Gnomes of the Green Coast

One of the most widespread of the races in the Green Coast, the gnomes are simultaneously among other races and yet separate. Though small in stature, the organizations they create have wide reaching influences. Found everywhere yet rarely the center of attention, when you ask anyone what they think of gnomes, the response is normally, “A little eccentric, but otherwise I don’t give them much thought.”

Physical Description

Typically standing between 2 1/2-4 feet in height, gnomes most strongly resemble half-elves in their physicality, not as broad as humans or dwarves yet not as slim as elves (relative to body size). Their hair tends to run in the darker shades with dark brown and black being the most common colors. Even the strongest of gnomes tend to lack the muscle definition present in most bigger races, giving them a smoother physique than most races.

     Most gnome men cannot grow their hair past their shoulders, and the few that can rarely do as long hair is seen as feminine. While many can grow beards to rival the proudest dwarf, letting one’s beard and mustache grow to such lengths is seen as uncouth. Most maintain either a full beard or a van dyke. Gnome women tend to wear their hair long in elaborate braids. Like most races, they do not grow facial hair beyond eyebrows, and lean towards softer features.

Society

Gnome society most strongly resembles that of the Free Counties in that each family is sworn to serve a larger house. Prestige is earned for a family, and in turn the house they are sworn to, from the advancement of knowledge and the number of archaeological digs that they have been on. The highest measure of prestige is in heading archaeological expeditions, with some managing to head so many that they found their own houses. Most gnomes however end up as less influential researchers, archivists, or aid on archaeological digs.

     Most children born after the heir are put into arranged marriages to further the family’s standing and secure alliances and shared resources. The eldest child becomes the head of the family after the current head dies, regardless of the child’s gender. Children are raised by the entire family, not just the parents but aunt, uncles, grandparents, and any great grandparents still alive.

     Growing up, young gnomes are encouraged to explore and learn about the world, in the hopes that they will find the field that captures their passion early. On the occasion where a gnome youth finds his path drawing him away from the traditional gnomish path, most families will refuse to speak to them until they take a more traditional path. More than a few families disown the child, and rare is the family that accepts the maverick.

Relations

For the most part, gnomes are surprisingly callous towards the other races. Though they remain polite and affable towards those that they interact with, most gnomes do not care about the other races unless they can provide the gnomes with research opportunities or dig sites.

     This can be seen in their standing arrangement with the hobgoblins: the hobgoblins don’t enslave gnomes and provide access to the archaeological sites within their empire and the gnomes provide the hobgoblins with first pick of any artifacts uncovered after they have been documented.

Alignment and Religion

Generally, gnomes are filled with an unbridled curiosity, one that latches onto a subject as they grow and determines their field of study upon adulthood.  They care for little outside their research but moving outside of tradition carries a hefty punishment, leaning towards Lawful Neutral. The deity most frequently favored by gnomes is Erudito, the gnomish expression of Orlag.

Adventurers

Gnome adventurers come in one of two varieties: adrenaline junky archaeologists and those that didn’t fit in with traditional gnome society. Depending on the family and their position, this may be faced with disownment for the latter.

Names

Gnomes possess three names: a personal name given at birth, followed by the house that their family is sworn to, ending with their family name.

Male Birth Names: Agrippa, Aulus, Cossus, Maximus, Nonus, Postumius, Publiun, Quintus, Septimus, Vel

Female Birth Names: Appuleia, Aufidia, Calpurna, Cania, Fadia, Gabinia, Lartia, Paesentia, Ulipa, Vergilia

House Names: Accius, Artorius, Babudius, Barbatius, Canidius, Consuntinus, Seius, Umbrenius, Vagionius, Vedius

Family Names: Camillus, Cinnianus, Eliphas, Laenas, Longinus, Metilius, Niger, Pator, Silanus, Tranquillius

*A Note on the Sea-Faring Gnomes*

In regards to the sea-faring gnomes that deliver the shipments of black-powder to the dwarves of Glastig, most of this can be ignored. They will have a post dedicated to them at a later date.

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