Gnomes
"Innovation must begin somewhere."
After the Deluge, few races did so well for themselves as the Gnomes. The Fey-touched race, known as being manic and unpredictable, became invaluable due to their proficiency with tinkering and crafting. Their ability to adapt so quickly through invention and innovation made them key figures in dictating the development of the uncertain future.
Harnessing the wild magics of the elemental planes and the secret magics of the Giants, they created Sky Ships that could travel between the Cloud Cities and the lands below. Their creations became an necessity for the Cloud Cities' survival, ferrying supplies and people to the otherwise inaccessible locations.
While they initially worked independently, working under contract for anyone who could pay them, the Gnomes of Guild Glittergold eventually brokered a research agreement between other independent guilds. They would all work under a single Guild, maintaining their autonomy as branches, but sharing any new inventions with each other so that they could all benefit. This lead to the founding of the Gizmo Guild.
The Gizmo Guild's HQ is a mobile airbase, and it remains neutral in any political turbulence. Most civilized cities have a Gizmo Guild where aspiring minds can craft and create to their heart's content. This unfettered freedom does sometimes come at the cost of safety, as the Guild's creations sometimes run amok as they test their own limits.
Basic Information
Biological Traits
Gnomes are creatures that must constantly strive to innovate, dream, and take in new experiences. Those who fail to do so become bored and slowly start succumbing to a condition only experienced by gnomes: the Bleaching. Those who suffer from this ailment slowly lose all color in their hair and skin, and eventually succumb to dementia or madness, and death.
Their skin, hair, and eyes can run the complete gamut of colors that appear in nature, betraying their fey nature like no other characteristic. Many, though not all, have skin tones that match those of other humanoids who live in the region, often with tints of olive or gold. Their hair in particular is often vibrantly colored; expressing their recent history and experiences in reds, greens and more, as often (if not more so) than browns and blonds. They have very long expressive eyebrows above large, child-like eyes that also run the gambit of colours.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Gnomes have an intricate society based on their love of all kinds of arts, innovations, and their long lives. Gnomes love indulgence, and they make most celebrations on a grand scale. Gnome weddings last for a week, even though gnomes don't view love the same way humans do. If love began to go wrong between a couple they might break up, believing it was a prank by Garl Glittergold, one of their few Gods. Their society is based on art; all gnomes had to take up some form of art, whether music, painting, cooking, building, or any other form that was considered creative by the time they came of age.
This emphasis on art is meant to help stimulate them in ways that invention and innovation can't. They see a balanced lifestyle of practical and whimsical as necessary to live well. More often than not, their parallel interests merge and they'll create something that blends both passions together.
When living among other races, particularly humans, in an urban environment, gnomes were often shopkeepers or worked as everyday blacksmiths (leaving the fancy armor and weaponsmithing to the dwarves). They also worked with brass, bronze, tin, and pewter, casting and etching practical household items. Other occupations included gemcutters, mechanics, sages, or teachers, the last in particular being a highly valued profession by human employers, who knew that a single gnome could tutor multiple generations.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Gnomes are a shockingly well travelled race. Their natural curiosity leads to wanderlust and mass migrations to all the corners of the globe. Some will eventually establish roots in areas, but it is more common to see nomadic communities of Gnomes.
Average Intelligence
Gnomes are an intelligent and innately curious race. Gnomes might lack the drive and ambition of other races, particularly humans, but their creativity gives them a strong ability for ingenuity. Most gnomes acquire knowledge merely as a hobby but others explored lost ruins, delved deep into the heart of the world, and conducted dangerous research in their unquenchable thirst for knowledge, leading more than a few to an untimely demise.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Gnomes also had a strong affinity for all things magical. In particular they had a natural grasp of the arcane, innately possessing the ability to cast some spells, especially Illusions.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Gnomes tend to have exceedingly long, hard-to-pronounce names. If a Gnome has a short name they are usually abbreviations of much longer ones.
Major Organizations
The Gizmo Guild is what most people know the Gnomes for. A guild workshop can be found in nearly every major city, creating and crafting whatever their minds can conjure. While it remains politically neutral, it has a lot of power because of the airships only they can create and their willingness to work for almost anyone if the job is interesting enough.
Average Technological Level
The Deluge necessitated a massive technological leap forward, facilitated by the Gnomes devising new ways to survive in flooded world. It had to be something that went beyond clockwork mechanisms, beyond merely replicating the power of magic. They would fuse the chaotic powers of magic with invention to create magitek.
From this fusion came the Elemental Airships that used the powers of the elemental planes to propel themselves through the skies. Conduit Crystals that could amplify a spellcaster's abilities to be even more devastating. The Tall Boys, mechanized servants and protectors infused with power from Mechanus.
Upon their airship colony, such inventions are common, but to everyone else they are rare and highly coveted.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
In terms of the sheer number of words in its vocabulary, Gnome, or Gnomish, is the largest language known. However, many of their words only mean anything to them, such as "kitsch" the way to describe someone who is dressed absurdly, but still pleasantly. Or "flumph", a way to describe pancakes that are perfectly fluffy before you poor syrup on them.
Scientific Name
Gnomo Sapiens
Lifespan
Usually up to 300 years, but 500 not unheard of; physically show aging but do not become infirm.
Average Height
3′0″ ‒ 4′0″ (0.91‒1.2 m)
Average Weight
40 ‒ 45 lb (18‒20 kg)
Average Physique
Gnomes are very small compared to most races, only larger and heavier than Halflings. Most have a slender frame.
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