| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 10 Apr 2012 : 05:07:13
I am seeking to compile all of the information I can on the gnomes of Faerun. If I can gather enough, I will attempt to put it all together into a handbook. So, O' Scribes of Candlekeep if you know of any obscure lore on the race, please post it here. I am looking for clan names, history, the names and locations of primarily gnome settlements, notable members of the race, good pics of gnomes, anything really, everything. Thanks. |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 04:42:08
PHBR9: The Complete Book of Gnomes and Halflings dedicates about 48 pages just to gnomes (and about 66 pages just to halflings), although it's not very Realms-specific. The Arcane Age materials had some brief but interesting commentary describing how gnomes fit within their settings. Much more has been said about gnomish devices and worksmanship (especially Gnomish Workman's Leather Armor) than about the gnomish people themselves. Locks, traps, intricate, complex, and precision devices manufactured by gnomes are generally unsurpassed.
There's really nothing else to say about gnomes in the Realms. A few NPCs are gnomes. Most gnome characters seem to invariably be illusionists, inventors, or jewellers. Many large cities list gnomes as a minority percentage within population figures. The entire race is basically depicted as a collection of tired archetypes or desperately wild attempts to defy the archetypes. Quirky peculiarities of the gnomish mindset which puzzle the other races are not just emphasized, but are typically exaggerated in the writings to ridiculously hyperbolic extremes which basically ends up depicting gnomes as childish, frantic, bizarre, half-crazed creatures.
Gnomes, at least tinker gnomes, were far more prominent in Dragonlance. But even there they were really just an afterthought always associated with dwarves and kender/halflings, even sharing the same creation/origin myth.
I suppose it's worth noting that all gnomes possess dwarf-like magic resistance, have an affinity for illusion, and svirfneblin (deep gnomes) in 1E actually radiated permanent non-detection. This seems to all fit well with Sage's speculation that some supernatural agency might ensure gnomes out of sight become quickly forgotten. Gnomes claim no homeland, history, or destiny of any note. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 03:51:58
Sage? |
| Markustay |
Posted - 17 Apr 2012 : 16:35:04
Yeah, that could work as well.
After I posted that, I thought more about this train of thought: perhaps 'gnome encounters' would behave almost like a vivid dream.. one that fades with time. When you first walk away from a gnome you can easily recall everything that happened, but after an hour or so, it begins to fade and by the next day all you can remember is the peripheral stuff - nothing very specific.
It could be a subconscious (psionic) 'field effect' - some sort of inert 'cloaking ability' that generates brain waves in non-gnome (non-fey?) minds that simulate those experienced while dreaming, so that the information does not get stored in long-term memory after being in short-term memory for awhile (as it normally would). To use a Star Wars reference, it would be like an innate, subconscious version of "these aren't the droids you are looking for".
And, of course, the more gnomes present, the greater this field becomes. If you had regular dealings with a gnome apothecary in Waterdeep, and were questioned about him you might not remember his name (which you would find odd), or what you specifically purchased, or what precise things you saw in his shop, but you would remember the shop itself, and that its owner is a gnome you have dealt with for many years (so you would assume he always had what you needed, and his prices were reasonable... but you wouldn't be able to remember specifics). If you happened upon a gnomish settlement - say, in the Shaar - that wasn't marked on any map, and you stayed there overnight, enjoying the local inn and resupplying yourself at their shops, a few days later you might remember it was a gnomish town, but you wouldn't know exactly where it was, or be able to find it again (or remember any names or other details). Conversely, the presence of other races would act like 'anchors', and you would remember more details about such a places (since there are known gnomish settlements within The Realms). The ability could also be 'actively subconscious', triggered by some chemical reaction in the brain (nervousness, brought on by distrust).
In fact, taking into account that gnomes are now fey (and presumably always were), and some of the RW folklore surrounding fey, I would say this is probably one of those inherent fey abilities that most Prime-Material Fey have lost, like size and shapechanging, mesmerism (seduction), flight, etc... powers that material Fey may have one or two of, and have become racial abilities over time. Fey in the Feywild would not have such limitations - they should be able to freely pick-&-choose their racial feats as they level, just like any other race. Then again, maybe prime fey can do the same, but it is much harder for them to level when cut-off from the Feywild? Someday I should really create a 'fey heritage' template and list all the feats I have come up with for them.
