Faekin - Reflavored Gnomes

Within Thalassar, there are the stubborn, artistic dwarves, and the flexible, inventive and literal faekin. They're known as an energetic, often hyperactive people- Often joviality is associated directly with the Faekin, as they are a very curious race and often traveling Faekin are easily excitable with new things to discover.
Being creatures of very high intelligence, their small stature often makes them mistaken for halflings at a distance. But if one sees their more animalistic or nonhumanoid aspects, the differences immediately become very clear.
Many have speculated on the origins of the Faekin (a name which lately has come into dispute, due to evidence of nonfae origins), to little success- Some say them to be older than what modern history can show, while others claim them to be recent byproducts of rampant magic. Not even the Faekin themselves understand their origins, but they know the cause of their origins was part of their core; Curiosity. That very curiosity is what drives Faekin forward. They often take up lives as travelers, adventurers, minstrels or even scientists and historians. An unending need to discover, to know, is what drives all Faekin.
Faekin are directly shaped by what births them; A Faekin can know to love, but they do not lust the way humans, elves and orcs do. They do not procreate, but rather Faekin are born from specific areas, called Dae'lithor, or "Beginning", as it translates to. These areas are loaded to the brim with magical energy, and sporadically new Faekin emerge, in an infant state, as if nature itself birthed them. Each Beginning is protected, and settlements are built around them. A Faekin from Thalassar oft looks like a small stone elemental the shape of an animal, or sometimes anthropomorphic mountain animals. Likewise, Faekin from the Halfling Hills may look like forest animals, or even partially botanic.
Due to their magical origins, they live for quite long- Some live to see their sixth hundred year, others only their fourth hundred. An average lifespan is often roughly half a millenia, reaching maturity around the age of 76. While at the age of 50 they are still considered ternagers. When a Faekin dies, their bodies merge with the lands again - Becoming part of the land they touch as they die. In some rare instances, new Beginnings form from these deaths, though the event is random and unpredictable. Several of the modern day settlements have been created from the death of an ancestor.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Gnomes love names, and most have half a dozen or so. A gnome’s mother, father, clan elder, aunts, and uncles each give the gnome a name, and various nicknames from just about everyone else might or might not stick over time. Gnome names are typically variants on the names of ancestors or distant relatives, though some are purely new inventions. When dealing with humans and others who are “stuffy” about names, a gnome learns to use no more than three names: a personal name, a clan name, and a nickname, choosing the one in each category that’s the most fun to say.
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HANDOUT | GOLIATH, GNOME Example Male Names. Alston, Alvyn, Boddynock, Brocc, Burgell, Dimble, Eldon, Erky, Fonkin, Frug, Gerbo, Gimble, Glim, Jebeddo, Kellen, Namfoodle, Orryn, Roondar, Seebo, Sindri, Warryn, Wrenn, Zook
Example Female Names. Bimpnottin, Breena, Caramip, Carlin, Donella, Duvamil, Ella, Ellyjobell, Ellywick, Lilli, Loopmottin, Lorilla, Mardnab, Nissa, Nyx, Oda, Orla, Roywyn, Shamil, Tana, Waywocket, Zanna
Example Clan Names. Beren, Daergel, Folkor, Garrick, Nackle, Murnig, Ningel, Raulnor, Scheppen, Timbers, Turen
Example Nicknames. Aleslosh, Ashhearth, Badger, Cloak, Doublelock, Filchbatter, Fnipper, Ku, Nim, Oneshoe, Pock, Sparklegem, Stumbleduck

Major Organizations

They share governance with the dwarves.

Average Technological Level

Together with the dwarves they have among the highest possible technological achievements in hygiene and transport, having designed elaborate transporation systems throughout the cave systems of Thalassar.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Gnomes speak gnomish, a language which sounds quite different from dwarvish. Some words have been loaned from dwarvish, but otherwise the languages are distinct.

Common Etiquette Rules

Gnomes are most often good. Those who tend toward law are sages, engineers, researchers, scholars, investigators, or inventors. Those who tend toward chaos are minstrels, tricksters, wanderers, or fanciful jewelers. Gnomes are good-hearted, and even the tricksters among them are more playful than vicious.

Origin/Ancestry

Humanoid

Lifespan

Up to 600.

Average Height

1m to 1.3m.

Average Weight

55kg to 76kg.

Faekin

Ability Score Increase +2 Int

Size Tiny

Speed 30ft

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Darkvision. Accustomed to life underground, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Faekin Cunning. You have advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic.
Subrace. There are many different forms of Faekin, and their abilities and natural preferences come from where they were born.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Mimer. The Mimer language is mysterious, and uses many signs and markings that are very different to Common. Comparing the two would not be unlike comparing english and chinese.