See also: Gnomes as a playable race
Gnomes in Aetheris are not a singular race, but a diverse and deeply spiritual people whose origins are tied to the primal forces of nature and the elemental essence of the world. They are born not solely of flesh, but of place, shaped by the living environment into which they are delivered.
The final stage of gnomish gestation is not in the womb, but within a chosen element reflective of the parents’ beliefs, ancestry, or spiritual alignment. The element imprints upon the gnome, forever binding them to its nature.
This process gives rise to myriad gnome lineages, each uniquely adapted to their birth-place: from root-entwined moss gnomes born in the hollows of ancient trees, to sharp-minded obsidian gnomes cleaved from volcanic rock. In this way, no two gnomes are ever quite alike.
The Birth Rite
- Gnomish gestation is shared between partners, regardless of gender. Both may carry for a time.
- For the final phase, the unborn gnome is transferred to an environment representing the elemental forces chosen by the parents.
- The infant is “birthed” from that environment, changed and shaped by its essence.
Cultural consequences
- Each sub-group of gnomes forms its own cultural micro-traditions.
- Gnomes often refer to one another by birth-type before personal name (e.g., “Ashsprout Tilli” or “Mosskin Jorrin”).
- Communities may form around a shared element (e.g., a grove of plant-born gnomes or a cavern of stone-born kin).
Flavourful Elemental Affinities
Rather than overwhelming mechanical benefits, gnomes of Aetheris are defined by their elemental relationships. These connections manifest subtly—through cultural instincts, interpersonal nuance, and rare moments of communion with the world around them.
These are examples, not limited to ONLY what you see.
Forestborn Gnomes (Nature/Plant Aligned)
These gnomes are birthed within the boughs, roots, and blooms of forested places. Each is shaped by the specific flora involved in their emergence. Examples:
Birchkin
Gentle and introspective, Birchkin gnomes are emotionally attuned, especially when among birch trees, which they can sometimes read as one might interpret a dream. When pressed against a birch, they may sense faint emotional echoes—remnants of those who’ve lingered there in contemplation or sorrow. Their own moods are often swayed by the seasons.
Briarborn
Resilient and fiercely protective, Briarborns often form tight-knit bonds and can be prickly to strangers. When walking through thorny underbrush, they seem untouched, and brambles may subtly shift aside. In times of threat, they are known to curl inward emotionally, like a thorned vine.
Mosskin
Calm and grounding presences, often acting as peacemakers. They exude a gentle dampness and can bring plants back from near-death with soft whispers and presence alone. Mosskins can enter shallow meditative trances when resting against soft forest growth.
Petalwyrd
Dreamy and whimsical, their presence often mirrors the blooms of their origin — wildflowers, lilies, or forest orchids. Their appearance may subtly shift with the seasons, blooming in spring or drooping gently in autumn. They are said to be able to hear the faint songs of petals unfurling.
Plainsborn Gnomes (Grassland/Skyline Aligned)
Plainsborn gnomes are rare but deeply connected to openness, wind, and the vast cycles of sun and storm that roll across the horizon. Examples:
Goldenfielders
Born among golden grains and tall grasses, these gnomes carry the warmth of sunlight in their smiles. They intuitively understand harvests, timing, and seasonal rhythm. Fields seem to whisper to them, and many have an uncanny knack for predicting weather changes or knowing the mood of the land.
Thistleborn
Hardy and defiant, Thistleborn gnomes often emerge from more windswept, drier regions. They are fiercely independent and often underestimated. The wind carries their scent further, and small birds often follow them, perhaps drawn by some silent kinship.
Stargrass Kin
Those born beneath open skies among rare glowing grasses have a reflective, almost stargazer quality. At night, they commune in solitude with the stars, and their dreams are often prophetic or filled with strange symbols. Their hair may glimmer faintly in moonlight.
Dustfoot
Birthed from the sun-baked roots of prairie trees or in earthen burrows, they are humble and unshakable. Dustfoot gnomes are drawn to stories and oral traditions. Sitting on bare soil, they can often “hear” the memory of a place — be it laughter, grief, or the quiet pulse of seasons passing.
