Gnomes of Talingrad
Gnomes of Talingrad can be divided into three ethnic groups, Heartland Gnomes, Bryr Gnomes, and the Svirfneblin.
Heartland Gnomes: The Gnomes found most often in the heartland are industries, creative, and more than a little obsessed with passions or pastimes. Attempting to stave off the bleaching, they turn to all manner of culinary or crafting pursuits, often at the expense of family. It is also not uncommon for some to pursue a career in the military or in adventuring parties, as they strive to see new places and possess greater glories. An uncommon profession in gnomish society in the clergy, for much the same reasons, the glory of the Inheritor is known, so there is little to explore further. Gnomes otherwise behave much like any normal Talingradi might, that is to say, dutiful, pious, and kind.
Bryr Gnome: The Bryr gnomes are those who have rejected the trappings of civilization, instead choosing to embrace the verdant path, and practice the old ways. Their kind are most common in the Caer Bryr or in the Greenwood, but they can be found in a number of forests across Talingrad. While they are not hostile to the people of Talingrad, they want nothing to do with their society, embracing a calling that reflects their ancestry, hunting, growing, and communing with the natural world. Some of these Gnomes have been convicted in Talingrad for witchcraft, and certain villages that border the Caer Bryr possess a witchfinder specifically to ensure the safety of people’s homes against the encroachment of the green.
Svirfneblin: The deep gnomes are most comfortable below the earth, and in the company of their gaslights, or so the merchants say. Natives to the Undercity beneath Ghastenhall, the deep gnomes there provide a vital service of keeping mines flowing, the magic burning and the cities operations open for business. Deep gnomes tend to be suspicious and serious, but are curiously immune to the bleaching, likely due to their exposure to shadow magic and the things beneath the earth. Many are cunning politicians and traders however, and their use of illusion magic has stopped more than one disaster in Ghastenhall’s pass. The Svirfneblin are by far the most likely to value their family members and communities, due to the intimate nature of the underdark, and equally the most likely to engage and collaborate with others for mutual gain and survival.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Gnomish names tend to be sporadic, with some adopting carefree names to reflect a lack of importance they feel towards them, while others fully ingratiated in Talingradi society often choose names and titles and honorifics as the remainder of human society would. There are many in the Bryr who forgo names all together, accepting them as words that would bind and chain their kind to the material realm.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Gnome, Talingradi (Common), Undercommon (Svirfneblin Only), and Sylvan (Bryr Gnomes Only)
Culture and cultural heritage
Much like their elvish kin, Gnomes supposedly first arrived in Talingrad by way of expulsion from the fey wilde’s winter court. Unlike the elves however, the unorganized gnomes quickly dispersed in all directions. Some stayed near the trees they had arrived in, while others scattered into larger Talingrad. It is suggested that gnomes and halflings shared common knowledge when meeting, though there is little evidence of large gnomish settlements north of the Watchwall.
What is known is that several other independent movements of gnomes from the underdark made their way towards Talingrad sometime during the 3rd era. The “svirfneblin” as they called themselves supposedly founded the Undercity at the site that would one day be Ghastenhall, and then fought against dwarves from Kaz-Turin mountains over a number of centuries. Eventually with the help of their Elven allies, these gnomes would outlast their dwarven enemies and see their cities survival into the modern era as Ghastenhall. Some dwarves believe the deep gnomes played a hand in aiding goblinkind in destroying their ancestral home, but their is little substantial evidence to verify this accusation.
Elsewhere, Gnomes in the Caer Bryr became entrenched. It is said that for millennia they built strange monuments, mounds, and effigies honoring the Eldest of the Fey Wilde, the Green Order, and the Bandersnatch, among other, even stranger powers. A number of strange rock formations on the edges of the Caer Bryr from early Gnomish settlements still stand to this day, but their meanings cannot be explained. Some archaeologists have attempted to unearth their meaning, but with little effect, and with the Gnomish societies of the Caer Bryr not even remotely unified, attempts to uncover the past may an impossible undertaking.
