Gnomes (The World)
Gnomes are deep tellurian, or chthonic elemental beings that inhabit the subterranean regions of the Underworld. Standing about two spans high, they are one of the more diminutive of all elementals. There are many races and tribes of Gnome; and they exhibit varying degrees of civilisation or barbarity. In the Eastlands, the Whythywindle Mountains and the Arnal Mountains are known to be the home of several nations of highly civilised Gnomes.
In general, Gnomes are fond of seeking buried treasures (especially gems, but also metals) and will on rare occasions foray up into the Middle World to seek a particular treasure.
The Gnomes of the Whythies are said to wear short britches and tall boots; long multipocketed vests with buttons up the sides, calf length coats and tall caps of various sorts. Workmen are known to wear leather aprons.
Gnomes living in the Arnals are more fond of wearing a kind of kilt and short boots with woolen leggings. They wear long shirts and patterned shortcoats with many pockets. Arnal Gnomes wear a sort of shapeless cap with a stiff band round their heads. They are fond of smoking, and will venture up into the Middle World to seek for favored weeds with which to stuff their nicely carved, stubby pipes.
Miners and spelunckers working in the deeps are said to have heard the music of the Gnomes, and it is from such accounts recorded during the 17th and 18th centuries that their musical traditions came to the attention of scholars in the Eastlands. It is said to be at once both lovely and somewhat jarring, as if two competing musics were craftily woven together and set as rivals.
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