Garden gnome
Have you ever felt like those little statues are watching you and have their own agenda? You're not wrong. Some of them are actually creatures from Faerie who are experts at collecting information. They can remain absolutely still indefinitely and be mistaken for regular objects. While the gnomes do this, they observe everything around them and memorise it for later use. This means that others are willing to pay them a lot for the things they might know.
Basic Information
Genetics and Reproduction
While garden gnomes are biologically male or female, the only real difference is the ability to grow a beard. It is hard for male garden gnomes not to develop one very quickly. Additionally, while in their solid form, the gnomes' clothes become part of their ceramic bodies. When they do mate, it is usually in secret, and signs of pregnancy are well hidden. Fortunately, their gestation cycle corresponds well to the months their supposed owners have them in storage. While the parents might feel pride in their offspring, they rarely feel a personal attachment and don't mind the child immediately being smuggled to a shop where other humans can buy it.
Most females can only have two children in their lifetime and those who can have more are few enough that the population is kept more or less constant. This limitation has also led to a cultural assumption that women choose their partners who are expected to happily agree.
Growth Rate & Stages
The mind of a newly born garden gnome reaches a mature state within a year. Physically, they can control exactly when and how quickly they age. This makes it easy for them only to shift their appearance between owners or suspect the owner won't keep track anyway.
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