Gnome

Gnomes are a small humanoid race which stand between 3 and 4 feet tall. They have an angular bone structure but not too the same level as the elves. They have a medium level of muscle mass. They share some biological traits with the Elf; Elvhen. Primarily in that they have the pointed ears of the Elvhen races and slender facial structure.

For a small race, they are remarkably slow to reproduce. Gnomes only produce a single child once every 50 years or so, and those who do so are considered "energetic". Pregnancy lasts a year and a child is not considered fully grown until 40 years of age.

Gnomes mature at a very slow rate. While they are capable of walking, talking, and eating solid food by 5, they do not reach adolescence until 20 years. At 40 they are considered adults and don't feel the effects of old age until well into the 200s.

Gnomes prefer isolated regions and do not enjoy being close to other races. As such, their communities are small, varied, and can be up to hundreds of kilometeres apart. The largest communities are in the subterranean catacombs of the Winterclaw Mountains, between The Radiant Empire and The Second Kingdom of Thera. However, communities have been noted in the eastern free cities of northern Nevarra, with a particularly notorious clan spotted on Avandar in the Sunset Isles.

Gnomes have a slow metabolism and only require a little to eat each day. They are omnivores but seem to avoid meat when possible. They have a humorous obsession with fungi and cultivate large swathes of land in order to harvest and use it in nearly all of their dishes and cuisine.

Gnomes tend to be politely gregarious to members of other species. Cordial and friendly, they will often study the etiquiettes of species that they interact with regularly. Notably, they avoid and deflect discussions about themselves or their own culture. This is usually done politely but if pressed Gnomes are known to be surprisingly rude and leave; never to be seen again. People that interact with Gnomes regualrly know not to ask too many questions about them.

Gnomes live in small communities which rarely outnumber more than a couple hundred. They usually will make community decisions by a form of oligarchic democracy. With the head of each family meeting to debate, discuss, and decide courses of action when it is called for. Gender does not seem to be a factor in who the head of the family is. Each family decides who the head is. While age is most commonly a deciding factor, sometimes senior members will defer leadership to a younger member if they are deemed more suitable.

Male gnomes often grow bushy moustaches and beards but don't grow them to the larger sizes of dwarves. Women do not grow facial hair but do tend to have fairer coloured hair. Gnomes also have a tendency to have more exotic pupils than the other races. Bright greens, blues and even silver and purple is not uncommmon.

Gnomes are a remarkably bright and intelligent race. A gnome child could compete with the average scholar. Adults take to making small clockwork trinkets as a casual hobby, a technological development which only the brightest in Nevarra are able to replicate.

Gnome's eyes are well attuned to the darkness of the night sky and have the darkvision trait. They also possess an innate understanding of magic and have a natural resistance against magic which effects the mind.

Gnomish names are often translated in ways that most other races find humourus. To those unaccostumed to the gnomes, they seem to be almost chosen at random. Family names such as "Fiddlesticks", "Pickle Barrel", and "Mossynose" are often heard.

They are credited with the invention of clockwork and numerous magical spells. Rumours of clockwork artificial limbs have come from the lucky few who have been invited into their communities. Tales of even greater inventions also spread amongst patrons of taverns across the continent.

This enigmatic race do not readily share their culture to outsiders aside from their technology. Those rare few who have visted an underground gnomish city note beautiful glasswork, architecture, and artist flourish which rivals the elves. They also write bizarre and fantastical reports, stories of carts no wheels but legs which walk about like beasts. Tales of flying machines which dart about like dragonflies and even clockwork golems have appeared in taverns across the continent.   One of the strangest reports and observations made of the gnomes is that they seem to follow none of the gods. For no temples, churches or shrines are mentioned or seen. This is exasperated by the fact that gnomes have been seen using the magic of the gods at various times. A recorded conversation between a gnome and Nevarran engineer that has survived the ages reads as follows,

Nevarran: The festival of Pelornia is approaching this season. Will you attend with me?   Gnome: I suppose I can come and enjoy the wines and music but 'fraid I shan't be enjoying your praises of "Pelor".   Nevarran: But why not? Surely it would please the magistrates and the gods to see our honoured guest in the parade.   Gnome: Laughing The "gods". I acknowledge those your people worship. Stars above, I might even take some time to learn "those" magics. But gods? Child's play. No offense.   Nevarran: Careful my friend. Speaking ill of the gods does ill will to your fortune.   Gnome: I make my own luck. God doesn't grant that.

The gnomes are a strange and mysterious race. They appear seemingly out of nowhere in the historical and archeological record. They were first documented by Theran caravans during the First Kingdom period after a particularly beautiful celestial event known as the Crucible of Stars. At the time, they were so elusive they had become something of a folkloric myth. Treated as little more than nature spirits who gobble up bad children.    It was only after the Blight, and the Conquest of the Dawn where the gnomes made themselves known to the international community. They arrived at the peace talks between Thera and the Radians unannounced and acted as mediators and to ensure that the Winterclaw mountains would remain a Theran, but unmanaged region.    Since then, attempts to conquer or subjugate the gnomes has ended in failure. The Winterclaw Mountains are incredibly difficult to navigate in the best of conditions and whenever efforts in force were made, the weather always became harsher.     Since then, the gnomes have appeared in other parts of the continent. They trade their trinkets for gold and sell their skills in the arcane to the highest bidder. For what purpose is unknown but few question it as often a single gnome is worth 100 engineers and 50 wizards.

Human 

The vast variety in human culture means the gnomes have no particular opinion on the species as whole. They are happy to accept humans on a case-by-case basis.

Dwarf 

Dwarves are an odd race to the gnomes. Dwarves would be so much stronger if they could tap into their true potential. To the dwarves, gnomes are also considered very strange. Just where did they come from? Why do they speak as though they know better?

Orcs and Half-Orcs 

Surprisingly amenable to the gnomes. Orcs sometimes referring to gnomes as big cousins. Some have theorized that the orcs recognize something in the stars they worship in the gnomes. Gnomes for their part, enjoy the company of the orcs treating them as kindred spirits.  

Elf; Elvhen 

To the gnomes, elves are a curious lot. For a race so old and established, they have advanced remarkably little. Are they afraid of something? They could be one of the most powerful empires in the world. Why do they insist on hiding?