Gnome

Gnomes can be as brilliant as they are eccentric. They do not fit comfortably into highly structured human society, but make great members of a community. Prankster one moment, professional the next; the best description of a gnome is belies their true nature - alien.

Displacement

Gnomes are native not to Durath, but to the Fey Realm.
Gnomes have been known Fey inhabitants since the early times, and some have passed into legends that perpetuate across Durath to this day.
Almost one hundred years ago, Gnomes spontaneously appeared across Durath. Some found themselves in gatherings of hundreds, others as individuals.
The reason for their mass relocation remains unknown, even to themselves. Sufficiently old gnomes remember their life in the Fey Realm, but nothing relating to their departure - they simply appeared in Durath, and quickly got on with experiencing their surroundings. Scholarly records show a huge surge in magical energy in the days following to the event.

Culture and Society

Gnomes took to their new surrounds remarkably quickly. Some settled close to where they appeared. Many travelled wide and joined existing towns and villages. As such, there are few widespread gnomish cultural practices but gnomes happily adopt the habits and holidays of their new homes.
Gnomes are a people who thrive on the variety life offers, and pursue a wealth of experiences. This ranges from opportunistic trickery, to deep infatuation - they are capable of attaining great expertise when a topic takes their interest. As a result, gnomes are especially welcomed in small towns and villages, where they can make great contributions during their stay.
Similarly, gnomes can form interpersonal relationships quickly and deeply, before moving on with little warning. This is at odds with human, elfen, and dwarfen views
To others, gnomes may be considered fickle, flighty and unreliable; often moving on from seemingly established lives without warning. However, the truth is that their erratic nature is a necessity.

Bleaching

In the Fey Realm, this variety was inescapable, but on the Material Plane change is not so innate. Their change of habitat has led to a new phenomenon - when starved of strong experiences, Gnomes undergo Bleaching. This is a draining of both their innate vibrance. It manifests physically as a loss of pigmentation, and causes a severe negative spiral of mental health. The process can cause death in a matter of weeks in severe cases such as imprisonment.
The phenomenon of bleaching was unknown to Gnomes in the Fey Realm.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Gnomes are typically around 3 feet tall, with slight proportions that make them appear spindly compared to halflings.
Skin tones encompass the earthy palette of elves, the spectrum of human tones, and even blues and greys. Hair and eye colour are even more varied, and change several times over a gnomish lifespan.

Origin/Ancestry

Fey