Gnome (Nome)
Small creatures who are distantly related to the fey, gnomes have a wide array of coloring and often have markings and patterns on their skin. Gnomes are so varied that even a gnome born from two similar looking gnomes might appear completely different. Gnomes are quite eccentric creatures, often picking up strange obsessions or dangerous compulsions. A gnome might dive head first into an obvious danger just for the thrill of escaping it.
Basic Information
Genetics and Reproduction
Gnome pregnancy lasts around a year, with the mother generally being kept at home with family members taking on her normal roles and duties.
Growth Rate & Stages
Gnomes age more slowly then humans but not quite as slow as dwarves or elves, reaching adulthood at 40 years of age.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Gnomes have a wide variety of diets, often willing to try anything and everything at least once.
Additional Information
Social Structure
While societies differ from realm to realm and tribe to tribe, gnomes are always communal creatures. They seek other like-minded creatures to bond with, even if those creatures aren't gnomes. Many gnomes lack true tribes or gnome-based communities, instead adapting to the communities of the surrounding areas.
Facial characteristics
Male gnomes often grow vibrant facial hair or bushy eyebrows. Many gnomes also have strangely proportioned figures, such as large eyes that don't match the rest of their face.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Gnomes can be found spread through the nine realms, with many making their homes in the settlements of other races.
Average Intelligence
While not inherently cunning, gnomes are upbeat and obsessive creatures, and will work over the same problem many times until they find a solution.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Gnomes can see in low-light conditions, and have acute eyesight, able see details in a much higher capacity. Most gnomes are able to spot the minor discrepancies that comes with illusion magic, and are thus often able to see through illusions on the spot.
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
Gnomes can often be found working in merchants guilds or in traveling caravans, and often join the Explorer's Guild in the hopes of seeing all the excitement the world has to offer them.
Beauty Ideals
Gnomes love to stand out, and thus often try many things to exemplify their personalities, often getting tattoos or dyeing their hair or skin even more outrageous colors.
Gender Ideals
Gnomes mostly view men and woman as equal, with little separating what a gender can and can't do. Many gnome males become inventors and experimenters, while gnome females become artists and nanny's, but no gnome bats and eye at a male child-worker or a female work person. Gnome woman who are expecting children are often shunted away by the gnomes family and friends, kept pampered, protected, and entertained until the baby is born.
Courtship Ideals
Gnomes are friendly and communicative in their courtship pursuits, but rarely do they settle on traditionally marriages. Courtship often begins with the gnome sharing its thoughts on its current obsession, trying to show off what makes it a worthwile pursuit to the other. A gnomes constant need for new experiences means that that holding to a singular partner is quite a rarity, and children are often raised communally rather than with solely one parent.
Relationship Ideals
Most gnomes are communal creatures, and thus easily attempt to make connections with others. A gnomes obsessive and sometimes even aggressive tendencies means that a gnome will often be constantly searching for someone who shares a similar interest while pushing others away. Once they have found someone who shares their goals, they often become inseparable friends.
Average Technological Level
Gnomes love to tinker and create, often obsessively working on something for years until it is perfect. Many gnomes are at the forefront of technological advancements.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Gnomes are fluent whatever Common dilect is the default for their realm, as well as Gnommish and Sylvan. They often will pick up Auren, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, or Orcish in their wanderings.
Common Etiquette Rules
Many gnomes struggle following strict rules, often becoming easily bored and in need of a distraction. Giving homemade gifts is a common practice among gnome friends, even if such gifts hold little to no purpose or value.
Common Dress Code
Male gnomes often love to purchase and wear a variety of hats, often having a different hat for each type of occasion or outing. Female gnomes instead often prefer to work their hair into different styles, often wearing one style for a week before changing to a new one.
Common Taboos
Gnomes dislike laziness and apathy, and one who actively turns away from seeking new excitement from the world would be viewed having a sickness of the mind.
Historical Figures
A member of the legendary band of heroes, the Band of the Sunlit Sword, was Lemi Runescriber, a gnome painter and tattoo artist.
Common Myths and Legends
Most gnomes worship a member of the Gnommish Pantheon, with a majority of Central Materan Gnomes worshiping Guzmeg, the First To Leave. It is believed that the all gnomes once dwelt in Usoram as the Aiya do, and were xenophobic and fearful of new experiences. It is said that when humanity moved out of the primal realm and began to spread out among the realms, that Guzmeg grew curious, and despite objections from his wife Axiush, followed them in their exodus. The new and profound experiences he witnesses propelled him to godhood, and his children soon followed, each traveling to their own realm and experiencing similar epiphanies, while the abandoned Auxiush was transformed by her hate and lonlieness.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Gnomes have difficulty relating to other races, as a gnome's oddities and obsessions are quite strange to most races. A gnome’s prankster and joking nature often upsets more serious natured races. This means they can easily get along well with fun-loving Halfling, but struggle with Elves' need for caution and a Dwarves seriousness.
