The Gnomish Races

Traits

Common features

What gnomes lack in size and strength, they more than make up for in dexterity and ingenuity. Depending on the subrace they can be shorter or taller than halflings. They always have much slighter builds, though. They are further distinguished with very long or pointy features, from ears to nose and chin. Their hair is often unruly and stiff, standing in all directions, just as pointy as their faces. Similarly to elves, gnomes have a certain mental resistance against magic influences, and a tendency for colourful eyes and hair.

Subraces

Two subraces of gnomes are currently recognized, although a mingling of these two has occurred in Concordia. These are Toren gnomes from Torenrig, and Alo gnomes from Alothlien.
Toren gnomes
Toren gnomes are the taller subrace, averaging 1.20 meters in height and 20 kilograms in weight. Their skin is pale grey or pinkish hued. Young Toren gnomes have natural hair colour of a great variety, from lavender purple to lime green, cyan blue to salmon pink. These vibrant colours faded to grayer saturations with maturity. Male gnomes typically kept neatly groomed beards, adopted from the dwarven styles.
Alo gnomes
Alo gnomes are the smallest sentients, with an average height of 70 centimeters and weighing 12 kilograms. Because Alo gnomes grow their hair in long flowy styles, and keeping facial hair clean shaven to match the elven aesthetic, the stiff texture is usually less apparent. Their skin colour can be various shades of brown or green, sometimes resembling wood even in complexion. Alo gnomes can have red, blond, black or a warm shining brown hair colour, although with age it always bleaches to a pure white. Their eyes were most often a bright yellow or orange hue.

IAMI-periods

To equalize the life stages of all the races including very diverging lifespans, and ensure that they can be categorized correctly when it comes to rights, taxes, and healthcare, all ID cards also share their racial Infancy-Adolescence-Maturity-Index, or IAMI. For gnomes, the life stage periods are:
Infancy: 0-30 years
Adolescence: 30-40 years
Maturity: 40+ years
Lifespan: 500 years

Culture

Enjoyment

Work hard, play hard. That would be the life motto of most gnomes. They have long lifespans but wish to make every moment count, whether its for productivity and creation, or pure delight and play. Expressive faces and hand gestures fill their interactions with energy and enthusiasm. Gnomes usually love pulling pranks and sharing jokes, anything to make their time enjoyable.

Curiosity

Generally gnomes are born with an urge to explore and investigate. This can manifest either as a passion for adventurinig, or as a motivation for research and engineering. Gnomes are known to push boundaries and be the cause of great progress, if only to see if it can be done. When pursuing this urge in a foolhardy manner, gnomes can be reckless and take (more or less) calculated risks. But their passion for enjoyment, not only their own but also that of others, keeps them working for the greater good in most cases. They are also great listeners, paying close attention not only to what is said, but also how. They will add many exclamations to express this interest.

Precision

As passionate creatures, gnomes can be dedicated workers. Add to that their naturally skilled and nimble fingers, and you have exceptional tinkerers, engineers, alchemists, or inventors. Whenever precision is key, gnomes tend to excell. They enjoy any process towards perfection, and after each achievement, they will move on to the next. Gnomish wealth and prosperity are also often displayed in fancy, intricately fine details to their appearance, through jewelry, embroidery, or clockwork trinkets.

Naming conventions

Gnomes love names, and most have half a dozen or so. Taking a name from mother, father, family, and several nicknames. In society they stick to three calling names: a personal name, a family name, and a nickname.
Unisex names
Ale, Birki, Britt, Hanni, Kris, Manu, Mille, Robin, Vieno, Ulf
Feminine names
Aada, Annika, Astrid, Birgit, Dalia, Ebba, Elsa, Freja, Gunhild, Inger, Karin, Lilli, Lovise, Madlen, Monika, Nissa, Noora, Orla, Pernilla, Rebekka, Runa, Sanna, Selma, Siri, Svea, Terese, Ulva, Vivika, Yrsa.
Masculine names
Alrick, Anders, Asbjorn, Bjorn, Boden, Borri, Dagen, Eddard, Eino, Erik, Erlend, Finn, Gunner, Hans, Havard, Ivar, Jerk, Kasper, Klaus, Lars, Ludvig, Marten, Mimir, Olaf, Oswin, Rorik, Soren, Sven, Torvin, Viggo.
Family names
Aaberg, Ander, Bernt, Borg, Dolf, Edman, Erling, Fagerberg, Frydenlund, Gangestad, Hatlen, Heskin, Hillesland, Holmen, Karsten, Krog, Leif, Lind, Ness, Nyborg, Nyhus, Oskar, Piel, Ries, Sigmond, Skau, Toft, Trygg, Vagle, Westergard.
Nicknames
Bonnetbee, Buster, Chief, Chipmunk, Dolly, Foxface, Giggles, Goose, Honey, Junior, Mouse, Nugget, Rednose, Senior, Twigfingers, Twinkletoes.