While Gnomes in the heartland did attempt to play the game of conquest and civilization, they quickly found themselves outnumbered and outmaneuvered by tribes of halflings and nascent kingdoms of humanity. These fledgling Gnomish kingdoms and societies had all been conquered, dissolved, or destroyed by the beginning of the 4th era, leading to the homogenization of the heartland gnome culture, and the successful cultural integration of their people. From there the story of gnomish culture in the heartland ends, and becomes one with the story of Talingrad.
Shared customary codes and values
Gnomes share a love of creativity, though the form of their expression can vary. All gnomes equally share a desire to learn new things or explore new places, though limits of society or economic status can limit options to complete these endeavors.
Average technological level
Heartland
Common Dress code
Gnomes of the heartland are more likely than most other ethnic groups to use a variety of colors within their clothing, and equally love elaborate patterns in clothing. Obviously the limits of economic status can damper options, but many gnomes get creative in creating their own unique articles of clothing. This is true even among the Caer Bryr, where gnomes will seek out unique dyes or animals to use in the creation of their styles of dress.
The Svirfneblin however buck this trend. Due to their work in the underground and the frequency of soot and smoke, most favor darker clothing that is less easy to stain, and instead take creative expression within their beards and mustaches, or the braiding of their hair or eyebrows.
Art & Architecture
Gnomes within the Caer Bryr tend to build strange monuments of stone and clay not understood by most outsiders. They seem to align with celestial bodies, but do not match existing star configurations. These few structures that the followers of the green do build are strong and sturdy however, and many of their strange ruins have persisted for over four thousand years.
The Svirfneblin are perhaps some of the greatest crafters in Talingrad. Fully embracing of the forward march of progress, the deep gnomes modern structures reflect metal in their design, and pipes and wheels in their construction. Often they include new installations for gaslight or oil containers to keep the light flowing, and build harnesses and foci to channel their illusion magics to create the appearance of light.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Gnomish customs and traditions can be highly secretive, especially among the gnomes of the Caer Bryr or the svirfneblin. Gnomes integrated in heartland society however tend to match the common customs of the Talingradi people as a whole and follow their traditions.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Gnome children will typically be raised by extended families, rather than strictly by individual parents. This is especially true within the Caer Bryr where it is not uncommon for gnomes to receive upbringing and education by entire circles of their community. Gnome childhood lasts for roughly 20 years due to their extended aging cycle.
Coming of Age Rites
Within the heartland, gnomish rites of passage match those of core Talingradi society, though most will attempt to find hobbies sooner rather than later to avoid the affect of the bleaching.
Within the Caer Bryr, it is expected that when a child comes of age, they will join a circle of veneration and take pledges to protect the Green. The details of these rituals are not known to outsiders and are deeply guarded secrets of the Iraen.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Gnomes view death with relatively less gravity than most other ethnic cultures. The reason for this can vary, either due to religion or a belief in reincarnation, but many gnomes view death as little more than a transition to the next great experience. As a result, funerals are more celebratory affairs, and typically involve a displaying or discussion of a gnomes greatest achievements during life.
Common Taboos
Recent political events have changed the once very stable Gnomish place in Talingradi society. The ascension and betrayal of Lini Hargrave, a native Talingradi gnome to the throne of Karlsguard has cast suspicion and doubt on a number of members of Gnomish society. Some gnomes have begun to claim that they have been passed over for promotion, fired from employment, or have been otherwise treated in a discriminatory fashion due to the perception that “if the comptroller of the treasury was stealing from us, and his daughter butchered our countrymen, what else could the rest be up to?”. Suspicions already in place around Gnomes of the Caer Bryr and Svirfneblin were already high, and have only inflamed since the betrayal. These feelings of resentment are said to be especially prevalent among st families who lost loved ones in the Battle of Karlsguard, leading some to describe the societal shift as the “silent betrayal”.
