Page 116 - D&D - Player's Handbook

order. Similarly, Tempus and the Red Knight appeal to Indeed, members of other races sometimes thought-
the warrior spirit in some dragonborn, and Kelemvor lessly treat gnomes as second-class citizens, perhaps
speaks to some of the inevitability of death and the need thinking highly of their gnome friends but rarely giving
to live well in one's allotted time. Religious belief is an credit to gnomes as a people. Gnomes are regularly un-
intensely personal thing the dragonborn who espouse it, derestimated, and they use that lack of esteem as both a
some of whom are as devoted to their faith as they are to defense and an offense, when need be.
their family and clan. Like dwarves, gnomes have long battled for territory
with kobolds, goblinoids, and ores, but gnomes and ko-
GNOMES bolds share a special hatred for each other. Both races
believe in a legend that, long ago, the deity Gari Glit-
Small of stature and dwelling in the corners of FaerGn
tergold tricked the kobold god Kurtulmak, collapsing
away from prying eyes, gnomes are one of the least pop-
the earth and trapping him in an endless underground
ulous and influential races in the world, called the "For-
maze and earning his everlasting enmity.
gotten Folk" by some. This appellation doesn't bother
the gnomes; they generally prefer their anonymity and
FOREST GNOMES
the protection it affords them.
According to legend, the first gnomes in FaerGn The reclusive forest gnomes live simply in hillside dwell-
sprang from mystic gems buried deep in the earth- an ings deep in the woods. A neighbor could live only a few
event that accounts for both the gnomes' love of gems miles from a forest gnome settlement for a lifetime and
and the cozy embrace of their underground warrens. It never know it. In these communities, anonymity and
is said that mystic diamonds became the rock gnomes, stealth help to ensure protection, peace, and survival.
emeralds birthed the forest gnomes, and rubies turned If they are discovered and treated well, forest gnomes
into the deep gnomes. Since the time of their creation, make fine neighbors, but they usually avoid contact even
gnomes have settled in hidden places away from other with civilizations that seem friendly.
races, concerned that their way of life couldn't survive Forest gnomes use their affinity with small animals
wider exposure. and their knack for illusions to help them remain hid-
Gnomes gladly socialize and work with humans, den. When necessary, a forest gnome community de-
elves, and dwarves, but they always keep in mind that, fends itself with all the resources at its disposal. Many
as a small and relatively insignificant race, their inter- settlements, however, simply vanish if they are discov-
ests can become secondary even among their allies. ered, retreating to some uncharted corner of the forest
to begin anew.
The rare forest gnomes who leave their people to
become adventurers often draw upon their closeness to
nature and their magical gifts to serve as guides, scouts,
or mystics. Living close to nature also makes forest
gnomes likely to take up roles as druids, who serve vari-
ous forest spirits and deities.
Forest gnomes in FaerGn have the racial traits of for-
est gnomes in the Player's Handbook.

ROCK GNOMES
When most folk on the Sword Coast and in the North
talk about gnomes, they mean rock gnomes. Unlike
their shy forest cousins, the inquisitive and irrepressible
rock gnomes interact regularly with individuals of other
races, especially if those individuals have something to
teach them. Rock gnomes prefer to live on the edges of
other settlements in their own enclaves, though the oc-
casional adventuresome rock gnome takes up residence
in a human or dwarven city.

LADIES OF THE GOLDEN HILLS
A curious bit of gnomish lore is that the pantheon counts
not a single female within its ranks. Legend has it that the
mysterious Ladies of the Golden Hills went away together
on some task in the most ancient days, and have not yet
returned. The stories differ as to the Ladies' task, from
seeking to gather examples of all of the beauty and riches
ofToril, to a secret plan to thwart the evils of the world us-
ing their anonymity as a shield, causing the world to forget
even their names and identities for a time. Gnomes who
wander far from home are said to have "gone looking for
the Ladies."