The Gnew Gnome written and illustrated by Justin Wyatt

Gnomes

Gnomes are a clannish and rather insular race, undoubtedly distant relatives of Dwarfs,
sharing their stocky build and fondness for facial hair, although many male gnomes
prefer waxing their moustaches in the Brettonian fashion. They are however quite
distinct from their dwarven brethren, being somewhat shorter, and noted for their large
and bulbous noses. Gnomes are also much more nimble and agile than Dwarfs, although
they too are great craftsmen, and share a love of all things mechanical. Notorious
practical jokers, they love nothing better than to have a good old belly laugh at others
misfortunes, but pity the poor fool who returns the favour-Gnomes do not take kindly to
being ridiculed themselves .Like their Sturdy brethren, Gnomes are also short tempered,
and are often extremely difficult to get along with.
There have been suggestions made that Gnomes are the offspring of Dwarfs and
Halflings, although such claims have not yet been proven- exponents of such rumours
are likely to be the targets of several Dwarf Grudges! Gnomes simply smile, then plot a
devious punishment for the poor rumourmonger......

Background

It is not known from where the Gnomes originated from, although as an offshoot of the
Dwarf race, its possible they migrated from the mountain holds, in search of greener
pastures. How ancient these migrations were is not known by the other races, but
certainly they are well established communities across many parts of the Old World, and
some even as far as Albion.

Gnomes are a subterranean race, like the Dwarfs, but prefer to build their homes in
burrows or existing cavern complexes. Such is the Gnomish fondness for fishing, that
such settlements are never far from a freshly stocked river. The largest Gnome
community within the Empire (Glimdwarrow) is to be found beneath the Mirror Moors,
and numbers nearly a thousand inhabitants. Like many gnomish settlements,
Glimdwarrow is run along intricate hierarchical lines- incomprehensible to outsiders.
Even their Dwarf cousins find the complex customs quite baffling.

Gnomes can be encountered, though rarely, as smiths or engineers across the Empire,
and command almost as much respect as their Dwarven brethren, although its mainly out
of fear of their sharp tongues and sarcastic remarks. It was these notorious attributes that
lead to the appointment of a Gnome as Imperial Court Jester, as long ago as 1143, and
Karl Franz continues to maintain this tradition. Gnomes also like to dabble in the ways
of magic, and in particular, make excellent Grey Wizards-the Lore of Shadow seems to
exemplify their racial sensibilities.

Roleplaying Hints
Gnomes are sarcastic with a sense of dark, and mordant wit. They are fast talkers, and
expressive in their body language, and are quite happy to laugh out loud at others
misfortunes. Gnomes are also notoriously antagonistic to the other races, and can be
down right rude at times.

TABLE 2-1:CHARACTERISTIC GENERATION

Characteristic```````` Gnome

Weapon Skill(WS)`````30+2d10
Ballistic Skill(BS)``````20+2d10
Strength(S)```````````20+2d10
Toughness(T)`````````10+2d10
Agility(Ag)````````````20+2d10
Intelligence(Int)```````20+2d10
Will Power(WP)````````20+2d10
Fellowship(Fel)````````20+2d10
Attacks(A)```````````````1
Wounds(W)```````````-Roll 1d10 and consult Table 2-2:Starting Wounds-
Strength Bonus(SB)````-Equal to first digit of your Strength-
Toughness(Tb)````````-Equal to first digit of your Toughness-
Movement(M)````````````4
Magic(Mag)``````````````0
Insanity Points(IP)````````0
Fate Points(FP)````````-Roll 1d10 and consult Table 2-3:Starting Fate Points-

Table 2-2:Starting Wounds

d10 Roll Gnome

1-3``````10
4-6``````11
7-9``````12
10```````13

Table 2-3:Starting Fate Points

d10 Roll Gnome

1-4``````1
5-7``````2
8-10`````3

RACIAL FEATURES

A Gnome character gains the following skills and talents.

Skills: Common Knowledge (Gnomes), Speak Language (Ghassally), Speak Language
(Reikspiel), Trade (Miner, Smith or Stoneworker) or Performer (Jester)

Talents: Dwarfcraft, Grudge-born Fury, Natural Fisher, Night Vision, Resistance to

Magic and Trapfinder

Natural Fisher
You possess a natural gift for using the rod and reel, and gain +20% to all Outdoor
Survival tests based on fishing.

TABLE 2-5:STARTING CAREER

Gnome Career

01-02```Apprentice Wizard
03-05```Barber-Surgeon
06-08```Bodyguard
09-10```Bone Picker
11-13```Burgher
14-18```Court Jester
19-22```Entertainer
`23`````Ferryman
24-26```Fisherman
27-28```Grave Robber
29-31```Jailer
32-34```Mercenary
35-38```Militiaman
39-42```Miner
`43`````Noble
44-46```Outlaw
47-49```Pit Fighter
50-53```Protagonist
54-58```Ratcatcher
59-63```Rogue
64-66```Runebearer
67-68```Scribe
69-71```Servant
72-74```Shieldbreaker
75-78```Smuggler
79-82```Soldier
83-84```Student
85-88```Thief
`89 ````Thug
90-94```Tomb Robber
95-98```Tradesman
99-00```Watchman

PHYSICAL FEATURES

TABLE 2-6:HEIGHT

Female 3`4"+d10"

Male 3`6"+d10"

Table 2-8:HAIR COLOUR

Roll Gnome

1 Ash Blonde

2 Corn

3 Yellow

4 Red

5 Copper

6 Light Brown

7 Brown

8 Dark Brown

9 Blue Black

10 Black

TABLE 2-7:WEIGHT IN POUNDS

Roll Gnome

01``` 80

02-03``` 80

04-05```85
06-08```85

09-12``` 90

13-17``` 90

18-22``` 95

21-29``` 100

30-37``` 105

38-49``` 110

50-64``` 115

65-71``` 120

72-78``` 125

79-83``` 130

84-88``` 135

89-92``` 140

93-95``` 145

96-97``` 150

98-99``` 155

00``` 160

TABLE 2-9:EYE COLOUR

Roll Gnome

1 Pale Blue

2 Blue

3 Copper

4 Light Brown
5 Brown

6 Brown

7 Dark Brown

8 Dark Brown

9 Purple

10 Black

TABLE 2-11:NUMBER OF SIBLINGS

1```0

2-3``` 0

4-5``` 1

6-7``` 2

8-9``` 2

10``` 3

TABLE 2-22:GNOME BIRTHPLACE

Roll Gnome Roll Result

01-50 Glimdwarrow

51-80 World Edge Mountains

81-00 Roll on TABLE 2-14: Human Birthplace instead

TABLE 2-13:AGE IN YEARS TABLE

01-05``` 20

06-10``` 24

11-15``` 28

16-20``` 32
21-25``` 36

26-30``` 40

31-35``` 46

36-40``` 50

41-45``` 54

46-50``` 58

51-55``` 62

56-60``` 66

61-65``` 70

66-70``` 74

71-75``` 80

76-80``` 84

81-85``` 88

86-90``` 92

91-95``` 96

96-00``` 100

2-23:GNOME NAMES

Roll Gnome Roll Female Male

01-05 Arruella Alfric

06-10 Babel Barrimyre

11-15 Cicer Burkli

16-20 Druna Dirdin

21-25 Eabe Dundil

26-30 Elvira Ellsdune

31-35 Frin Erik

36-40 Grenda Gringil

41-45 Hanni Glimbrin

46-50 Henetta Grundli

51-55 Jeni Norbston

56-60 Lili Norris

61-70 Morag Orlock

71-75 Oswilla Osric

76-80 Prinwyd Quinik

81-85 Rubi Rudni

86-90 Sephani Stolli

91-95 Trinibel Stumpo

96-00 Ulli Syreswain

-COURT JESTER-
Description

Jesters have been employed within the courts of Empirical Nobles, for centuries.
The `Fool` is provided as comic relief to all the heavy intrigue and political
backstabbing that is rife in such environments. Such Court Jesters, are seen as
trustworthy confidantes, rightly or wrongly- someone who lacks any sort of political
ambition of their own. Gnomes seem particularly well suited to this role, possessing
a wicked sense of humour and inbuilt sarcasm, as well as lacking any interest in the
political machinations of thecourt. However, despite being well suited,
many Gnomes grow discontent, isolated from their own communities, or take too
much delight in ridiculing visiting dignitaries, and so they don't tend to last long in
their jobs.

-Court Jester Advance scheme-

Main Profile
WS BS S T Ag Int Wp Fel

+5% +5% - - +15% - - +15%

Secondary Profile

A W SB TB M Mag IP FP

- +2 - - - - --

Skills: Blather or Charm, Common Knowledge

(the Empire), Gossip, Perception, Performer

(Jester), Performer (choose two from Acrobat,

Clown, Dancer or Juggler) , Sleight of Hand or

Ventriloquism, Speak Language (Reikspiel)

Talents: Contortionist or Mimic, Savvy or Lightning Reflexes

Trappings: Jester's Stick, Quartered clothing,6 wooden balls or 10 Yards of Rope

Career Entries: Entertainer, Minstrel

Career Exits: Charlatan, Courtier, Entertainer, Herald, Minstrel, Rogue

Note: Only Gnomes can have a Court Jester as a starting career