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General

Most gnomes live in fellroot and see themselves as separate from Midgard and its culture.

Gnome culture is more practical as compared to either Asgard or Utgard . They deviate from Asgard as they they sometimes tend to choose beauty over comfort and Utgard because they don't have the crafting skills or need for comfort. But if compared to human culture, Gnomes concentrate on complexity where the humans concentrate on simplicity of use. Gnome culture is driven by effectiveness rather than efficiency, however they tend to choose for quantity over quality. Gnomes want to know how everything works, EVERYTHING. They would take apart the divines themselves just to see how they work. ( Ganinisum , god of the gnomes actually did just that to himself, wanting to know exactly how Talor designed him.) Luckily for most gnomes they know how to put things together again to.... most of the time. This gives them great knowledge about the nature of things, but sometimes destroys the chance to actually use them. Most gnomes carry with them a personal booklet in which they make notes about their lives or copy interesting texts.

Personal booklet

Most gnomes carry with them a personal booklet in which they make notes about their lives or copy interesting texts. This booklet is highly private and it's an honour if you are allowed to copy a part of it into your own booklet. The booklet is also a collection of their most treasured memories and experiences. If it is lost after the gnomes death it is often believed that the gnome's life has been for naught because all it's memories (the only thing you every really truly gain) are lost forever. If it is lost before the gnome it's death no harm is done, since the gnome can still recall the memories that are truly important and write them down again in it's next booklet. Old gnomes usually carry several of these booklets with them or at least keep them at home stored in some prominent place, usually one for each decade or so. Many gnomes start a new booklet after certain life changing events or professions, for example as they start wandering the world or gain a new group. (This is a perfect excuse to start the game with an empty booklet, although it's cool to at least put some paragraphs in it before you start.)

Language

Most gnomes can speak both Northern and Southern trade. Northern trade being their primary language.

Art, music and literature

Art music and literature (fiction) within gnome culture, is nearly non-existing. Fiction is seen as a waste of time. If they want excitement, gnomes just go inside and play and tamper with whatever strange (magical) device their family brought home this week.

Magic

Magic within gnome culture is seen as an tool to explore the wonders of the elements, the building blocks of reality. The gnomes share the human view that magic spells are usually not worth the wait compared to their lifespan. This does not prevent gnomes from pursuing more knowledge about magic, as spells are not the real spoils of such hoarding. Gnomes believe that fundamental knowledge about the magic is far more valuable as it learns the gnome the wonders of how everything really works. Many gnomes stop their magical research just shy of actually casting spells, as at that point they already got what they came for. This has frustrated many teachers of the arcane, as they saw hard work, talent and dedication "thrown" away.

Because gnomes live more to the north of Midgard, which is closer to Asgard , they tend to have a higher change of talent for magic on birth. The ratio is close to 3 on 4 babies. Of-course, only about one in ten actually pursue this talent to the point where they can cast actual spells.

Religion

Worship of Ganinisum is the first and most practices form of religion among gnomes as it is their standard worship method. Gnomes practice this form of religion in their daily lives.

Lip service is provided to Zalsz , especially when constructing new devices or when breaking them apart to figure out how they work.

Diet

Compared to halflings, some gnomes have a tendency to overeat a little. They tend to lean more to the carnivorous side of the diet scale when compared to humans though. Gnomes usually don't eat their meals raw, even though they can digest raw foods somewhat better due to their rapid metabolism.

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