Gnomes are a small race of humanoids known for their work ethic, cleverness, and sense of humor.
Appearance[]
Gnomes typically stand around 3 ½ feet tall, just a bit taller than halflings, and they weigh just above 40 pounds. Gnomes have pointed ears and somewhat exaggerated features compared to humans, such as large eyes or noses.[4][5][6] They seem to have the same range of skin and hair tones as humans.[7][8][9] Deep gnomes are the exception, having gray skin that resembles stone, and seemingly no hair to speak of.[10][11]
Powers, abilities, and subraces[]
Gnomes are known for their cleverness, and have remarkable fortitude when it comes to resisting magic that affects the mind. Due to often living in underbrush and in burrows, gnomes are capable of seeing within dim light and even darkness.[4][10]
Deep gnomes[]
Dryca, a nether gnome, by CoupleOfKooks and Cris Peter from The Tales of Exandria: The Bright Queen #1.[art 2]
Deep gnomes, also called nether gnomes,[12] live deep within the Underdark.[3]
Rock gnomes[]
Official art of a rock gnome and a forest gnome, by Ilich Henriquez from Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 26.[art 3]
Rock gnomes value cleverness and explanation of natural phenomena.[2]
Outside Critical Role canon, rock gnomes are the hardiest and most inventive of gnomes. They are often master tinkerers, and many make hobbies of crafting small clockwork devices.[4]
Forest gnomes[]
Forest gnomes are believed to have come from the Feywild, like the elves.[2]
Outside Critical Role canon, forest gnomes are the nimblest of gnomes, and have mastered creating minor illusions to keep themselves hidden. Forest gnomes are capable of making rudimentary conversation with small beasts.[4]
Society[]
Tal'Dorei[]
Much like humans, rock gnomes are not native to Tal'Dorei, though unlike humans, they migrated from Issylra to Tal'Dorei during the Age of Arcanum, and endured the Calamity from deep within the Cliffkeep Mountains.[2] Rock gnomes initially made their home in the city of Wittebak, but when it was destroyed by hill giants around the year 400 PD, the surviving gnomes made refuge in the dwarven stronghold of Kraghammer.[2]
Fan art of Pike Trickfoot, by Nguyen Minh Hieu.[art 4]
Most forest gnomes of Tal'Dorei make their homes among the forests of the Verdant Expanse, though some also live within the Bramblewood Forest outside of Westruun.[2]
Wildemount[]
Within the Dwendalian Empire, there are two major bastions of gnomish population.[3] The first is the industrial city of Hupperdook, founded before the rise of the empire, where the gnomes are known both for their hard work during the day, and their raucous parties after their shift is done.[13] The other is the forest of the Velvin Thicket, where nomadic clans of forest gnomes have long resisted assimilation by the Empire.[14]
Gnomes are relatively common within the Menagerie Coast, especially within the city of Gwardan, which many gnomes moved to from Hupperdook before the founding of the Clovis Concord. Gnomes of the Coast are renowned for their influence on architecture within the region.[3]
Within the Underdark beneath Xhorhas, small communities of deep gnomes are content to remain neutral in the ongoing battles between the Kryn Dynasty and duergar rebels.[3]
Notable gnomes[]
Campaign One: Vox Machina[]
PCs[]
- Scanlan Shorthalt: Renowned bard, Champion of Ioun, and member of Vox Machina.
- Sprigg: An arcane trickster and friend of Vox Machina who held the key to Ioun's secret realm.
- Pike Trickfoot: The Champion of Sarenrae and member of Vox Machina.
NPCs[]
Official art of Wilhand Trickfoot, by Olivia Samson from Vox Machina Origins Series II.[art 6]
- Kaylie: Daughter of Scanlan Shorthalt and flautist for Dr. Dranzel's Spectacular Traveling Troupe.
- Wilhand Trickfoot: Cleric of Sarenrae, and great-great-grandfather of Pike Trickfoot.
Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting[]
- Quash Dentdruggle - Tinkerer on the Arcana Pansophical.[15]
- Hanna Wasseran - Master of Commerce on the Tal'Dorei Council.[16]
- Theona Balmhand - Major member of the Golden Grin and cleric of Erathis.[17]
- Wilmet Wizcrack - Famous archaeologist.[18]
Campaign 2: The Mighty Nein[]
PCs[]
- Twiggy: Arcane trickster and friend of the Mighty Nein.
NPCs[]
Fan art of Cleff Tinkertop, by Michael Jäger.[art 7]
- Rissa Tinkertop: Tinkerer from Hupperdook.
- Cleff Tinkertop: Tinkerer from Hupperdook.
- Doolan Tversky: Archmage of Dysology for the Cerberus Assembly.
Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn[]
Official art of Kel'jaia Uleoh, by Lauren Walsh from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, page 166.[art 8]
- Kel'jaia Uleoh: Syngornian delegate to the Tal'Dorei Council, and Path of the Juggernaut barbarian.[19]
The Re-Slayer's Take[]
PCs[]
- Norbert Klott: Warrior from Seedfeld.
Exandria Unlimited Prime[]
NPCs[]
- Inanna: Employee of Gilmore's Glorious Goods in Emon.
Campaign Three: Bells Hells[]
PCs[]
- Chetney Pock O'Pea: Wandering Master Toymaker who only works with wood.
- Deanna Leimert: Cleric of Pelor and former lover of Chetney.
NPCs[]
- Olly: Member of the Green Seekers.
- Jennis: Member of the Tempest Blades.[20]
- Some members of the Volition looked like gnomes or halflings.[21]
Trivia[]
- Due to their longevity, it isn't uncommon for some gnomes to go through several mid-life crises.[22]
- Early in Campaign One, Pike Trickfoot and her family are usually described as deep gnomes,[23][24] but they did not display a number of traits typical of deep gnomes, including hairless grey skin, advantage on Stealth checks to hide in rocky terrain, or superior (120 foot) darkvision,[25] though they did speak Undercommon.[26] Later, Matthew Mercer once suggested Pike was a rock gnome in an offhand comment,[27] and finally, the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting and Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn described the Trickfoots as forest gnomes.[2][28]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7
Gnome on D&D Beyond
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 26.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 173.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 See D&D: Player's Handbook (2014), 5th ed., p. 37.
- ↑ Grymond Trog has a wide, oval head with a pointed nose and pointed chin. See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) at 3:11:43.
- ↑ Oglen Hornsblower has beady eyes and a bulbous nose. See "A Show of Scrutiny" (2x02) at 2:41:54. Dent Bonswallow also has a bulbous nose; see "Labenda Awaits" (2x20) at 2:54:30.
- ↑ Examples of skin tones: Grymond Trog has pale skin; see "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) at 3:11:43. Scanlan is described as "pink-skinned" in "Where the Cards Fall" (1x75) at 2:52:56. Uvenda has olive yellow skin; see "Onward to Vesrah" (1x87) at 3:17:45. A gnome in Alfield has a ruddy complexion; see "The Howling Mines" (2x06) at 0:38:28. In Hupperdook, one gnome is described having deep tan skin in "The Hour of Honor" (2x24) at 1:21:04. Deanna Leimert has dark skin; see "Far From The Others" (3x52) at 0:53:55.
- ↑ Examples of hair color: Sybil had golden hair; see "Echoes of the Past" (1x38) at 1:23:41. Astra Trickfoot has strawberry blonde hair; see "One Year Later..." (1x95) at 2:44:35. Dent Bonswallow has puffy black hair; see "Labenda Awaits" (2x20) at 2:54:30. A group of gnomes in Hupperdook are described as having hair ranging from brown to brownish-red to red; see "The Hour of Honor" (2x24) at 1:21:04, at 0:28:54, at 3:14:43, and "Have Bird, Will Travel" (2x23) at 3:31:42.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 166. See also pp. 268 and 270.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 See D&D: Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, 5th ed., p. 113.
- ↑ See The Tales of Exandria: The Bright Queen, Issue #1.
- ↑ See The Tales of Exandria: The Bright Queen, Issue #1.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 87.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 109.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 29.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 36.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 37.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 71.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 46. See also p. 166.
- ↑ See "Bloody Flowers" (3x67) at 4:22:28.
- ↑ See "Seeking Sedition" (3x88) at 3:08:48.
- ↑ See "The Assembling of Legends" (3x112) at 4:17:37.
- ↑ Pike's introductory video says her ancestors are deep gnomes. See "The Throne Room" (1x07) at 0:01:25.
- ↑ Matt identifies Pike as a deep gnome. See "The Temple Showdown" (1x11) at 4:07:03.
- ↑ See D&D: Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, 5th ed., p. 114.
- ↑ See "One Year Later..." (1x95) at 3:30:42.
- ↑ See "Masquerade" (1x99) at 0:43:14.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 158.
Art:
- ↑ Official art of a forest gnome and rock gnome, by Zuzanna Wuzyk @zuzartii from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 157. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Dryca, a nether gnome, by CoupleOfKooks and Cris Peter from The Tales of Exandria: The Bright Queen #1. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Official art of a rock gnome and a forest gnome, by Ilich Henriquez from Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 26. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Fan art of Pike Trickfoot, by Nguyen Minh Hieu (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Twiggy, by shalizeh7 (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Official art of Wilhand Trickfoot, by Olivia Samson from Vox Machina Origins Series II. Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Cleff Tinkertop, by Michael Jäger (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Official art of Kel'jaia Uleoh, by Lauren Walsh from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, page 166. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
External links[]
Gnome on D&D Beyond- Gnome (Dungeons & Dragons) on Wikipedia
- Gnome on The Forgotten Realms Wiki (note)
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