Gnomes

Support ducked as a piece of equipment flew through the air his head had previously occupied, clattering to smaller pieces upon impacting the wall. "Your Majesty, I had no way of knowing-" "'Guaranteed to be safe,' you said!" the king roared, hefting another piece of machinery and hurling it toward the retreating gnome. "'No possibility of failure!' were your exact words!" "Well, yes, I did say that," the gnome admitted, frowning. "But who could have predicted one of the orphans would press the button clearly labeled with instructions not to use it?"
Gnomes are equal parts invaluable allies and dangerous nuisances. Rulers of all bents from monarchy to pirate captain keep at least one nearby (though not too near) whenever possible, but actively find ways to discourage the race from settling in their territories en masse. Ever curious and inventive, gnomes have a tendency to be able to invent something to solve any problem. Their inventions themselves have an equal tendency to explode, thanks to the gnomes' endless fascination with steam- and combustion-based technology. The only recorded airship to beat out one of The Emporium's vessels for the speed of a trip between the two continents was a vessel entirely of gnomish design, constructed partially on a dare. It made its maiden voyage without incident... before promptly exploding immediately upon beginning shutdown procedures in the arrival harbor.
Somewhat jester-ish in appearance and carrying a possibility of exploding themselves and their allies at random moments, gnomes nevertheless do make for excellent allies. Keen minds devoted to discovering everything possible about the world lend themselves well to finding radical or arcane solutions to difficult problems; rare is the community that doesn't have at least one gnome citizen who is consulted when strange issues arise.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Gnomes can be generously called humanoid if one ignores obvious proportionate disparities. Their heads are far too large to be properly supported by their necks, and their hands and feet likewise are comically disproportionate to the attached limbs. How they move so flexibly, or at all, is a mystery, as is their strange ability to literally bounce off of objects with little personal damage (though this second feature serves them in good stead, given their propensity for being near explosions and angry individuals). Their musculature is surprisingly dense, allowing them to bring far more strength to bear than anyone would expect from creatures of their size. Gnome hair, growing from the top of their head and on their eyebrows (when not singed away permanently in an accident) comes in a variety of colors that show no discernible pattern in relation to personality or circumstance.

Biological Traits

Male and female gnomes are easily differentiated in ways familiar to other humanoid mammals. In addition, the females are more likely to have shockingly-bright variations of the various hair colors of the species, while males' hair tends to be darker in variation.
Based on collected circumstantial evidence and observations, those who study such topics theorize a gnome's average lifespan to be roughly 83 years in length. This is difficult, at best, to confirm; most gnomes die in explosive accidents, at the hands of angry allies or enemies, or simply vanish while wandering away from others on some exploration in pursuit of a new discovery.

Genetics and Reproduction

There are certainly male and female gnomes, but they seem to bear precisely zero interest in any form of reproductive activities. No one has ever witnessed a child gnome, and the creatures themselves shrug in response to questions regarding how they were born; the one topic in which they appear to have no curiosity at all. How the race proliferates remains a mystery.

Biological Cycle

Interestingly, gnomes react to the passing of seasons much like some wild animals with hibernal behaviors. In autumnal and winter months, they are largely lethargic, preferring to sleep if possible. This is made up for by extreme levels of excitability and energy during spring and summer months. Most employers with gnomes on retainer use the race's less-active period to schedule repair projects, as well as programs they would rather the dangerous allies not take an interest in.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Gnomes name themselves after ideals of construct and purpose. Primary, Support, Auxiliary, and even the odd questioning phrase like Howdoesthatwork are quite standard for gnomish naming conventions. Gnomes don't seem to mind if other races shorten their names for convenience, but none of them abide nicknames not taken from their name directly; the name they choose holds some special significance for them.

Lifespan

~83 years (...maybe)

Average Height

2'4" - 3'6"