Gnome

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Template:Infobox Greyhawk creature Gnomes, known as "noniz" in the Flan tongue, are one of the primary civilized races of the Flanaess.

Ecology

Environment

Though naturally a hill-dwelling folk, orcish and goblinoid threats have driven many gnomes 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.

Gnomish populations by nation

Other gnomish populations

Typical physical characteristics

Alignment

Gnomes are usually Neutral Good.

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.

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").

Religion

Gnomes have their own pantheon, known as the Lords of the Golden Hills, led by Garl Glittergold. These deities include:

Other deities popular among gnomes are Ehlonna, Fortubo, Jascar, Obad-hai, and Ulaa. Evil gnomes who don't revere Urdlen have been known to worship Pyremius, Erythnul, or Roykyn.

Gnomish subraces

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

  • Rock gnomes: The standard gnome subrace of Third Edition, rock gnomes 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: Svirfneblin dwell in cities deep underground. They are more dangerous than the common rock gnome.
  • Forest gnomes: Smaller than rock gnomes, forest gnomes are a shy, secretive folk, living deep in wooded areas.

Gnomes are also said to be kin to a few other non-gnome creatures:

  • Dwarves: Long regarded as cousins to gnomes, the two races often find themselves as allies.
  • Jermlaines: Tiny, evil, subterranean fey, jermalines were created by gnomish spellcasters approximately circa -1800 CY.
  • Spriggans: These evil gnomelike fey have the ability to swell to gigantic proportions. They usually worship the gnomish god of evil, Urdlen.

History

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 -800 CY. Clever and canny, they've suffered abuses from a number of nefarious overlords: first Keraptis, then the Vecna-possessed Gnomelord of Blemu, then Azalin, and finally the orcs and goblinoids of the Bone March.

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.

References

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