Gnomes
For most folks in the modern era, Gnomes and Dwarves might as well be aesthetically-different members of the same parent species, for all that their constant co-habitation has caused their cultures to intertwine and bleed into one another so significantly. This was not always the case, however. In ancient times, the two groups clashed constantly in competitions for the limited space in caverns beneath Mordrekain. For a brief period, a formal allegiance was attempted, but ideological differences quickly drove them apart again and, in short order, led to territory wars. The Gnomes were brutally defeated by the physically imposing Dwarves and driven out onto the surface. And to their credit, they adapted quite well to the new environment after a while. It would be unfair to claim that they collectively enjoyed life topside, but they carved out a reasonable life for themselves for a time. Until the Humans arrived.
Coming both from Stirge and Duwallen, seemingly racing to claim territory in what they believed to be unclaimed land, the humans were not dissuaded from their quest upon encountering the Gnomes. They were not immediately hostile, despite language barriers, but when it became clear that the land's original inhabitants had no intention of making room for them, war broke out. It didn't seem to matter that the Gnomes outnumbered the Humans by a significant margin; with two fronts to deal with, they were simply outmatched. And so they swallowed their pride and turned to the Dwarves for aid.
The combined forces of Mordrekain eventually managed to rout both groups of humans badly enough that they ceded any claims they had to the territory, with all but a few who lacked any desire to return to their homelands departing. The alliance during the war had given the Gnomes and Dwarves a chance to reconsider their previous stances on a long-term alliance, however, and within a few decades, agreements were made that saw the two peoples cohabitating once more.
And so it has remained ever since. The alliance they formed has become one of the strongest between two species that the world has ever seen, and the joining of their disparate strengths has led to the Gnomes being a vital half of one of the more prosperous nations on the planet.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Gnomes are short, slight, bipedal beings with vaguely bat-like characteristics in their faces and hands, with eyes that range from small and beady to quite large and expressive depending on how long a particular family line has lived either underground or topside. Their ears are extremely large and pointed, while their noses tend to be fairly small, flat, and occasionally point more up than out. Additionally, being primarily insectivores, they have sharp teeth with wide, angular molars toward the backs of their jaws designed for cracking open chitinous prey.
Civilization and Culture
Average Technological Level
When crafting a new device, 'What do I need this to be able to do' is an important question, but it is not the most important question. No, the most important question is this: 'How many things is it possible to have it do?'
As natives of the Underkingdom, Gnomes are privy to - and often responsible for - some of the greatest technological innovations of the modern age. Airships, firearms, golemcraft, long-distance communications; if it's on the cutting edge of scientific and techmaturgical development, the Gnomes are likely involved in some way. Additionally, they seem particularly fond of milking 'efficiency' out of their creations in the form of tacking multiple functions onto nearly everything new that they make.
If something you've picked up is specifically Gnomish in make, you can count on it having a number of 'hidden features' if you only look hard enough. That rifle over there? It's also a flashlight, a stun baton, and the stock conceals a canteen. The lamp you just bought? The base is also a clock and a space heater! There's no denying that this inclination can lead to some truly handy devices, but from time to time, the intense desire to stick devices inside of other devices ad infinitum can get somewhat out of hand...
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Though the traditional languages of the Dwarves and the Gnomes are still used by many families and in most traditional ceremonies, the Qoatl Tradespeech project quickly became the de facto 'official language' of the Underkingdom, both because of its convenience for an empire of their size, and because many of its foundations borrowed heavily from their languages and from their close Human neighbors. In Gnomish families in particular, children are often taught the 'mother tongue' first, then transitioned quickly into Tradespeech, leaning on its structural similarities to make it easier to pick up.
Genetic Descendants
Lifespan
~100 Years
Average Height
1 - 1.2 m
Related Ethnicities
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