Ghalmard

Ghalmard is a gnomish kingdom of southeastern Ruencia.
Capital: GimbuluphusPopulation:Government: Confederacy of small gnomish villages under the sway of a number of clan leaders who meet yearly to discuss issues.Allies: Eternal Forest,Rivals: Igonia, Pengaldia, Venteel. There was some incidents with Trynser, but the Empire has learned to deal carefully with Ghalmard.Religion: Gnomish faith.Exports: The Ghalmardi gnomes often trade in small living objects such as bonsai-type trees or rocks with decorative patterns of lichen growing upon them, but the Ghalmardi are most known as a source of illicit drugs such as opium, hashish, and especially hallucinogenic mushrooms. Imports: The Ghalmardi use little steel as a rule, but whatever small need they have for it must be met by imports.Alignment: Neutral GoodLanguage: GnomishSlavery: Illegal in all forms.The gnomes of Ghalmard believe strongly that their society should interfere with the natural world as little as possible. The Galmard gnomes create their homes out of natural shelter, whether it be a living cave or a well shaded copse of shrubbery. They cut no live lumber, taking their wood from dead trees and branches. Their food comes from natural fruits, seeds, and grains whenever possible, and they take what little meat they do from excess populations of edible game.
The goblinoid races that plague Ruencia have been annihilated from Ghalmard with a religious fervor, and many of the green ones have been displaced to the neighboring countries where they brood waiting for revenge. At times, other neighboring countries including Pengaldia, Thissaly, and Trynser have mistaken the lack of urban settlement for open lands that were fair game. Each nation has been chased out by hordes of forest creatures and diabolically prankish gnomes.
A big difference in opinion many years ago led to a rift with the gnomes of Igonia, once part of the same gnomish culture. The Ghalmardi feel that the Igonians have turned their little backs on the natural world for a world of invention and magic. The Igonans feel that the Ghalmardi are backwards yokels who do nothing but get toasted all day.
Ghalmard is infamous as the source of a lot of mind altering drugs, such as opium, hashish, and hallucinagenic mushrooms. The Ghalmardi eagerly export these products as a “social benefit” for their neighbors, apparently in earnest. The Ghalmardi mindset does not recognize these drugs as the source of serious social problems that cripple and plague their victims, and it supposed by some that there may be some sort of different response between the Ghalmardi and other races to the drugs. However, observation bears out that a Ghalmardi gnome gets just as baked by these drugs as the other races. The gnomish bent towards illusionary magic combined with their hallucinagenic habits often has disturbing results.
They happily ship their favorite exports to all takers. Merchants and officials have learned to be wary of Ghalmardi exports.
Settlements:Gimbuluphus: 10,000
Pilliwadin: 5,000
Category:Ruencia
Category:Gnomes
Category:Ghalmard