The Gnomes of Warlderia
The Gnomes are amongst the smallest of the civilised races of Warlderia, yet their influence upon the development of the continent is far greater than their numbers would suggest. Unlike the Humans, who built kingdoms, the Elves, who shaped the early history of civilisation, or the Dwarves, whose mighty Holds still dominate the mountains, the Gnomes have never sought empire or territorial power. Instead they have quietly influenced the world through trade, invention and an insatiable curiosity that has driven them to explore every corner of Warlderia. From the earliest days of recorded history the Gnomes have travelled widely, establishing prosperous communities wherever opportunity presented itself. Rather than building great kingdoms of their own, they settled amongst other races, founding workshops, trading houses and small towns close to centres of commerce. As a result, Gnomes can now be found in almost every civilised realm, where their knowledge and craftsmanship have earned them a reputation as some of the finest artisans, merchants and engineers in the world.
Unlike the Dwarves, who prize tradition and perfection, the Gnomes delight in innovation. They are constantly searching for better methods, new ideas and more efficient designs. Where a Dwarf may spend decades refining a proven technique, a Gnome will happily abandon it in pursuit of something entirely new. This willingness to experiment has produced remarkable advances in engineering, navigation, surveying and craftsmanship, though it has also earned them a reputation amongst more conservative races for taking unnecessary risks. The Gnomes themselves simply believe that progress is impossible without the occasional failure. Relations between the Gnomes and Dwarves have traditionally been close. Although their outlooks differ considerably, the two races complement one another remarkably well. Dwarven craftsmen provide experience, discipline and an unmatched understanding of stone and metal, whilst Gnomes contribute originality, precision and a willingness to question established methods. Many of the greatest engineering achievements in Warlderia owe as much to Gnomish ingenuity as they do to Dwarven craftsmanship, and it is not uncommon for the workshops of the Dwarven Holds to contain Gnomish engineers working alongside their larger neighbours.
Human kingdoms have also benefited greatly from Gnomish knowledge. Their surveyors have mapped countless frontiers, their navigators have improved river and sea travel, and their instrument makers produce clocks, compasses, astrolabes and measuring devices that are prized throughout the continent. Many of the mills, waterwheels and mechanical devices found across Warlderia are based upon designs first developed within Gnomish workshops before being refined by Dwarven builders. Kings often employ Gnomish advisers when undertaking ambitious construction projects, recognising that their practical imagination frequently succeeds where conventional thinking fails. Unlike most races, the Gnomes make little distinction between magical and mundane learning. They study alchemy alongside metallurgy, astronomy beside mathematics, and illusion magic with the same enthusiasm they apply to mechanical invention. Knowledge, in all its forms, is considered worthy of study, and many of the greatest Gnomish scholars have devoted their lives to bringing together ideas borrowed from many different races. This broad outlook has produced countless discoveries and has made Gnomish workshops amongst the most fascinating places in Warlderia, where the smell of hot metal often mingles with strange alchemical vapours and the sound of careful experimentation echoes throughout the day.
Gnomish communities are generally governed by councils of respected merchants, master craftsmen and scholars rather than hereditary rulers. Wealth alone carries little influence unless accompanied by skill and reputation, and even the youngest apprentice may challenge the opinions of an elder provided they can support their arguments with evidence. Debate is considered healthy, disagreement expected and curiosity actively encouraged. Visitors are often surprised by the lively discussions that accompany even the simplest decisions, though once agreement has been reached Gnomes usually work together with remarkable efficiency. The Gnomish language reflects their inquisitive nature. Rich in technical vocabulary and descriptive expressions, it has borrowed freely from Dwarven, Elven and Human tongues over many centuries. Most educated Gnomes speak several languages fluently and delight in learning new dialects during their travels. This linguistic flexibility has helped establish them as successful merchants and diplomats, able to move comfortably between cultures that often struggle to understand one another.
Although they possess no great empire, the Gnomes have established influential communities throughout the civilised world. Every major trading city contains at least a handful of Gnomish merchants or craftsmen, whilst many important ports owe much of their prosperity to Gnomish navigation and commerce. Their caravans travel almost every major road in Warlderia, carrying not only goods but also ideas, inventions and news between distant kingdoms. In many respects they have become the unseen thread connecting the civilised races of the continent.
There is an old Dwarven saying: "The Dwarf builds it. The Gnome improves it."
Few Gnomes could imagine receiving a greater compliment.
Though they command few armies and rule little territory, the Gnomes have quietly shaped the history of Warlderia through countless small discoveries, ingenious inventions and practical innovations. They have never sought to rule the world, believing instead that understanding it is a far more rewarding pursuit. Whilst other races measure greatness by the kingdoms they conquer or the monuments they build, the Gnomes measure success by the questions they answer and the new ideas they leave behind. Their influence is seldom dramatic, yet it can be found almost everywhere, proving that even the smallest race may leave the greatest mark upon history.