Gnau
Sometimes called halflings or gnomes, the Gnau trace their origins back many millennia, and call Orela their first home. There is a very slim agreement among most scholars that the various people of Xianlian, Jakata, Tu-Quet, Maibusa, and Escabla all share a single ancestry, having split during the Age of Daemons.
During that time, at least a portion of the Gnau are thought to have escaped to the Faewyld, similar to the Eldari. Without confidence in their ability to twart the daemon incursion, or defend themselves, those refugees would spend several generations in quite isolation in the Faewyld and would eventually develop into the gnomes of modern understanding.
Physiology
During that time, at least a portion of the Gnau are thought to have escaped to the Faewyld, similar to the Eldari. Without confidence in their ability to twart the daemon incursion, or defend themselves, those refugees would spend several generations in quite isolation in the Faewyld and would eventually develop into the gnomes of modern understanding.
Physiology
Gnau are among the shortest of all known echinder in Rynn, standing between 3 and 4 feet tall, and rarely weigh over 150 lbs. They often have large hands and feet proportional to their body size, and very dexterous fingers. While people like the Xin often have black or brown hair, and often muted eye colors of brown or silver - many Tu-quet and Maibusi present eyes and hair of along a full color spectrum, a common trait among species that have spent generations in the Faewyld.
History
The gnomes of Terra Rynn have an obscure history, and even among academics, only a few know more than a scattering of notes about their origins. According to legend, the Gnau were once a singular people that were married into the Echinder during the age of awakening. However, the Gnau were primarily a peaceful people, and while creative, had little in the way of courage. When the Daemon's invaded, the Gnau would be scattered across Orela and beyond.
Among them were a those that fled to the feywild, and would remain their for nearly a thousand years. Hidden behind barriers both mundane and magical, the Gnau would slowly develop into a more mercurial and less fearful people. Over the generations, the wild magic of the fey realm would slowly warp the Gnau into the gnomish people of today, stripping them of their fear and cowardice, and replacing it with curosity and joy. However, some scholars debate whether the shift is due to magical conversion, and more due to a more subtle and savage landscape, one that slowly culled the weakest tribes from the Gnau until only brave (or apathetic) remained.
At some point, a mysterious event known only as the Wilding would sweep over the gnomes, and that a greater sense of unity would be born from the aftermath. With this newfound unity, many felt a call to return home, back to the mortal plane. While some were still content to remain in their new home, others worried that their history and traditions would not stand another thousand years in the fey. With a grand effort, the gnomes would emerge from their hibernation back to their homeland, to find many things changed, yet other things left unscathed. Seemingly safe, the gnomes would spend many generations in oblivious inward development while much of the world dealt with with the calamities of the titans, the rise of the turathi empire as well as its eventual fall.
The gnomes of Terra Rynn have an obscure history, and even among academics, only a few know more than a scattering of notes about their origins. According to legend, the Gnau were once a singular people that were married into the Echinder during the age of awakening. However, the Gnau were primarily a peaceful people, and while creative, had little in the way of courage. When the Daemon's invaded, the Gnau would be scattered across Orela and beyond. Among them were a those that fled to the feywild, and would remain their for nearly a thousand years. Hidden behind barriers both mundane and magical, the Gnau would slowly develop into a more mercurial and less fearful people. Over the generations, the wild magic of the fey realm would slowly warp the Gnau into the gnomish people of today, stripping them of their fear and cowardice, and replacing it with curosity and joy. However, some scholars debate whether the shift is due to magical conversion, and more due to a more subtle and savage landscape, one that slowly culled the weakest tribes from the Gnau until only brave (or apathetic) remained.
At some point, a mysterious event known only as the Wilding would sweep over the gnomes, and that a greater sense of unity would be born from the aftermath. With this newfound unity, many felt a call to return home, back to the mortal plane. While some were still content to remain in their new home, others worried that their history and traditions would not stand another thousand years in the fey. With a grand effort, the gnomes would emerge from their hibernation back to their homeland, to find many things changed, yet other things left unscathed. Seemingly safe, the gnomes would spend many generations in oblivious inward development while much of the world dealt with with the calamities of the titans, the rise of the turathi empire as well as its eventual fall.
Average Height
2.9 - 4.8 feet
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
Related Myths
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