Rock gnome Rock gnomes are a curious , childlike race very much unlike their cousins , the " svirfneblin " or deep gnomes and the forest gnome s . When most people think of gnome s , they are thinking of the rock gnome . Rock gnomes embody the characteristics of their creator and patron deity , Garl Glittergold , choosing to spend their long lives by filling each day with as much fun and enjoyment as possible . Description . Rock gnomes are typically between 3 to 3½ feet tall and weigh anywhere from 40 to 45 lbs . They possess a natural brownish tint to their skin ; the presence or absence of light has little effect upon it . Young rock gnomes possess any of a large number of hair colors that fades to gray or white upon reaching adulthood . Male gnomes typically keep beards groomed in a neat manner . Personality . Rock gnomes possess many of the traits other races , particularly humans , attribute to children . Most rock gnomes enjoy life to their very fullest ; asking questions endlessly , playing pranks on friends and strangers , and finding new and interesting hobbies are just a few of the countless chores that rock gnomes burden each day with . Much like a child , a rock gnome possesses very little tolerance for long term mental focus unless the task at hand is of notable interest . While their joyful , child - like viewpoint of life gives the impression that a rock gnome would be incapable of achieving something as mundane as physical labor , rock gnomes manage to use their keen intelligences to turn something as generally unexciting as work into a fun and enjoyable expenditure of their time and energy . Society . Rock gnomes gather in small towns , rarely reaching 500 adults . They consider large cities to be uncomfortable , partially because of the great amount of demand the Big Folk have for their skills . Rock gnomes are comfortable deep underground almost as much as on the surface world , possessing skill in ore and gemcutting that surpasses that of the dwarves , along with notable skills in toymaking and clockwork engineering . Rock gnomes are also the finest producers of the new weapons known as " gun s . " Rock gnome homes are burrows , small but clean cave - like carvings into stone and hillsides . Married gnome couples have rooms for each to use , though rock gnome children generally sleep together in a single room . Rock gnome burrows are constructed by clan , allowing underground tunnels to conjoin one another for defense and other purposes . Although rock gnomes can theoretically be of any alignment , the majority of rock gnomes , as a culture , lean towards neutral good . Rock gnomes will aid someone in need and oppose all who would impose their will upon those weaker than them . Religion . Rock gnomes typically possess a nonchalant reverence of their chosen deity , bringing up the name of their god in any form of conversation as if they were refering to a friend . Rock gnomes rarely go to church and possess no particularly great amount of zeal towards the worship of their pantheon of gods . In typical gnomish manner , the gnomish gods require no particularly impressive display of faith , being more interested in following their own admittably mundane agendas . Most rock gnomes worship the head of the gnomish pantheon , Garl Glittergold , considering him to be the idealized gnome , personifying mischief and merry - making . Relations with other races . Rock gnomes are especially easy going with dwarves and halfling s , especially those who appreciate a good joke . They are typically more cautious and subdued around the Big Folk ( human s , elves and the other medium size humanoids ) , taking a considerably longer time ( a day longer , perhaps ) to consider them a friend and ally . They consider all forms of goblinkin to be extremely untrustworthy and give them a very wide berth if possible . Homelands . Rock gnomes roam the lands of Faerûn far and wide , using their impressive natural intelligence as inventors , mages , and other positions which require mechanical aptitude or just sheer knowledge of their surroundings . Rock gnomes who choose to study the paths of arcane magic typically choose the school of illusion , which they often use to enhance storytelling or defending their small villages from goblinoid attack . Rock gnomes are also found commonly in the Western Heartlands , the Dalelands , and the woodlands between the Great Dale and Thesk .