnomes, and it plunges those affected into states of deep depression that eventually claim their lives. Very few gnomes survive this scourge, becoming deeply morose and wise survivors known as bleachlings. Now that magic is returning, Gnomes are both saddened to discover that the bleaching has become now a permanent threat to their race, as their link with the primal magic of the old world has been severed by their time out of the forest, but also overjoyed that magic is returning, returning many gnomes a fraction of their primal power, and filling the world with a plethora of new adventures to experience.
Gnomes rarely stick to staying in one place for very long, and as such, Gnomish towns or countries are exceedingly rare. They ingratiate themselves most easily into human civilization, as they are always in good spirits, and take to any new task with a great enthusiasm. They tend towards occupations such as entertainers and acrobats, but the longer a gnome has lived, the more things it's done.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Most gnomes stand just over 3 feet in height and weigh little more than a human child. They exhibit a wide range of natural skin, hair, and eye colors. For gnomes that haven’t begun the Bleaching, nearly any hair and eye color other than white is possible, with vibrant colors most frequent, while skin tones span a slightly narrower spectrum and tend toward earthy tones and pinkish hues, though occasionally green, black, or pale blue. Gnomes’ large eyes and dense facial muscles allow them to be particularly expressive in their emotions.

Growth Rate & Stages

Gnomes typically reach physical maturity at the age of 18, though many gnomes maintain a childlike curiosity about the world even into adulthood.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Low Light Vision

Lifespan

A gnome can theoretically live to any age if she can stave off the Bleaching indefinitely, but in practice gnomes rarely live longer than around 400 years.

Average Height

80-100 cm

Average Weight

25 Kg