Table: Gnome - Hit Dice: D8; Class Skills: Climb, Craft, Profession, Ride, Survival; Skill Ranks Per Level: 2 + Intelligence modifier per level; Weapon Proficiency: Simple, plus any weapon with "Gnome" in its name; Armor Proficiency: Light
| Level | BAB | Fort | Reflex | Will | Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +0 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Defensive Training, Gnome Magic, Hatred, Illusion Resistance, Keen Senses, Obsessive |
| 2nd | +1 | +3 | +0 | +0 | Mercantile, Tough |
| 3rd | +2 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Expanded Resistance, Great Work |
| 4th | +3 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Hide from Fey, +1 Constitution, +1 Charisma |
| 5th | +3 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Illusion of Power |
Random Starting Ages
| Adulthood | Intuitive1 | Self-Taught2 | Trained3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 years | +4d6 years (44 - 66) | +6d6 years (46 - 76) | +9d6 years (49 - 94) |
Random Height and Weight
| Gender | Base Height | Height Modifer | Base Weight | Weight Modifier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 3 ft. | +2d4 in. (3 ft. 2 in. - 3 ft. 8 in.) | 35 lbs. | +(2d4 lbs.) (37 - 43 lbs.) |
| Female | 2 ft. 10 in. | +2d4 in. (3 ft. - 3 ft. 6 in.) | 30 lbs. | +(2d4 lbs.) (32 - 38 lbs.) |
Gnome Aging Table
| Middle Age (-1 to Str, Dex, and Con, +1 to Int, Wis and Cha) | Old (-2 to Str, Dex, and Con, +2 to Int, Wis, and Cha) | Venerable (-3 to Str, Dex, and Con, +3 to Int, Wis, and Cha) | Maximum Age (GM secretly decides maximum age) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 years | 150 years | 200 years | 200 + 3d% years (203 - 500 years) |
Random Gnome Homelands
| % Rolled | Homeland | Trait Gained |
|---|---|---|
| 01-30 | Forest | Animal Friend |
| 31-65 | Non-gnome Town or Village | Rapscallion |
| 66-95 | Non-gnome City or Metropolis | Businessman |
| 96-00 | Unusual Homeland | Roll on Unusual Homeland table |
Random Gnome Families
| % Rolled | Parental Status |
|---|---|
| 01-90 | Both of your parents are alive |
| 91-93 | Only Father is alive |
| 94-96 | Only Mother is alive |
| 97-00 | Both of your parents are dead |
| % Rolled | # of Siblings |
|---|---|
| 01-50 | 1d4 biological siblings |
| 51-60 | 1d4-1 biological siblings and one adopted sibling |
| 61-00 | No siblings |
Genetic Descendants
Lifespan
203 - 500 years
Average Height
3 ft. - 3 ft. 6 in.
Average Weight
32 - 43 lbs
Average Physique
Gnomes lack the builds of other races, but are surprisingly hardy.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Gnomes naturally come in a wide variety of color, ranging from bright like green and blue, to darks like purples and browns. A gnomes coloration seems to have little to do with genetics, as a gnome born from two similarly colored parents is just as likely to have a vastly different skin tone as it is to match its parents.
Related Organizations
Gnome
Type
Humanoid (Gnome)
Ability Score Modifier
+2 Constitution, +2 Charisma, -2 Strength. Gnomes are physically weak, but surprisingly hardy and upbeat.
Size
small
Speed
Gnomes have a base speed of 20 feet.
Language
A gnome begins play speaking Common, Gnome, and Sylvan. A gnome with a high intelligence score can pick from any of the following languages: Auren, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, Orc.
- Materil: Matera gnomes can be tied to any of the Materils, although the racial variants are tied to the Materil of their realm. Central Matera gnomes tend towards Lightbenders or Windcallers.
- Low-light Vision: Gnomes have low-light vision.
- Defensive Training: Gnomes gain a +4 dodge bonus to their AC against creatures with the Giant subtype. This bonus increases by +1 for every four Hit Dice the gnome possesses beyond the 1st.
- Illusion Resistance: Gnomes gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against illusion spells and effects. This bonus increases by +1 for every four Hit Dice the gnome possesses beyond the first.
- Keen Senses: Gnomes gain a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks. This bonus increases by +1 for every two Hit Dice the gnome possesses beyond the first.
- Obsessive: Gnomes gain a +2 racial bonus on a Craft or Profession skill of their choice. This bonus increases by one for every two Hit Dice the gnome possesses beyond the first.
- Gnome Magic (Sp): Gnomes add +1 to the DC of any saving throws of illusion spells that they cast. Gnomes with a Charisma score of 11 or higher also gain the following spell-like abilities 1/day each: dancing lights, ghost sound, prestidigitation, speak with animals. The DCs for these spell-like abilities is equal to 10 + the spell level + the gnomes Charisma modifier.
- Hatred: Gnomes gain a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against creatures with the Reptilian and Goblinoid subtypes. This bonus increases by 1 for every four Hit Dice the gnome possesses beyond the first.
- Mercantile: Starting at 2nd racial level, a gnome doubles the result on any Profession check to earn income in a week.
- Tough: At 2nd racial level, a gnome gains a +1 bonus on Constitution checks to stabilize, and gains DR 1/- when dying. The bonus on Constitution checks increases by 1 for every five hit dice the gnome possesses beyond the 2nd.
- Expanded Resistances: At 3rd racial level, a gnome chooses a school of magic other than illusions. The gnome applies its Illusion resistance bonus against effects of that school as well.
- Great Work: At 3rd racial level, a gnome chooses one of the following feats and gains it as a bonus feat: Brew Potion, Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Poppet, Craft Wondrous Item, Inscribe Magical Tattoo, Inscribe Rune, or Scribe Scroll. The gnome does not need to meet any of its prerequisites. The gnome treats its total hit dice as its caster level for the purposes of qualifying for Item Creation Feats and for creating items. One per day, a gnome can count as knowing a spell that is needed to craft an item, as long as that spell is of a level less than ½ the gnome's total hit dice.
- Hide from Fey (Sp): Starting at 4th racial level, the gnome can use hide from animals (affecting only themselves) as a spell like ability using their total hit dice as their caster level, only that it affects fey or magical beasts (chosen when the gnome uses the ability) instead of animals. The gnome can do this once per day for every 4 hit dice they possess.
- Illusion of Power (Su): Starting at 5th racial level, once per day for every five hit dice the gnome possesses, it can replicate the effect of any illusion spell of 5th level or lower, using the gnome's total hit die as its caster level. Replicating a spell this way is a full-round action.
Comments