Gnomes are small, elusive, and full of paradoxes. They are solitary by nature, at least with respect to their own kind. They are strictly monogamous, mating for life. Each pair stakes out its own territory, preferably in rolling, wooded hills, but sometimes in the middle of a big city teeming with humans. Yet the scattered race is unified by wandering gnome traders and the occasional woodland festival, where gnomes are regarded as honorary fey.
Gnomes come in two main flavors: settled gnomes and travelling gnomes. The travelling gnomes are their traders, and their wares include intangibles such as songs, stories, jokes, gossip, ideas, designs, formulas, equations, tricks, and magic. Gnomes are better than just about any other race at the art of storing and transmitting information (including images, sounds, etc.)
Settled gnomes are married pairs who stake out a territory, centered on their home, which can range from a burrow in the ground to a small cottage to an attic in a human house to a basement in the city. Some pairs are actually of the same sex, but this is not common. Same-sex couples are more likely to "adopt" children who are not gnomes. Traders consider their routes their territory, and their wagons (or whatever) their home.
Young gnomes typically leave their homes at about age 35-40 and wander with small bands of other juveniles or with traders, meeting other gnomes, partying a lot, and swapping gnome lore. Once a gnome finds a lifemate, they head off together, sometimes for years, until they find a suitable site for a home. This may actually be an existing building or burrow, but in any case the young couple will modify it to their own tastes, only considering themselves married once the teremok has been completed and dedicated to Zaole.
Gnomes do not subscribe to any organized religion. Most of their rites of passage are celebrated without much fuss, beyond a friendly party and feast. They often keep a small green snake around their teremok for luck, since green snakes are sacred to their patron, Zaole.
Travelling gnomes sometimes take Min as their patron. Gnomes who have lost their mates sometimes serve in temples of Ormaz.
They have no government as such. Gnomes obey "those laws natural to gnomes", meaning they respect one another's territories, do not steal, lie, or cheat one another in anger or hatred. (Long running feuds of practical jokes between gnomes are celebrated in song and story.) These jokes never descend to physical violence. Gnomes have no kings or lords, but non-gnomes sometimes try to impose their own systems onto the gnomes. The gnomes may follow the alien laws, but only out of convenience or friendship. The rare gnome who breaks gnomish law is usually cast out, stripped of their belongings, and ostracized.
Gnomes know how to make themselves likeable, or at least unobtrusive, among other races. They are valued for their skills and creativity. They are not good at holding ground against invaders like humans, orcs, goblins, kobolds, and the like, so they make alliances with elves, dwarves, and sylvan creatures.
Imports: Gnomes are mostly self-sufficient, and gnome traders bring in most necessities, but they do trade with local communities on occasion.
Unified by the wide-ranging trades, the gnomes still speak a single language, though with variations between the subraces and different geographical regions. Like elves, they are skilled at picking up second languages with native fluency.
Gnomes are given a name at birth by their parents. They acquire a road name (nickname) on their wanderyear, and then after they get married and settle, give their teremok (home) a name, and use that name for themselves as well. Some gnomes also get labeled with an occupational/professional name, especially if they deal frequently with non-gnomes. A few foreign names have been adopted by gnomes.
Male names: Arkadi Corntassel, Bela Catfeathers, Bodan Irontoes, Bohumil Sketchbarrow, Bojek Twisttale, Dobro Eskerslide, Dusha Glittershoes, Isidor Honeytongue, Jarek Fishkettle, Jaromik Acornhead, Konstantin Longshanks, Leos Firemane, Makari Brave-shadow, Mirek Underwillow, Mishek Fenwallow, Nika Singing-eagle, Zhivan Hoptoad
Female names: Aika Wingstriker, Bozhidara Ashbender, Dariya Rivertracks, Dusha Dogeater, Gizel Highwalker, Jarka Rubyfist, Kazi Whitebear, Kveta Bubblespoons, Mirka Muddyduck, Nika Snakehead, Rada Killwhistle, Radinka Pebblejaws, Zofia Fivesnows, Zora Random-random
Teremok names: Fernwood House, Wolfseye Nook, Seadreamer's Roost, Crosscorner House, etc.
Other borrowed material: