Gnomes
What we know we don't know about Gnomes.
It is probably best to get this out of the way before we even start to talk about Gnomes. There is a lot we don't know, and even what we do know is often contradictory.- We do not know precisely what they are. There are numerous theories ranging from Gnomes being a smaller species of Dwarf, to a more civilised version of the Goblin. There are even suggestions of a distant link to Halflings and various combinations of all three. Many theories claim that they must be magical beings one of many variations of forest spirit like imps and fairies. But the only sure fact known about them is that they exist and that they are not saying why.
- We do not know what they look like. Which may seem surprising given that many people have seen them and we have numerous images of them. But in fact, the one consistent thing about the way gnomes look is that it is inconsistent. Even the basic physical aspects of their appearance cannot be taken for granted. Most have large bulbous noses, but not all. Most are shorter than Halflings and rotund, but some are thin and quite scrawny. Most have human-like ears, except for the ones that have pointed ears like elves and goblins.
- We don't know where they come from or where they live. Which again may seem odd given that their is existence is certain. Indeed it is an accepted fact that the largest Gnomic community in The Empire is called Glimdwarrow, can be found beneath the hill range known as 'The Mirror Moors' and has a population of almost a thousand. Except that nobody has ever been there, and nobody knows where it is. In practice gnomes just seem to appear amongst the population of the Old World from nowhere, complete whatever business they may have and then disappear again. Leading to some speculation amongst academic's that they don't live in the real world at all but merely portal in and out of it at will.
What We Think We Know About Gnomes
Gnomes are smaller relatives of Dwarfs; they have a similar cultural background and speak their own Dwarvish dialect. Gnomes are even more short-tempered and difficult to get along with than Dwarfs, but like them, they live mostly underground or amongst mountains. Gnomes can be found almost exclusively on the western side of the Worlds Edge Mountains. Their numbers are few and declining all the time. Some communities survive in the remoter areas of the Isle of Albion, but these cannot be said to constitute anything other than a backward remnant of the race.Imperial Gnomes
Within The Empire, Gnomes have a reputation for clannishness, being regarded as having a chip on both shoulders. They do not easily mix with the other races, but they are by no means as secretive and withdrawn as, for example, the Wood Elves of the Laurelorn Forest. Gnome pedlars are a relatively common sight and Gnomish smiths and engineers are accorded almost as much respect as their Dwarven counterparts - often more, but this is usually from fear of their acerbic wit and sharp-tongued sarcasm. Indeed, it is probably the Gnomic capacity for vitriol which led to the appointment of a Gnome as Imperial Court Jester in 1143 IC; and this has since become a tradition which the Emperor, Karl-Franz I, continues to maintain. Nevertheless, Gnomes prefer to live among other Gnomes in self-contained, isolated communities. These are invariably burrows or cavern networks beneath The Empire's numerous limestone plateaus and other hill ranges. The Gnomic fondness for fishing is almost as infamous as their love of practical jokes and no permanent settlement is ever established far from a well-stocked fishing lake or river (preferably underground). Indeed, the Gnomic skill with rod and line is almost legendary. The largest Gnomic community in The Empire (Glimdwarrow) is to be found beneath the hill range known as The Mirror Moors and numbers nearly a thousand inhabitants. Like other Gnomic settlements, it is run along complex hierarchical lines, but since each member of the community has several different roles and a correspondingly different status according to which role they are filling, Gnomic society invariably strikes outsiders as an incomprehensible confusion. Even their cousins, the Dwarfs, find it difficult to fathom the significance of the innumerable Gnomic customs and rules of etiquette. In each community, there is a clan overlord who acts as a sort of head of state, there is a religious leader who deals with matters spiritual, a craftsmaster who supervises mining and smithing activities, and a loremaster who guards the secrets of the clan's history, preserves its learning, and ensures that ancient customs and rituals are observed with clockwork precision. Some clans also have a spell master who passes on the Gnomic skills in illusion-weaving to those few Gnomes deemed worthy of such an apprenticeship. Then, of course, there are warriors are trained in the use of weapons and assigned to the Gnome guard. Unlike their close cousins, the Dwarfs, Gnomes have a strong affinity for magic, particularly illusionist magic. Gnomes see illusions as a natural extension of their love for jokes, tricks, and gadgets. Within Gnome society, some clans have a spell master, who passes on illusionist skills to apprentices. Some Gnomes are present at the highest levels of the Empire College of Illusionists; others follow their forebear, Addic - who according to legend, was the first gnome to leave Glimdwarrow and travel in human society - and wander The Empire, either alone or with a band of travelling players, providing illusions as entertainment.Gnomes in Imperial Society
Gnomes tend to specialise when interacting with humans. Being small and somewhat anti-social by human standards many activities that other small species such as Halflings might consider don't really work out very well for Gnomes. One can imagine for example that a Gnomic Chef would probably lose a lot of customers as a result of emptying their plates over their heads for daring to criticise its dishes, or by adding amusing additives like laxatives or hot pepper to their food just as a joke. So Gnomes tend to gravitate towards a small number of Gnome-Suitable Occupations.Cratsmen
Gnomes often make fine craftsmen, sharing a similar pride in their work to Dwarf's but without the cultural constraints on experimentation and innovation. Animated toy's with elaborate clockwork devices of great intricacy and produced with a Gnomic eye for the theatrical, are particularly prized. However, even more, mundane crafts such as that of a cobbler are often taken up by Gnomes. Although customers need to be prepared for unexpected innovations when employing a Gnomic cobbler and not be surprised if the shoes produced turn out somewhat more flamboyant than they expected.Money Lenders
