Gnomes

Gnomes are creatures of boundless curiosity, restless minds, and relentless ingenuity. They are the question-askers, the rule-breakers, the ones who see a problem and refuse to let it remain unsolved. No other people have adapted to the loss of Encara quite so well, for while others grieved the destruction of their homeland, the gnomes saw it as an unsolvable problem—and rather than mourn, they turned their focus to what could be solved: surviving on Thaedros, understanding its mysteries, and, perhaps, even thriving in ways Encara never allowed.

Though small in stature, gnomes are immense in spirit, and their cultural diversity reflects this. From the brilliant yet reckless Valdeschtauk, whose love of invention and sabotage often go hand in hand, to the solemn and introspective Hauktenlach, who turned away from war to seek wisdom and balance, gnomes are as varied as the lands they now inhabit. The nomadic Lufschtagg travel from settlement to settlement, spinning tales and cutting purses, forever seeking a place they may one day call home again. Meanwhile, the Rauchstav pursue arcane knowledge with an almost ruthless ambition, shaping eldrite and infernal bargains alike into the tools of their ever-expanding mastery.

What all gnomes share is an insatiable need to understand. Whether it is the workings of a complex machine, the subtleties of diplomacy, or the mysteries of the multiverse itself, they will chase knowledge wherever it leads them. Some might see this as a flaw—gnomes have a tendency to go poking into places where they are neither invited nor welcome—but it is also their greatest strength. Even in the face of disaster, they find a way forward.

On Thaedros, that curiosity has already made them indispensable. Gnomes serve as some of the finest engineers, scholars, explorers, and merchants in the growing settlements of the continent. While many races still struggle with the chaotic nature of this new world, the gnomes have already begun the work of understanding, adapting, and, in some cases, exploiting it.

And if something explodes along the way—well, that's just part of the process.

Gnome Clans