Common Myths and Legends
Myths abound concerning Gnomes of Talingrad abound. Certainly the most well known of these are related to Iomedae's Third Act, when she stopped a ritual to summon "Ygg and Yggotha". The exact nature of these entities is unknown as is the details of their summoning or their defeat. Naturally, this has allowed for stories to vary wildly, often used as dark fairy tails for mothers to tell their children in the night, or for Gnomes to threaten to call upon their enemies when uttering curses.
Myths also exist concerning the original Gnome settlements following their fall from the Fey Wilde. Who was the queen of air and darkness? What relics or legacies did Gnomes bring with them from the winter court? If such items exist, they are now most certainly lost to history.
Myths also exist concerning legendary creatures supposedly venerated within the Caer Bryr. These include the CAothach Ool, The Lady of the Brijidine, Corinth the Green, The-Mother-Within-The-Moon, and Crom Cruach, among many others. Others tell of horrifying demons that are placated by certain tribes within the forest including Vetra-Kali Eats-the-Eyes, and Hazra Thura "Even the Stars Shall Suffer". The existence of any of these creatures is enough to give men pause, and the fear that they may be granting dark powers to gnomes of the wildlands causes few to venture into their territory.
Among the Svirfneblin, myths are less common than conspiracy theories. The idea that the gaslight league controls illegal slave trade in Talingrad, the idea that they have chosen each king for the last 500 years, and the theory that the Gaslight league assassinated the young princes of King Godwulf II in Ghastenhall have been proposed over the centuries. The idea that any of these theories are true are unlikely, but the Gaslight league does little to dismiss these rumors.
Historical figures
The Gaslight League: A cabal of Svirfneblin engineers, workers and politicians representing different areas of trade within the Undercity. One part guild, one part government, the gaslight league's membership is a closely guarded secret, with only the Duke of Ghastenhall currently aware of their leaderships identities. Together these parties dictate trade and growth of Ghastenhall, and govern the cities future.
The Lord of All Eagles: This mysterious figure claims dominion over all eagles in the Caer Bryr and beyond. His existence is known through proclamations in wood and stone marking his territory stating "I remain lord of all eagles". Whether or not the creature is a Gnome or not is unclear, and he is listed here simply do to his proximity to their lands, if he even exists at all.
Lini Haregrave: The Traitor. Current Jarl of Karlsguard's "Throne of Honor", The Traitor helped kill King Markadian V called the Victor aboard his flagship with the assistance of a band of Karlsguardian mercenaries known as the "Order of the Scale". Though the Jarl and Talingrad are now at peace, her blackheared betrayal of king and country have tainted many against trusting gnomes in positions of authority.
Gwidion Haregrave: Comptroller of the treasury, Gwidion participated in a plot to kill a crown prince of Talingrad and embezzle the treasury. When these affairs were discovered, Gwidion was naturally exiled of his position and is presumed dead, but his legacy left a perminent scar on heartland gnomes living near the greenbelt.
The Chieftain of the Irain: Supposed leader of the Irain, the largest group of gnomes living in the Caer Bryr, their chieftain is doubtless a powerful and looming figure. Their identity is unknown, but their demands are. The complete independence of the Caer Bryr from Talingrad, and the promise of non-interference in the ways of the forest. It is said that they are responsible for border skirmishes into Talingrad territory and are the architect of coordinated assaults against it's communities on the western half of the island.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Gnomes hair color and pigment comes in all colors and shades, and indeed the only real detractor of gnomish beauty is the bleaching when all color is removed. A lack of color is considered a bad omen, even among the Svirfneblin, and as a result most will never wear all black or all white.
Relationship Ideals
Long term monogamy is exceedingly rare among most ethnicities of gnomish culture, and most have numerous intimate relations during their lifetimes. This is especially true among Gnomes in position of nobility or possessing sufficient wealth. A common policy is that Gnomes will have marriages of convenience, or for purposes of taxation, while pursuing open affairs outside of their immediate family. This idea is true, even among svirfneblin of the undercity, although the deep gnomes there take extra steps to keep the consequences of their affairs contained specifically to their communities.
Major organizations
The Caer Bryr Tribes
The Winter Court
The Gaslight League
Comments