Gnomes
Gnomes are the wandering folk of the eastern plains. They do not shy away from other races but neither do they seek to be around them. They behave similar around each other.
Usually gnomes will move in groups of families or small clans. Meating another group of gnomes is cause for celebration, however this can change very quickly. Too many gnomes in a small area for more than a few days will most certanly result in thieving, bickering or even open violence. Thus after a celebration of one day each group will move on again to avoid this.
Exeptions for this are gatherings in certain places at certain times of the year. For as the gnome calendar goes hand in hand with the seasons, the blooming of certain flowers marks days of festivities for them. At those times great masses of gnomes can come together as the fesivities usually last no more than two days.
To other races gnomes are most commonly known for their surpassing skill in healing. Many people, especially mankind and dwarves, will travel far to seek a gnome healer. These however often ask high prices as they know their worth and are good trades people.
One thing they are also known for however is their unreliability. Gnomes will feel no regret at leaving someone else, be it gnome or other, behind in a sticky situation to save their own necks.
Usually gnomes will move in groups of families or small clans. Meating another group of gnomes is cause for celebration, however this can change very quickly. Too many gnomes in a small area for more than a few days will most certanly result in thieving, bickering or even open violence. Thus after a celebration of one day each group will move on again to avoid this.
Exeptions for this are gatherings in certain places at certain times of the year. For as the gnome calendar goes hand in hand with the seasons, the blooming of certain flowers marks days of festivities for them. At those times great masses of gnomes can come together as the fesivities usually last no more than two days.
To other races gnomes are most commonly known for their surpassing skill in healing. Many people, especially mankind and dwarves, will travel far to seek a gnome healer. These however often ask high prices as they know their worth and are good trades people.
One thing they are also known for however is their unreliability. Gnomes will feel no regret at leaving someone else, be it gnome or other, behind in a sticky situation to save their own necks.
Civilization and Culture
History
For the most part of their history the gnomes have remained in their ancestral home in the easern plains. They have long perfekted living in this dry region of poor soil and little plant life. In order to do this they developed a very fine skill of watching nature around them to determine weather and season changes. And in doing so they also realised the healing traits of a number of plants. So early on, their nomadic wanderings became ordered in a sense and began to follow the seasons, ripening of edible and medicinal plants and the movement of herds of animals. Different clans travel on different "circles" to their traditional collecting places of plants. For this they regularly leave the plains and may travel for muliple hundred miles in order to collect certain plants.
On the intersecting points of different "circles" small permanent settlements grew, as close to a town as you will get with gnomes. There can be found the plant traders who buy and sell plants from all passing clans.
During the years of the Long Peace it became almost common for a while for a young gnome after completing his training for healing to go abroad, sometimes even to pass the sundering mountains and travel among other races for a few years, selling their services as healers and collecting new knowledge and herbs. By this gnomes bacame famous in all the Land for their skill in healing.
During the great demonwar still more went abroad to help treat the wounded on the battlefields. But many of them did not return to their homes and families and this is remembered among gnomes to this day.
With the end of the war and the rise of the godking things did not get better for them. Gnomes travelling alone or abroad were catured and taken to the royal courts of men to work for them as healers. And the remaining gnomes had to pay tribute in form of herbs and plants. This also is remembered among the gnomes and they distrust men, royalty even more.
So at the end of the second Order, after the fall of the godking the few survivors fled back to their homes. From that day one it was considered treason to leave the clan and to go abroad. Only slowly the gnomes are opening up again to the pleading of those that come to their villages for help.
On the intersecting points of different "circles" small permanent settlements grew, as close to a town as you will get with gnomes. There can be found the plant traders who buy and sell plants from all passing clans.
During the years of the Long Peace it became almost common for a while for a young gnome after completing his training for healing to go abroad, sometimes even to pass the sundering mountains and travel among other races for a few years, selling their services as healers and collecting new knowledge and herbs. By this gnomes bacame famous in all the Land for their skill in healing.
During the great demonwar still more went abroad to help treat the wounded on the battlefields. But many of them did not return to their homes and families and this is remembered among gnomes to this day.
With the end of the war and the rise of the godking things did not get better for them. Gnomes travelling alone or abroad were catured and taken to the royal courts of men to work for them as healers. And the remaining gnomes had to pay tribute in form of herbs and plants. This also is remembered among the gnomes and they distrust men, royalty even more.
So at the end of the second Order, after the fall of the godking the few survivors fled back to their homes. From that day one it was considered treason to leave the clan and to go abroad. Only slowly the gnomes are opening up again to the pleading of those that come to their villages for help.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
mortal races
Origin/Ancestry
created by the gods
Geographic Distribution
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