We have already mentioned that most Gnomes are assumed to be rich. Well, that may or may not be true, but the Cult of Ringil almost certainly is rich. It receives a full 10% contribution from the income of every Gnome in the world. Which even though we have no idea how many gnomes that might be is certainly enough to make it one of the richest organisations in the world. It also seems to appeal to the Gnomic sense of humour that other races are prepared to pay good money to borrow funds from them rather than simply go out and earn it for themselves. This willingness and Gnomic enthusiasm to lend money to others even for the most dubious of schemes has become quite well-known. Making Gnomic Money Lenders very popular with mortals of every race, class and reputation. Any Gnome can be asked for money, and will willingly inform their local Ringil representative of the request. Quite what happens next rather depends on the nature of the request and the amount involved, and can be as simple as a few coins slid across a table or as complicated as a full formal procession and presentation ceremony. However, fastidious to the last there will always be a contract to sign, just remember to read the small print, especially if it's written in invisible ink.Jesters
Gnomes are renowned across the Empire as accomplished and skilled Jesters. They are in effect the race of choice when seeking to appoint someone to that role. However, few employers seem to consider what the Gnome gets out of the arrangement and why they find it so rewarding. The simple fact is that most employers seeking a Jester tend to be from the upper echelons of human society, and thus usually both rich and powerful. Thus for a Gnome gaining access to the homes of the most influential people in the land simply by playing the fool is the best joke one can conceive. Make no mistake, that a good Gnome Jester knows when to shut up and simply listen, and when to fade into the background and simply watch. They also have the wit to use their skills of ridicule effectively to influence their masters his friends and family for better or worse. If nothing else their mere presence means that Gnomic interests have a voice in almost every powerful house and court of the land.Watchmen and Sewerjacks
Whilst obviously not as popular as some other professions Gnomes do occasionally find themselves employed by local authorities as Watchmen and Sewerjacks. Their small size and excellent night vision give them a distinct advantage over their human colleagues after dark or in the undercity, which more than compensates for their lack of strength and stature. Quite what the Gnomes get out of it is less certain, as the pay is rarely attractive and the working conditions less than ideal. Perhaps, there is some strange ulterior motive for the Gnomes desire to explore the darkest and most dangerous parts of the city, and the idea of getting paid and provided with an armed escort free of charge just appeals to their sense of humour.Theives, Tinkers, Entertainers and Spies.
Whilst not strictly employment many Gnomes simply make their own way in Imperial Society. Their natural physique and talents easily lend themselves to a number of money-making activities from theft to peddler, and many Gnomes combine several simultaneous activities each designed to facilitate the others. Glimbrin Oddsocks for example presents himself as a Gnomish Peddler of Magical Charms and Exotic Crafts, but he is not beyond stealing from his customers and his patrons if opportunities arise and is equally willing to fund illegal schemes based upon his own intelligence.Physique
Gnomes are short and stocky, rarely exceeding four feet in height. Characteristic features include bulbous noses, shaggy hair and beards. Hair colour is usually black, but can also be brown or red. Skin colour is the same as Dwarfs, but Gnomes have a tendency to look weather-beaten and tanned.Alignment
Any, but nearly always Neutral.Psychological Traits
Gnomes are subject to hatred of Goblins.Special Rules
Gnomes have Night Vision extending up to 30 yards.This can be considered the Official understanding of Gnomes as recorded by Imperial Chroniclers and contained in the Warhammer First Edition Rulebook Page 220.
A History of Gnomes
Given that we know so little about Gnomes today, one can imagine that anything we know about their history is even more speculative.Like fish through water, gnomes pass through the earth
One of the earliest written references to gnomes can be found in the alchemical writings of Paracelsus. He describes them as synonymous with halflings, about "two spans" high, and describes them as mountain folk. He claims that they are one of four elemental spirits; Undines are the spirits of the water, Sylphs are the spirits of the air, Salamanders are the spirits of fire, and Gnomes the spirits of the earth. Each of these beings inhabits their element, breathing it, passing through it; and so too do each of these beings have a particular element which they use as "soil" in which to grow their food. For Gnomes water acts as their "soil" which explains why gnomes are so often seen with fishing rods. He claims that the Gods of nature created each of these as guardians of their element, and that Gnomes are the guardians of the earth. Hence, Gnomes are elementals. Not only do they have an affinity with the earth, and a sense of that element being their home. But they can pass through it as easily as fish through water, being both the embodiment of earth and it's protectors.Out of the Garden
Whilst the above explanation sounds wildly fanciful if not bizarre, it does explain a persistent belief that Gnomes are somehow linked to the fey and the spirit world. It would, for instance, explain how Gnomes have a disturbing habit of simply appearing and disappearing at will. It may also explain why their appearance is so inconsistent. Academic's have also pointed out that the dwarf's themselves consider that their race was created from the earth, and so the concept that Gnomes might also have been created from the same earthen mould is not completely unfounded. It is also true that Gnomes seem to spend an enormous amount of their time sitting by water with a fishing rod in their hands, even though they rarely seem to catch anything. Gnomevember by Graeme Davis Where The Sea Pours Out.Gnomes are the tricksters of the Underdark.