Right after I finish the one for 'material undead' ( I believe 4e already went this route, so I should look at what they did with it).
Anyhow, this would allow a gnome to eventually learn to 'Spriggan' (an ability they share with both duergar and firbolgs, oddly enough). Perhaps many of the 'mutations' assigned to certain species are actually magic tapping into the DNA of a creature and accessing recessive genes (which could explain Avariels - they tapped into the more ancient Fey/Eladrin abilities). |
| The Sage |
Posted - 17 Apr 2012 : 03:13:14
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Perhaps they are not known as the 'forgotten folk' without a real reason?
I'm thinking some power - or even high/arch-magic of the distant past is somehow protecting them (for fans of the Xanth novels, think "Gap Chasm"... if you can remember it). 
Or it could perhaps be as simple as a forgotten (lost?) fey-power - a glamour that obscures them in some fashion. If someone later asks you about some gnome you had dealings with, you find it very strange that you can't even recall his name... or where he said he was from...
Perhaps this could be explained, partly, by the perceived assumption that Gond has assumed the aspect of Nebelun in the Realms.
Maybe that's not really the case. Let's say Nebelun actually does exist, in secret, and that part of his purpose as "the Meddler" is to make the rest of the Realms simply forget the gnomish race, or, alternatively, fool those with a religious mind into thinking that Gond holds dominion over this branch of the gnomish pantheon. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 16 Apr 2012 : 21:01:41
Perhaps they are not known as the 'forgotten folk' without a real reason?
I'm thinking some power - or even high/arch-magic of the distant past is somehow protecting them (for fans of the Xanth novels, think "Gap Chasm"... if you can remember it).
Or it could perhaps be as simple as a forgotten (lost?) fey-power - a glamour that obscures them in some fashion. If someone later asks you about some gnome you had dealings with, you find it very strange that you can't even recall his name... or where he said he was from... |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 16 Apr 2012 : 04:49:47
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
I'll be with those archives this evening, Fellfire, so I'll take a look then.
Pretty sure I've heard similar promises...  |
| The Sage |
Posted - 16 Apr 2012 : 04:32:21
I'll be with those archives this evening, Fellfire, so I'll take a look then. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 16 Apr 2012 : 02:33:27
Any luck, Sage? |
| The Sage |
Posted - 11 Apr 2012 : 03:16:02
quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
Sage, I know you are a fellow gnome-lover, do you have anything in your files?
Good question.
Off-hand, see the article "Hin Nobody Knows" in DRAGON #269 to get more of a handle on what Realms gnomes are like.
There's also Elaine Cunningham's tales of gnomes running the Friendly Arm Inn, featured in "Speaking with the Dead" -- originally printed in Realms of Mystery and included in The Best of Elaine Cunningham.
And "Stolen Dreams" as well -- originally printed in DRAGON #259 and also included in The Best of Elaine Cunningham.
There's also the reference to Fryndul, an illusion-protected gnome village in the Shaar-reach, as detailed in DRAGON #269.
...
More to come once I've access to my archives again. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 11 Apr 2012 : 02:24:13
Thanks, Lord Karsus. I will add the four deep gnome clans Covarrkar, Fungusfoot, Glasszhorm, and Longstepper to my list. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 10 Apr 2012 : 22:54:29
-Oh, DRAGON Magazine 349 has a little bit about the city of Songfarla. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 10 Apr 2012 : 21:55:49
Gods and Goddesses are about the only thing I can find loads of information about.
Sage, I know you are a fellow gnome-lover, do you have anything in your files? |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 10 Apr 2012 : 21:50:00
-They're the Forgotten Folk for a reason, especially during 1e/2e. The FRCS really has the most information about Gnomes in one specific place, but that's still a little sketchy. Demihuman Deities has all of the information about their gods and goddesses. |
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