Gnome

The gnomes of the World of Greyhawk setting originated in the far northern forests. Originally they were trappers and reindeer herders, but they first migrated south around 1400 years ago. They've suffered abuses from first Keraptis, then the Vecna-possessed Gnomelord, then Azalin, and finally the orcs and goblinoids of the Bone March, and learned to be very clever and canny.

Gnomish migrants settled among the dwarves, elves, and halflings already inhabiting the Flanaess, quickly adapting their language, magic, technology, and culture to their own. This was a time of renaissance among the clever and curious gnomes.

Their hilly homes have been threatened by the humanoids in particular; many have been driven into the plains of human-dominated lands where they seek help to re-establish their old heartlands. Many, too, co-exist with elves in the woodlands; where the elves are active in working with human interests, so are the gnomes. Hill gnomes often share living space with dwarves, and are a brave, tough folk who are loyal to their neighbors and fight side by side with them.

Gnomes use both a first and a family name, and always hang some extra tag on it, whether this is the family home, the place where they work, or whatever seems most important to them at the time (so Grimmri Fischer might be “Grimmri Fischer the Jester,” “Grimmri Fischer of the Highfolk,” or “Grimmri Fischer, Locksmith of Greyhawk”)

Subraces

The gnomes of Oerth have been further divided into various subraces:

• Rock gnomes are the standard gnome subrace of Third Edition. They live in burrows beneath rolling, wooded hills. Friends to animals, rock gnomes have a racial ability that allows them to speak with burrowing animals.
• Svirfneblin, or deep gnomes, dwell in cities deep underground. They are more dangerous than the common rock gnome.
• Forest gnomes are smaller than rock gnomes. They are a shy, secretive folk, living deep in wooded areas.

Society

Gnomes have an intricate society based on their love of all kinds of arts, pranks, and their long lives. Gnomes love indulgence, and they make most celebrations on a grander scale. Gnome weddings last for a week, even though gnomes don't view love the same way humans do. If love begins to go wrong between a couple they may break up, believing it was a prank by Garl Glittergold. Their society is based on art; all gnomes must take up some form of art whether music, painting, cooking, building, or any other form that is considered creative by the time they come of age.

Deities

Gnomes have their own pantheon, the Lords of the Golden Hills, who include among them Garl Glittergold (Creator; protection, humor, gems, smithing), Baervan Wildwanderer (forests, nature, travel), Baravar Cloakshadow (illusions, protection, deception, hatred of goblinoids), Flandal Steelskin (mining, smithing, fitness), Gaerdal Ironhand (protection, vigilance, combat), Segojan Earthcaller (earth, nature), and the vile Urdlen.

Gnomes also revere Obad-hai, Ulaa, Ehlonna, Jascar, and Fortubo. Evil ones have been known to worship Pyremius and Erythnul.

Gnomish Populations by Nation

• Ahlissa: 76,722
• Bandit Kingdoms: 9504
• Bissel: 2477.6
• Blackmoor: 7700
• Bone March: 3100
• Celene: 2200
• Dyvers: 10,240
• Furyondy: 19,636
• Geoff: 1400
• Gran March: 5092
• Greyhawk: 8000
• Highfolk: 920 (princes)
• Idee (some)
• Irongate (unknown, but lots)
• Keoland: 108,000
• Lordship of the Isles: 5320
• Nyrond: 52,364
• Onnwal: 1710
• Perrenland: 9360
• Ratik: 1770
• Rel Astra and the Solnor Compact: 7800
• The Barrens: 700
• Sea Barons: 3080 (seems unlikely)
• Sea Princes: 8400
• Shield Lands: 740
• Snow Barbarians: 4180
• Sterich: 4320
• Sunndi: 3750
• Tenh: 3900
• Tusmit: 5460
• County of Ulek: 29,600
• Duchy of Ulek: 11,766
• Principality of Ulek: 10,768
• County of Urnst: 13,644
• Duchy of Urnst: 15,037
• Valley of the Mage: 1800
• Veluna: 33,440
• Verbobonc: 8890
• Yeomanry: 6118

Other Places Gnomes Live

• Gamboge (2800)
• Grossettgrottell (Domain of Greyhawk) - built Stonebridge too
• Adri Forest
• Axewood
• Dreadwood
• Grandwood (Gamboge's Rift, population 700; gold mine, ride iguanas, have a unique myth about Garl Glittergold fighting Gruumsh)
• Two Ford (Domain of Greyhawk; 40)
• Pargenter's Mine (Domain of Greyhawk; 40) - feign laziness
• Sourlode (Domain of Greyhawk; 325 gnomes) - sour attitude
• Dweomerstones (Cairn Hills; a small clan)
• Berenad and Storaven (Duchy of Urnst; about 420 gnomes in each town)
• Wyvernen (Wild Coast; a family of evil cutthroats)
• Dreadwood (1000)
• Menowood (spriggans)
• Silverwood
• Hornwood
• Oytwood
• Suss
• Welkwood
• Gnarley Forest (1000; live above ground in mixed-race communities - includes settlement of Namburil)
• Namburil (100 gnomes; combination of warrens and above-ground cottages; allied with werebears)
• Vesve (6000)
• Glorioles
• Griffs and/or Corusks
• Rakers
• Gryrax (refugees)
• Lortmils
• Yatils
• Abbor-Alz (western; silver and gem mines)

(Blemu Hills - the former home of the Vecna-possessed Gnomelord; the gnomes here are all extinct or driven to the neighboring kingdom of the Flinty Hills

• Cairn Hills (6000, including Grossettgrottell)
• Flinty (20,000, half of these counted in Nyrond's population; Gnomeking Warren ap'Hiller)
• Good Hills (5000)
• Gull Cliffs (unpleasant, untrustworthy)
• Headlands
• Hollow Highlands
• Howling Hills (slaves)
• Mounds of Dawn (a handful)
• Iron Hills
• Kron Hills (20,000, not counted in any other population figure; Free Assembly of the Kron Hills, ruled by Urthgan the Eldest) - veterans of the Hateful Wars, proud of their military traditions)
• Lorridges (negotiating with Ket for independence)
• Stark Mounds (mostly)

References

• Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:[1]
• Cook, David. Vecna Lives!. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
• Gygax, Gary. The World of Greyhawk Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
• Gygax, Gary. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
• Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
• Moore, Roger E. Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins Renton, WA: TSR, 1998.
• Sargent, Carl. From the Ashes Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
  • Sargent, Carl. Monster Mythology Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
• Redman, Rich and James Wyatt. Defenders of the Faith Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
• Ward, James, and Robert Kuntz. Deities and Demigods Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.