NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5254769" data-attributes="member: 92511">Halflings: revise & GnomesReally should have paid attention to which copy of my material I was posting. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> ...and I missed Gnomes entirely.Coming soon, the Zepharim (they just need a little editing).Halflings Halflings on Orea, sometimes called "Hairfeet" by the big folk  ("vaaria" by the elves) but call themselves the Dalvar, are concerned  with the usual joys of hearth and home. They do enjoy the rural comforts  of family and farming, food and drink but many a hairfoot wanders the  realms of Orea seeking fortune, adventure, or just a life beyond the  simplicity of their villages. They live in fairly large communities called Dales. There are  several in the Kiari Hills in Embrar and the Hollow Hills in the  Freelands. However, other villages of "halflings" are not uncommon and  lone or wandering hairfeet can be found in most any environment. Their communities are usually burrowed out of the sides of hills and mounds but also  utilize above ground dwellings such as stables and inns. Halflings of Orea are a bit more active and fiesty when it comes  to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (whatever one defines  their "happiness" to be) than the well fed, pipe loving, countryfolk that is the commonly accepted image of a Tolkien  "Hobbit." (not that an Orean halfling wouldn't enjoy a good pipe if he had one) They are often much more trim and toned with a vivacity that  other races often find infectious...or exasperating. Hairfeet stand three to three and a half feet tall. They have  pointed ears and large eyes. Hair color is the same on their feet as  their head and ranges from black to brown with blond and red being less  common. Eye color is overwhelmingly brown with some occasions of  grey-blue or hazel-green. Gnomes Gnomes from Orea live in small communities called "Warrens" in the foothills and  mountain valleys across Orea. A warren is generally a collection of 5-20 families. While sounding rather small, it should be noted that the average gnome family consists of about 35-50 members spanning 3 generations...that's average. The warren is "ruled" by a council of the elders (male and female) from each family tree. There are a few locales of large  concentrations including the Onyx Hills in the Duchy of Denil and the  southern foothills of the Zarchan mountains.On the whole gnomes are  industrious and peace loving. For the most part, they enjoy keeping to  themselves, their homes, mines, and workshops. They are known for their  craftsmanship particularly with gemstones and woodworking, and their  taste for trickery which usually manifests itself in their love for  telling jokes and riddles but sometimes can take on a darker slant. This  latter trait has taught the other races of Orea to view gnomes with a  skeptical eye and questioning ear. Particularly in trade. In appearance, gnomes are distinct from their dwarven cousins in a  number of ways. Their height usually averages between three and a half to  four feet. Their skin is a golden tan (those living primarily above ground- often labeled as "forest gnomes" by other races) to deep ruddy brown (considered "true gnomes"). A variety of skin tones can be found within families and warrens and there is no distinction among gnomes as to which is dominant or more desirable. Gnome eyes are large and brilliantly colored, like gemstones.  Shades of blue, green and violet are the most common, but amber, turquoise, pinks, silver grey, and black are not unknown. Gnomish noses are usually very round and bulbous, male noses generally being larger than females. Gnomes, like all  of the stout races have four-fingered hands. They also have pointed ears  similar to halflings. It is a little unclear how long gnomes live- those interested receive figures from 50 to 5,000 depending on the gnome you ask. (According to the Miralostae, the average gnome lifespan is somewhere between 1-2,000.)Hair color is most  commonly black, shades of grey or brown among males, lighter browns, blonds or reds  among females. Though lighter haired males or darker haired females do occur. It has become quite the fad among the younger generations (those less than 100 years old) to dye their hair, either totally or in streaks with various natural or illusory magics of all manner of outlandish/rainbow colors. This practice is most common among females, but has been seen among young gnome males as well...several of whom have also taken to the "outrageous" habit of shaving, either entirely or in part (leaving goatees, soul patches or other facial hair designs as opposed to the full beards of their elders)! MOST gnomish men wear beards and are meticulous in its  keeping. While gnome women are prone to grow their hair to waist length and then braid and knot it up in a variety of creative fashions. Women often adorn their hair with brightly colored ribbons, clips and holders of finely crafted metals and gemstones.Gnomes have a somewhat flamboyant sense of  fashion, preferring to wear bright, often clashing, colors. They are  particularly proud of their shoes which have large upturned  curled toes. A gnome is generally judged (among other gnomes) on the  condition/appearance of his beard (or her hair) and shoes.Gnomish names are a complicated thing. They are generally 4-7 syllables in length, and difficult for humans to pronounce. They use 1 or 2 syllable shortened nicknames with family and those they befriend. Many male gnome names begin with "Gn". Many female names begin with "Kn" and usually do not  exceed 5 syllables. Though given their innate trickery (and often shady dealings) most gnomes have at least two or three different aliases that they use in the larger world (those outside their home warren). For these they'll use any and all letters. One can never be sure, in dealing with a gnome, if their known name is their actual one...unless you ask their mother. Gnomish surnames are similar to those of dwarves and halflings: environmentally or occupationally descriptive and commonly dealing with nature, hills or rocks (particularly precious or semi-precious stones), woods and woodland animals, mining or craftsmanship. Some sample gnomish names in Orea are:Male- Gnimilious (Gnim), Gnarendolouis  (Gned), Gnixiliansernap (Gnix or Gnikki or Gnaps), Beverbevinops, Mormollitaine, ZarachiusFemale- Knellangara  (Knel or Knara), Knori, Kneellee, Knira, Knaranka (Knanka), Dellasida, Lora, Loolu, Faelin.  Sample gnomish family/clan names: Jasper, Quartzminer, Hardstone, Woodclamp, Badgernose, Dullpick, Birdcall, Brookjump, Diamondbeard, Greenbreeze.</blockquote>

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