Everywhere there are mortals with the sense to keep records we find mention of Gnomes. The far distant land of Albion they are said to be ginger-haired creatures referred to as Leprechauns. Said to be solitary creatures, whose principal occupation is making and mending shoes, and who enjoy practical jokes. According to the people of Albion, Leprechauns are immensely wealthy fairies, who have amassed vast personal "treasure-crocks", filled with gold that was buried by mortals in times of crisis and them never reclaimed. Their belief is that a Leprechaun is the son of an "evil spirit" and a "degenerate fairy" and is consequently neither "not wholly good nor wholly evil". There is an oft-quoted belief that if a man can trap a Leprechaun it will gladly surrender its crock of gold in return for its freedom. But good luck trying.The Leprechaun is about three feet high and is dressed in a little red jacket or roundabout, with red breeches buckled at the knee, grey or black stockings, and a hat, cocked in the style of a century ago, over a little, old, withered face. Round his neck is silk cravat, and frills of lace are at his wrists. In the wind and rain he dispenses with the frills and wears a knee-length overcoat over his pretty red suit, so that unless on the lookout for the hat, ye might pass a Leprechaun on the road and never know it's himself that's in it at all.Then there Coblynau. A class of fairy which haunts the mines, quarries and under-ground regions of Albion, and are described as cabalistic Gnomes. The word Coblyn has the double meaning of knocker or thumper and sprite or fiend; and may actually be a species of goblin. Miners to often claim to have met these creatures which dwell in the mines and who frequently point out, rich veins of ore by their peculiar knocking or rapping on the walls of their tunnels. It is also claimed that they can indicate the location of subterranean treasures generally, in caves and secret places of the mountains. The coblynau are described as being about half a yard in height and very ugly to look upon, but extremely good-natured, and warm friends of the miner. Their dress is a grotesque imitation of the miner's garb, and they carry tiny hammers, picks and lamps. They work busily, loading ore in buckets, flitting about the shafts, turning tiny windlasses, and pounding away like madmen, but really accomplishing nothing whatever. They have been known to throw stones at the miners when enraged at being lightly spoken of, but the stones are harmless. Nevertheless, all miners of a proper spirit refrain from provoking them. However, the mythology of the "knockers", is ambiguous as some claim that these gnomes are can bring good luck or ill omens. The sound of knocking was also caused by the creaking of the earth and the timber supports that preceded a cave in. Thus some viewed the Gnomes as malevolent creatures who caused the cave-in, whilst others considered them well-meaning creatures who warned the miners in time for them to escape. The dark creaking claustrophobia of the mine is pretty anxiety-inducing. And just as cultural anxieties about the fens and marshlands tend to spawn stories of Fimir, it is possible that the gnomes are an embodiment of the anxiety about the dangerous underground where they make their home. You do not know whether to trust them or not. They are tricksters within the depths of the earth.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Female gnomes tend to use delicate and pretty names borrowed from nature. e.g. 'Poppy'; 'Daisy' or 'Dandelion'
Masculine names
Male Gnomes often have quite fanciful names that seem quite out of context with their appearance. 'Glimbrin'; 'Alphonse' or 'Reginald'
Family names
Most Gnomes encountered in the mortal realm use family names that are obviously descriptive to the point of being suspiciously contrived. e.g. 'Oddsocks'; 'BigEars'; 'FlatNose' or 'SmallFoot' Whether these are family names or merely nicknames is hard to determine and Gnomes tend to be evasive about the subject. But given that even Dwarves tend to use contrived names such as 'Grimbeard' or 'Hammerhand' when dealing with other races it is not too fanciful to imagine that Gnomes do likewise.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
It is difficult to know what Gnomes find attractive, though Elves have mentioned that Gnomes they have encountered have been quite obsessed with their ears. This may just be because they find them unusual but Gnomic harassment of Elves has reportedly included a lot if inappropriate ear stroking.
Courtship Ideals
Nobody in the mortal realm has reported seeing Gnomes engaged in courtship, though they do occasionally appear as couples and sometimes even with children.
Relationship Ideals
As with courtship, a general lack of witnesses to the family life of Gnomes prevents any clear understanding of how they behave in relationships. When dealing with other races they tend to be quite irritable, easily offended and argumentative. But that may just be a consequence of feeling nervous or a form of defensive behaviour.
"Gnomes? What happened to them? They're gone?
I don't think so, sir. I bought a pan from one only last week." Nils Lofgrun, Bone Picker.
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