Gnomes

Gnomes are one of the more common non-human races in the empire.
There is no great lore about their arrival, or them fighting alongside the mighty @Heralda. At a certain time, whilst the Empire was in its infancy they just started appearing. Nobody is sure what originally made gnomes migrate to the area, but they were certainly drawn to the lush and thinly populated hills and forested lands. For some the bureaucracy was also an attraction.
Gnomish tinkering and 'engineering' was quickly taken up by the local towns and cities, encouraging industry, trade and commerce. Some say it that the Empire was built upon the backs of Gnomish ingenuity.
It is rumored that some, more rural, gnomish communities have links to the fae, and have far too much fun all the time. This is mainly said by people who are jealous.