"Keep it stupid, simple!" Or was that the other way around? Ah well, has a nice ring to it either way! -Dangoli Brassbuckle, Gnomish High Engineer

Appearance

Gnomes are similar in size to halflings, being usually just under 3 feet in height. They have sharper, more angular features than halflings, and large pointed ears. Unlike most of their halfling cousins, gnome males typically sport short, stylized beards, though being clean-shaven is an equally common practice. Gnomish skin tones are swarthy and slightly metallic, most often appearing in shades of bronze or golden brown. Hair varies widely in coloration from platinum blond to burnished copper to iridescent red to shiny black. Perhaps most striking are a gnome’s eyes which look shiny and monochromatic, having no discernible irises or pupils. While the majority are simply black, subtle shades of dark brown, midnight blue, or even sable green have been observed. Gnomes tip the scale at between 40 to 55 lbs.

Height: 2ft 8in + 1d8in

Weight: 40lb + 2d8in

Ecology and History

Gnomes tend to live in hilly, wooded areas, and sometimes underground. They enjoy most aspects of nature and can be found walking through the forest just as easily as exploring a cave. Similar to Dwarves (although not with the same degree of obsession), Gnomes are fascinated with gems and fine minerals, so they most often prefer to settle down in areas relatively close to rich deposits.

Gnomes are energetic tinkerers and inventors, as well as fine magic users, favoring illusory magic over most others. They value intelligence, creativity and mechanical skill quite highly. Mastery of these traits will garner a great deal of respect from just about any gnome. Their tendency to combine machines with magic creates varied results; their understanding of these two crafts seeming a little more instinctual than practiced. Still, their inventions can be capable of amazing things, and Gnomes are more than willing to trade with other races in exchange for goods and services, often making fine merchants and businessmen just as well as adventurers.

While not holding any particular views on other races or cultures, Gnomes have a strong dislike of Goblins specifically. Some suspect the two share a distant ancestry, although both would deny this vehemently. Gnomes get along best with Dwarves. While often too cheery for the mountain folk, they have a strong respect for each other's knowledge of metalworking and construction principles. Elves are also regarded highly, but moreso as an object of fascination then as peers. Halflings and Gnomes get along fine right up until they share their inventive knowledge, Halflings being more people of the land and simpler values. Gnomes and Humans get along very well in most cases, both races being very curious and exploratory, although sometimes things can go sour from a bad business deal or two. Gnomes are wary of Half-Orcs, but seeing as they're only half, they can only be half-bad as well.