Stoneborn Gnomes (Earth/Metal/Volcanic Aligned)
Stoneborn gnomes emerge from within the bones of the earth—rock, ore, and subterranean caverns—and carry with them the enduring nature of their birthplaces. Examples:
Graniteborn
Solid, stoic, and slow to anger, Graniteborn gnomes are known for their unshakable will. When sitting against large stones or mountain slopes, they can enter long contemplative silences, seeming to merge with the landscape. Their footsteps seem heavier on gravel paths, and some claim they leave no tracks on stone.
Obsidianblood
Sharp-witted and intense, obsidianblood gnomes are often born near or within cooled volcanic vents. Their eyes may glimmer like glass, and they speak with decisive clarity. In moments of passion or magic, their skin may momentarily reflect firelight as though catching flame.
Basaltkin
Tough, warm-hearted, and often boisterous, Basaltkins are typically born in geothermal stone pockets or hardened lava flows. They radiate a comforting warmth and often thrive in crafting professions. They have a natural sense of subterranean structure and can sometimes predict tremors or rock slides.
Ironbound
Born into veins of metal ore, Ironbound gnomes are meticulous, diligent, and unyielding in their commitments. Their skin has a faint metallic sheen, and they are often drawn to forgework, logic puzzles, and runic traditions. Ironbound gnomes often speak in short, deliberate phrases that reflect their methodical nature.
Waterborn Gnomes (Freshwater/Sea/Ice Aligned)
Waterborn gnomes are born within rivers, lakes, coastal tidal pools, and glacier-fed springs. Their hearts echo the ebb and flow of the world. Examples:
Riverwhisper
Serene and perceptive, Riverwhispers are born within flowing freshwater. They are excellent listeners and tend to speak in poetic turns. Some can follow a river’s current to navigate instinctively, and rain often falls more gently when they are near.
Brinekin
Gritty and weathered like driftwood, these gnomes are born in coastal tide pools or salt flats. They carry the scent of sea spray and often attract seabirds or small fish. They are driven by wanderlust and often feel most at home on ships or beside crashing waves.
Mistborn
Dreamlike and elusive, Mistborn gnomes are born in coastal fog banks or dense freshwater mists. Their presence often feels fleeting, and their voices carry on the wind. Mist clings to them in still air, and they are often sought as oracles or dream-guides.
Glacialis
Born in the cold silence of glacier-fed springs or icy caverns, Glacialis gnomes are still and deep as frozen lakes. They are slow to trust but protect fiercely. Their breath fogs the air regardless of temperature, and their presence often calms tempers like a cold splash of water.
Gnomish Society and Naming Customs
Names are often long, whimsical, and include elemental epithets (e.g., “Tilli of the Singing Winds” or “Bran of Emberbough”).
Gnome communities are often clusters of similar Birth Origins, but inter-elemental villages are not uncommon.
Some gnomes travel to sacred sites of their element as pilgrimage or rite of passage.
Gnomish Settlements
Gnomish settlements are diverse reflections of the elements they cherish. No two are ever quite the same, but all share a love for harmony, storytelling, and integration with their chosen environment. They are rarely large, preferring close-knit communities of kin and kindred spirits.
Groveholds
Found in dense forests, these settlements are built in living trees, with suspended walkways, moss-covered platforms, and homes grown rather than built. Lanterns made from bioluminescent fungi or glowing nectar light the twilight paths.
Burrows and Warrens
Stoneborn gnomes often live in carved-out cave systems or tunnel networks reinforced with crystal and ironwood. Their dwellings echo with song and story, etched into the walls in runes that hum softly when read aloud.
Riverhamlets
Waterborn gnomes create villages of reed huts and water channels, often built partially on stilts. They may move with the tide or float downstream as part of migration traditions. Fishbone chimes and woven kelp tapestries mark their entrances.
Windperches
Plainsborn and sky-aligned gnomes craft towers or tents that catch the wind like instruments. Their towns may be circular, designed to follow the stars or sun, and their buildings may tilt ever so slightly to channel breezes.