Gnomes

'And the little thing came to present me with their 'invention'. It was a little bird, made of brass, with silver for eyes. By turning a key in its back, it was powered to hop about, singing as a robin. I smiled at my gnomish courtier, thanked her for the generous gift. Then she asked me if I wanted to see the fire-shooting cannon she'd also made. I truly believe that was the most accurate introduction to the mind of a gnome I could ever have.' - King Tristin Naylan III

Of all Ratha's races, the gnomes are the closes to the Fae. It is said that the gnomes emerged from the Fae-touched Eldenwood shortly after the Arrival of the elves, fully formed and ready to greet the world's other races. They are one of the shortest races, yet also one of the most intelligent, being natural craftsmen, scholars, mages, and tinkers. One of the most defining features of gnomes is their endless energy and optimism - most gnomes are highly sociable and eager to travel the world, to sate their seemingly unending curiosity and make all the friends that they can. They are sources of unending pranks and jokes, which may fall flat but are seldom mean-spirited. Technologically, gnomes have contributed to many advancements among the civilized races, and are notably the main engineers on such wonders as airships and the warforged. Some divide the gnomes into forest and rock, but these divisions are purely cultural - forest gnomes tend to live closer to the Fae-touched forests of the world, and are thus more magically inclined, and rock gnomes tend to live within civilization, and are more technologically inclined.

Basic Information

Ecology and Habitats

Gnomes are notable for being tremendously adaptable, having very few limitations but for the most extreme temperatures. The wanderlust in their youth means that younger gnomes are largely nomadic, though they tend to settle down once they're older.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Gnomes are mostly vegetarian, favoring sugar-rich fruits and vegetables. Forest gnomes especially will also occasionally eat insects.

Biological Cycle

Gnomes mature at around the same rate as humans, though they consider themselves young until around age 40. They breed more slowly, and have a notably short gestational period of around 2 months. Most gnomish couples will only have a single child, though this is more cultural than biological.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

One of the most striking features of gnomes is their ears, which are pointed like those of elves, though they extend outwards rather than upwards. They also have proportionally large noses and eyes.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Gnomes are named by their parents at birth, typically with a name that is meaningless but 'sounds nice' - these names can be almost anything. Family names are often a combination of words related to the family's profession (e.g. Cogsprocket, Fieldfinder)

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Gnomish is the main language of the gnomes, and most also speak Common. Gnomes are notably quick to learn languages, so often speak the language of any areas they've traveled to over their centuries.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Gnomish culture prides happiness and curiousity, with young gnomes encouraged by their parents to travel the world before setting down roots and starting a family. Gnomes integrate easily into other cultures, and most major cities have a significant secondary population of gnomes.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Due to their intense friendliness, gnomes are on good terms with almost all other good races of the world, with tensions arising only when a gnome creates an 'invention' with safety as a clear afterthought.

Genetic Descendants

• Svirfneblin

Lifespan

350 years, though exceptional individuals reach 500 without magical aid

Average Height

3.5ft

Average Weight

Even lighter than they appear, often much less than half the weight of a human twice their height

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Gnomes' skin colours are as variable as humans', but they have a huge diversity of hair colours, with pink, green, and blue not uncommon.