Gnomes

Aspects

History

Ancient gnomes were primarily solitary tinkerers, known for their craftsmanship in fields such as jewelry, clothing, clockwork, and toys. Their obsession for taking things apart frequently painted them as a nuisance, however their tendency for putting things back together with significant improvements did much to keep them tolerated. While gnomes rarely involved themselves in widescale military conflict, their technological superiority resulted in sense of supremacy over other races, as well as each other.

When the sciences were viewed as magic among the other races, they obsessed over their unique notion that the world behaved according to rules, and whoever knows the rules, wins. When the dwarves found burning crystals beneath the surface, the Gnomes used them for energy. When the elves discovered creatures too small for the eye to see, the Gnomes made powerful medicine. And when the orcs found a powder that would create a furious conflagration, the Gnomes created firearms.

Unlike the other races, when they had the technology to destroy any other civilization on Blimnor, they instead turned their eyes upward and propelled awesome ships into the unknown. And gnomes took to space like fish to water. Even now that every spaceworthy ship is flush with Gnomish technology, their strange obsession with knowledge keeps them from any notions of conquest. Instead they are most often scientists, inventors, and technicians. However, now that the Gnomish bureaucracy has spread to the stars, there is still one thing that might bring their wrath, and that is those people who refuse to follow rules.

Language

Gnomes voluntarily retired the Gnommish language during the 4th Age of Blimnor. They collaborated with the other races to develop the Common language. Common evolved into Exodian, which is the official language of the Schematic for Cosmic Order, and the most spoken language in charted space. Many gnomes in technological fields may also speak some variant of Netcode, particularly among colleagues.

Fashion

Gnome fashion varies greatly as it primarily motivated by novelty. Hair is frequently dyed and elaborately styled according to what a gnome hopes will distinguish themselves. Gnome hair tends to be thin and wispy, so more ambitious styles tend to necessitate styled wigs or extensions. Clothing similarly tends to be brightly colored synthetic fabrics featuring pockets, zippers, straps, or any other detail that suggests at a function, although sometimes other historical fashions are referenced, such as with poofy hats, capes, or track suits. The only absolute commonality across gnome fashion is wearable technology. A wrist-mounted TOME is a must, and any additional accessories such as blinking lights, musical shoes, or head-mounted optics demonstrate a gnome's intellect and importance.

Names and Gender

At birth, gnomes take the surname of the parent with the highest income. Their first name is given by the parent with the lowest income, and by tradition is the name of a precious mineral. At 10 years old, the gnome must choose a new first name. This leads to a variety of combinations of simplistic first names and grandiose surnames. Examples include Pop Neutron, Turk Sunspotter, or Dopple Scanmaster. Before the Exodus, Gnome society broadly recognized three genders. Since then, they now recognize over 600, each defined and documented in the Universal Gender Database. While less than 6% of these registered gender identities are in common use, they are the product of several generations of Gender Law revisions designed to incorporate new forms of identity, delineate others, or prune redundancies in an effort to most effectively provide a gender template for any new individual form of expression. While this system is often confusing to societies with more traditional views of gender, it is important to note that gnomes rarely couple the notion of gender with sexual anatomy, and the majority of newborn gnomes are adopted, artificially inseminated, or carried by surrogate boodacas (mothers).

Speed Litigation

Speed Litigation is a gnome sport that originated in SCO colonies during the 198 AE Recession. Sociologists believe that it arose out of the ancient gnome fondness for pragmatic debate. Street Firms of unemployed attorneys gather to argue loudly about hypothetical legal scenarios to a jury of onlookers. While early Speed Litigation was notorious for sparking street violence, jury seduction, murder, bribery, excessively imaginative scenarios, and weaponized ad hoc statements, its growth in popularity led to it becoming an SCO-sponsored sport with Circuits spanning entire star systems. Many participants began their law careers in Speed Litigation, and many other disgraced attorneys found redemption through the spectacle of the Court Arena. While the sport lacks popularity outside of gnomish communities, it has been commended for being an excellent test environment for loopholes or new laws that later are implemented into the SCO codex. Some organizations such as the GAM High Command and various Corporations have used Speed Litigation to experiment with their own legal systems. A number of notable legal conundrums have been solved due to clever Speed Litigation including, Reverse Jeopardy, Objection Spamming, and the newly passed law preventing a pro se litigant from simultaneously representing the defense and prosecution.

Gnome Music

Ancient gnome music is regretfully difficult to replicate, as it was allegedly suppressed due to its unpopular style, instruments, and cringe-inducing lyrics. Modern gnome music is almost entirely synthesized, and elements of it are frequently procedurally generated by music programs, or remixed from existing music. As a result, gnome music tends to be vaguely pleasant or exciting, but either immediately forgettable, or else gets stuck in your head. Unlike with technology, gnome music is not subject to copyright laws. Below is a mix of what you might hear in a gnome exploration ship's recreation room.

A number of audio effects can be achieved using specific modules.

Effects:

• GBXa

• Radon AD-60

• Goob Module

• Jump DDZ

• Sleebex MG1

• Jorjo_

• ADL 17

• Vibegen B

• Radon AD-180

Musical tracks can be generated using a number of AI algorithms.

Algorithms:

• Metrognome

• Define: Love

• Polkadotz

• 24 Click Horizon

• Progenitor

• Sweet DRMZ

• Disco Technician