Homebrew Cottage Gnome Species Details

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— Author

In a quiet snow felled forest, you may find a small gnome peaking from behind a log. By placing an ear to the ground, you may able to hear the hubub of gnome life; gentle conversation, the tinkle of cutlery, the clinking of glasses or rustling of the local gnome paper. Gnomes are mostly solitary folk but have strong bonds with animals and the forest around them. 

Simple, Curious Life

A cottage gnome enjoys the quiet moments. Their life is full of richness that deepens with every year and evolves with the changing of the seasons. 

Cottage gnomes live for 500 years or more, yet start greying at only 50. They have large noses, merry faces with blushed cheeks. A gnome always has an air of wonder, enthusiasm and joy on their face and yet radiates a deep sense of patience. They wear clothes of yarn that has been gifted by sheep and rabbit friends, spun with the help of field mice. Gnomes tend to spend much of their day helping these animals with whatever problems they may have. A gnomes most prized possession is their felt hat which a gnome would only ever take off in private. many gnome children have never seen either of their parents hatless and the thought itself would cause embarrassment.

Gnomes are not creatures people and prefer to wear earthy colours helping them camouflage to their surroundings. However, when dressing for a ball or gala a gnome will put on their best hat, most vibrant outfit, and enjoy singing and celebrating the night away. 

 

Delighted Dedication

As far as gnomes are concerned, being alive is a wonderful thing, and they squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of their three to five centuries of life. Humans might wonder about getting bored over the course of such a long life, but gnomes seem to savour each moment to its full effect before joyfully embracing the next moment. 

Gnomes are inherently curious creatures wanting to understand everything to its deepest expression. Gnomes are extremely well learned and are happy to discuss ideas and opinions on a range of subjects, they are always aware that their is more to know. Gnomes are yet playful, carefree beings who happily will drink and tell funny stories for hours on end. 

Bright Burrows

Gnomes make their homes in hilly, wooded lands. They live underground but get more fresh air than dwarves do, enjoying the natural, living world on the surface whenever they can. Cottage gnome homes are well hidden by both clever construction and simple illusions. Welcome visitors are quickly ushered into the bright, warm burrows. Those who are not welcome are unlikely to find the burrows in the first place.

Gnomes who settle in human lands are commonly gemcutters, engineers, sages, or tinkers. Some human families retain gnome tutors, ensuring that their pupils enjoy a mix of serious learning and delighted enjoyment. A gnome might tutor several generations of a single human family over the course of his or her long life.

Gnome Names

Gnomes love names, and most have half a dozen or so. A gnome’s mother, father, clan elder, aunts, and uncles each give the gnome a name, and various nicknames from just about everyone else might or might not stick over time. Gnome names are typically variants on the names of ancestors or distant relatives, though some are purely new inventions. When dealing with humans and others who are “stuffy” about names, a gnome learns to use no more than three names: a personal name, a clan name, and a nickname, choosing the one in each category that’s the most fun to say.

Male Names: Alston, Alvyn, Boddynock, Brocc, Burgell, Dimble, Eldon, Erky, Fonkin, Frug, Gerbo, Gimble, Glim, Jebeddo, Kellen, Namfoodle, Orryn, Roondar, Seebo, Sindri, Warryn, Wrenn, Zook

Female Names: Bimpnottin, Breena, Caramip, Carlin, Donella, Duvamil, Ella, Ellyjobell, Ellywick, Lilli, Loopmottin, Lorilla, Mardnab, Nissa, Nyx, Oda, Orla, Roywyn, Shamil, Tana, Waywocket, Zanna

Clan Names: Beren, Daergel, Folkor, Garrick, Nackle, Murnig, Ningel, Raulnor, Scheppen, Timbers, Turen

Nicknames: Aleslosh, Ashhearth, Badger, Cloak, Doublelock, Filchbatter, Fnipper, Ku, Nim, Oneshoe, Pock, Sparklegem, Stumbleduck

Seeing the World

Curious gnomes might take up adventuring as a way to see the world or for the love of exploring. As lovers of gems and other fine items, some gnomes take to adventuring as a quick, if dangerous, path to wealth. Regardless of what spurs them to adventure, gnomes who adopt this way of life eke as much enjoyment out of it as they do out of any other activity they undertake, sometimes to the great annoyance of their adventuring companions.

ALWAYS APPRECIATIVE

It’s rare for a gnome to be hostile or malicious unless he or she has suffered a grievous injury. Gnomes know that most races don’t share their sense of humor, but they enjoy anyone’s company just as they enjoy everything else they set out to do.

Subrace

Choose one of the subraces below or one from another source.

GARDEN GNOMES

A subrace of cottage gnomes, the garden gnomes, live closer to humans often occupying a place in the corner of the garden. These gnomes tend to be more sociable and relaxed, more accustomed to an easy living life and tend to be less conservative in their ways and views. 

Cottage Gnome Traits

Cottage Gnomes are similar to regular gnomes but perhaps more quiet and thoughtful then a 5e gnome

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 2. Your wisdom score increases by 1.

Speak with Small Beasts

Through sounds and gestures, you can communicate simple ideas with Small or smaller beasts. Animals often regard rustic gnomes as wise sages and friends.

Age

Gnomes mature at the same rate humans do, and most are expected to settle down into an adult life by around age 40. They can live 350 to almost 500 years.

Alignment

Gnomes are most often good. Those who tend toward law are sages, engineers, researchers, scholars, investigators, or inventors. Those who tend toward chaos are minstrels, tricksters, wanderers, or fanciful jewelers. Gnomes are good-hearted, and even the tricksters among them are more playful than vicious.

Size

Gnomes are between 1 and 2 feet tall and average about 20 pounds. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to life underground, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Gnome Cunning

You have advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Gnomish. The Gnomish language, which uses the Dwarvish script, is renowned for its technical treatises and its catalogs of knowledge about the natural world.