Author: Scott "Volstagg" Casper (scvolstagg@visto.com)

Gnomes of the Flanaess

Preface

Much of what follows is based on material from the 1st edition Players Handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide, Monster Manual, and my own campaign. There are three notions you will NOT find here. One is tinker gnomes, which should not exist on Oerth. Secondly, there is the depiction of gnomes as goofy pranksters who carry around rubber chickens and the like (See CoG). I wanted to make them a little more serious than that. Lastly, there are the English language-based last names for many of the gnomish deities created by Roger Moore and others. I wanted them to seem to have a language of their own.

Overview

The gnomes, or Noniz, of the Flanaess, are believed to be not that old a race. They appeared somewhat mysteriously in the Flanaess sometime after the Invoked Devastation, but where they lived before that they will not say. Gnomes seem to enjoy having an aura of mystery about them.

Many assume the gnomes came from beneath the ground, much like dwarves. Of course, many of these people also believe that gnomes and dwarves are distant cousins. This claim, however, is difficult to justify. Physically, gnomes are shorter, have larger noses, and -- more importantly -- are built less physically dense than dwarves. Gnomes and dwarves also have converse abilities at magic and psionics. Magic, particularly illusionist magic, can be learned by gnomes, but they never possess psionic abilities. The opposite is, of course, true for dwarves.

Gnomes enjoy a culture as rich in custom and tradition as any of the older races, which suggests that they did come from somewhere. Their culture also bears superficial resemblance to that of dwarves. Gnomes prefer living in hills, and they love mining. Gnomes prefer to mine for gems, however, (as opposed to precious metals) and for aesthetic rather than practical reasons. Gnomes are festive, and love drinking (which is a false stereotype for dwarves). A more unusual characteristic of gnomish culture is that gnomes do not sing. It would appear that gnomes have a visual rather than an oral tradition of literature, which has been expressed in physical art and magical illusions (some say these are the same to gnomes). This may explain the high proportion of illusionists among gnomish spellcasters, as well as the high attention to detail in gnomish art.

Gnomes have an innate hatred of kobolds and goblins that manifests itself during childhood. All gnomes undergo training to combat these races as soon as they're old enough to wield weapons. This hatred is another mystery of the race, as their culture espouses this hatred in no other form, and in fact gnomes tend to be benevolent in all other regards. The basis for this may be religious, for the gnomish gods are all said to be slayers of kobolds and goblinkind.

Gnomes revere a pantheon of 15 deities, the most common of which are the following: Garl Jibekox (god of honor in battle), Segojan Oerthodzat (goddess of hills and mountains), Kuzophy Quiller (god of prestige and influence), Otzetyke Xern (god of stars and space), Lurys Yugsyp (goddess of deceit and illusions), Vyghskan Yi (goddess of art and beauty), and Mardan Sazev (goddess of industry).

Magic, particularly illusionist magic, is more commonly practiced among gnomes than it is amongst many other races (though elves and humans may come close). In fact, low level magic such as cantrips seem to be a normal part of gnomish life, so magic seldom awes them. Also, all gnomes have an almost magical ability to communicate with burrowing mammals (see below).

Thievery is uncommon amongst most gnomes, though rival clans and businesses have been known to employ spies. Only the Geldald Noniz are prone to mishevious burglary (see below).

Sub-Races

The Kindelned Noniz, or western gnomes, are most prominent in Keoland, but can also be found in enclaves scattered throughout the hills and mountain ranges of the west. Mining, while a skill commonly shared by all gnomes, is most valued as a profession by the Kindelned. The Kindelned are the most isolated of the gnomish sub-races, though their underground lairs will often connect via tunnel to dwarven communities. These gnomes will mine for both precious metals and gems, and sometimes will excavate where neither can be found for the sheer love of digging! Despite this, they often resemble the dour dwarves. They use magic almost exclusively for defense, and seem to take less pleasure from illusions as the other sub-races do. Some Kindelned clans are even prone to vicious, if not evil, behavior, as characterized by the infamous Gundelren Thieves Guild in the Good Hills.

The Kindelned Noniz have light grey skin, grey or black hair, and brown eyes. They average just under four feet in height.

The Wesevud Noniz, or central gnomes, are the most common of this rare breed. Industry is a cultural obsession for the Wesevud, and being called unproductive is their gravest insult. It doesn't matter where one's skills lie, or even if there is sufficient demand for whatever product. A gnome is judged by his peers based on creativity and quality, as well as output. Aesthetics is at least as highly valued by these gnomes as it is by elves. Gemstones in particular are held in high regard, and find their way into even the work of carpenters and shoemakers.

At least, this is how the Wesevud act during their 10-hour workday, which is called the Worskand. During the Worskand, gnomes literally take on a seperate identity -- complete with a seperate work name. In their free time, they may mingle with those trusted with their true names while enjoying the second gnomish passion -- drinking. War is the only cause which can draw a Wesevud out of its Worskand, and these gnomes are well prepared for war. They favor chainmail for protection, and their leaders are almost always armed with gunpowder weapons.

Whereas most gnomes prefer to live deeper underground, Wesevud Noniz will carve out barrow-like homes out of small hills - a practice shared with halflings. It is not uncommon for well-to-do Wesevud Noniz to trap their own homes, with anything ranging from a simple pit trap in the living room to green slime sprinklers in the hallways. Traps are a status symbol, and magical traps are much prized.

The Wesevud Noniz have unusual gastronomical tastes. Though they share a love of confectionaries with halflings and humans, the eccentric Noniz have created oddities like oregano cookies.

The Wesevud Noniz speak a dialect called Gervkon, but the Gnomish dialects are all so similar that it is impossible to trace them to a parent tongue. A speaker of Gervkon should understand about two-thirds of one of the other two Gnomish dialects.

The Wesevud Noniz have greyish-brown skin, white hair, and blue eyes. They average three and a half feet in height.

Remarkably different from their cousins are the Gelfeld Noniz, or wild gnomes. They are a fairly reclusive breed found almost exclusively in the eastern Flanaess. To the northeast, they live near (though seldom amongst) the dwarves in the mountains. To the southeast, they live amongst halflings and elves in the woods. The one unifying theme seems to be seclusion from humans. Though often close-lipped in the company of humans, wild gnomes are very talkative in most other company. Whereas other gnomes work with material goods, the Gelfeld work in words. Bards are fairly common amongst this sub-race, and they all share a fascination with riddles that often overrides other concerns (sometimes personal safety). Gelfeld Noniz believe that secrets are powerful things, and some Gelfeld have gone to incredible lengths in order to conceal their "true names." It is not uncommon for wild gnomes to fake their deaths every sixty years or so, at which time they hold festive "dying parties."

The term "wild gnome" is something of a, pardon the pun, misnomer. While they dislike cities, Gelfeld are perfectly comfortable living in rural villages and even small towns. They have no objection to living amongst dwarves, elves, or halflings -- and seem to prefer the latter even to forming communities of their own.

The Gelfeld Noniz speak a dialect of Gnomish called Lemitquon. In most regards, it is not radically different from the other two Gnomish dialects.

The Gelfeld Noniz tend to have wood-brown skin, greyish-white hair, and greyish-blue eyes. They tend to be just over three feet in height.