Rock Gnomes of the Underdark
During the time of The Old World, Gnome and Dwarfs societies were intermingled within most communities, living underground to avoid the great beasts. Much like the Elves of the Forest, Gnomes, eventually, began a schism within their society, with some believing in delving deeper into the earth; however, this racial divide was far more peaceful than that of the Elves, and, eventually, the two groups went their separate ways.
Over the years, due to the extreme environment of The Underdark, several distinct subraces emerged; known as Deep Gnomes, Rock Gnomes, or the utterly unpronounceable Svirfneblin, they spread throughout the caverns and caves, their culture taking a vastly different turn than their surface-dwelling cousins.
Surface Gnomes are known for the eccentric sense of humor, their unusual desire for tinkering and engineering, and their overall capricious nature. Amongst the magically-gifted Gnomes, those who possess the arcane are almost exclusively drawn to the illusion and trickery magics.
Rock Gnome society could not be more different.
Where Gnomish society is often capricious and fun-loving, Rock Gnomes, living in a hostile environ, soon developed a much more martially-minded society, creating a feudal caste-system and further divesting from other cultures.
From his throne within the Sapphire Palace in the capital of Edo, the Emperor presides over his peoples. Known as TennōHeika, or 'The Heavenly Emperor whom all bow before his throne', he is the religious and spiritual leader of the Deep Gnomes, and is considered to have been chosen by the Divine and granted the right to rule over all.
The Emperor, however, is far more a figurehead than a true head-of-state; though he does possess ultimate authority over all things, the majority of the Empire is run by others, with most mundane and day-to-day things handled on his behalf.
The right hand of the Emperor, and the military leader of the Empire, is the Taishō . As the leading general of the Empire, he is also supreme leader of Hagakure, a complex system involving honor and conduct at least passingly similar to knightly chivalry on the surface world.
Below the Taishō are a number of local rulers, known as Hankō, are the lords of several small towns, encompassing what is collectively known as a Han.
Over the years, due to the extreme environment of The Underdark, several distinct subraces emerged; known as Deep Gnomes, Rock Gnomes, or the utterly unpronounceable Svirfneblin, they spread throughout the caverns and caves, their culture taking a vastly different turn than their surface-dwelling cousins.
Society
Surface Gnomes are known for the eccentric sense of humor, their unusual desire for tinkering and engineering, and their overall capricious nature. Amongst the magically-gifted Gnomes, those who possess the arcane are almost exclusively drawn to the illusion and trickery magics.
Rock Gnome society could not be more different.
Where Gnomish society is often capricious and fun-loving, Rock Gnomes, living in a hostile environ, soon developed a much more martially-minded society, creating a feudal caste-system and further divesting from other cultures.
Hierarchy
From his throne within the Sapphire Palace in the capital of Edo, the Emperor presides over his peoples. Known as TennōHeika, or 'The Heavenly Emperor whom all bow before his throne', he is the religious and spiritual leader of the Deep Gnomes, and is considered to have been chosen by the Divine and granted the right to rule over all.
The Emperor, however, is far more a figurehead than a true head-of-state; though he does possess ultimate authority over all things, the majority of the Empire is run by others, with most mundane and day-to-day things handled on his behalf.
The right hand of the Emperor, and the military leader of the Empire, is the Taishō . As the leading general of the Empire, he is also supreme leader of Hagakure, a complex system involving honor and conduct at least passingly similar to knightly chivalry on the surface world.
Below the Taishō are a number of local rulers, known as Hankō, are the lords of several small towns, encompassing what is collectively known as a Han.
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