Gnome

Gnomes are descendants of dwarfs who were transformed by the influence of the Feywild during the War of Worlds.

The gnomes of Pettylin, known to the few aware of their existence as "Forest Gnomes", long ago abandoned the cavernous homes of their ancestors for isolated towns built into the massive trees of the Deep Forest. Unlike their kin in the Tillian city-states, the gnomes of Pettylin also abandoned the dwarven inclination towards engineering and tinkering, favouring instead the pursuit of pure knowledge.

Indeed, the pursuit of knowledge is considered the highest vocation and scholars are the leaders of society.

Universities are central to gnomish society and every community has at least one University that studies a host of subjects from natural science to philosophy to astronomy—every topic touching on magic in some way. An organization known as "Faculty Council" is a governing council overseeing the administration of their respective university, and often the governance of the towns that the University is located in.

However, for practical purposes, the day-to-day operations are run by other organizations reporting to the Faculty Council. The exact nature of these other organizations depends on the current dominant theories of the political science department. Gnomes of Pettylin rarely visit non-gnomish communities except for attending academic conferences or doing field work. They largely ignore the other Pettylin societies because they have little to offer in terms of pure knowledge, except for the Anthropology Departments of course. The exception would be the Wood Elves who occasionally work with the naturalist departments of various universities. Gnomish academics do have regular contact with academics in New Drowla, the Franian Kingdoms, and the Tillian city-states.

What little external trade that takes place between Forest Gnomes and the outside world is done by the Anthropology Department, although these trade deals are considered experiments by the Anthropologists.

Despite their intellectual inclinations, Forest Gnomes are quite pragmatic, and do not concern themselves with ideals of martial honour. When a gnomish town is discovered by an outsider, instead of defending themselves, the gnomes will simply move to a new location.

**Universities**

*University of Hogstonto*

This University is divided into Five colleges (Innis College, New College, Michaels College, Trinity College, University College, Victoria College, and Woodsworth College). These colleges are separate from the various departments that operate by subject and include students from all departments. There are only minor differences in approach to education and research between the colleges. There isn’t really a good reason for these different colleges to exist. And they are at constant war with each other. Riots between students and faculties of the various colleges became so common that the social fabric of Hogstonto began to breakdown. A brilliant philosopher from Victoria College came up with the solution of channeling the competitive energy into a new sport that he called Soccer. In theory, the game involves scoring a ball on a net with your feet, but after 200 years not a single goal has ever been scored. There has, however, been an average of 20 injuries per game. Rather than spontaneous riots, the rioting was now more controlled although also more regular. Another interesting tidbit about the University of Hogstonto is the Ryhigh Pretendership. Ryhigh “University” was a tradeschool located in the outskirts of Hogstonto that experimented with giving out degrees to students instead of diplomas. Enraged, the colleges of the University of Hogstonto joined forces and marched on Ryhigh “University.” For seven days the students and faculty of U of H burned and slaughtered the students of Ryhigh. Most wanted to stop after three days but the Astronomy Department insisted that seven days would have it end under an auspicious star alignment.

*Yalevard University*

Yalevard University is the most prestigious, and renowned of all the Universities.

The University's faculty and students are the most snobbish and superior that can be found in any and all the universities, and they do not fail to let all others know it.

Getting into Yalevard University is a great honour, and entire families of Forest Gnomes will scheme for generations to get just one member of their family into the University as either a student, or, better yet, a faculty member.

Dr. Koppel Schleppen is the Head of the Department of Chronurgy and Time Studies, and by virtue of this (theoretically) illustrious rank, a junior member of the Faculty Council.