Deep Gnomes
Deep gnomes are a gnome subrace that lived in the Deeps. While their surface cousins are known for their boundless optimism and cheerful mischief, the deep gnomes are serious and suspicious creatures. They survive in the Deeps by maintaining wariness of others and working hard to keep their underground society secret.
Deep gnomes are a surly and cynical people who fatalistically expect little more from life than what they have. While they treat their own kind with respect and even goodwill, trust is not easily given to anyone from outside their village, or even outside their family. They keep to themselves, are extremely cautious when contacting other races, and eye all strangers with suspicion.
Sullen and hard-working, deep gnomes are wholly dedicated to any task to which they set themselves, typically mining for males and housekeeping for females. Although outsiders find deep gnomes' overly serious attitude make for sour company, those qualities make the deep gnomes tireless pursuers of excellence in their metalworking and weapon forging. These attitudes are also justified in part by the harsh environs the deep gnomes inhabit, which require a degree of stoicism and quiet suffering in order to serve the greater good. Any sounds or raised voices could attract danger to deep gnome homes and fire is used sparingly for cooking and warmth. Their seriousness and pessimism only fades when admiring the gems which fascinate them so much.
Although far more serious than most gnomes, deep gnomes nonetheless exhibit the same insatiable curiosity and craftiness when put in the right circumstances. It is this trait, more than any other, which leads some deep gnomes to abandon their cautious upbringing and explore the world around them. Some of these wandering deep gnomes turn upwards and investigated the surface world from which their ancestors came, particularly deep gnome illusionists who hoped to find advanced instruction in magic beyond what could be obtained in their isolated homes. Others become prospectors, searching the Deeps for new veins of gems and ore to mine.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Deep gnomes are wiry and lean with a body as hard as a slab of rock ranging from 3 to 3.5 feet in height and weighing between 40 to 45 pounds . Males are completely bald and beardless, while the females sport hair. Deep gnome complexions are sometimes described as "gnarled" and, like drow and duergar, are commonly dark in hue, with most deep gnomes demonstrating brown or gray skin with dark gray eyes. Females typically hve gray hair.
Gender Ideals
Deep gnomes consider male and female gender roles equally important. Males are masters outside of the home and females are masters within. This concept of equal labor for either sex carries all the way to the top of deep gnome society, with each city governed by a king and queen who rules as equals. The king is often the head of the community's mining operations and defenses, while the queen is tasked with ensuring that the community has enough food and water to survive, while also handling the day in and day out bureaucracy. Significantly, the king and queen are rarely married to each another, but instead come into their positions independently, elected for life upon the death of their predecessor. Regardless of gender, there is no true conception of retirement among deep gnomes, who work until they could physically work no more.
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