Rock Gnome

The Rock Gnomes of the Cloudsea are among the creatures of Monax, who arrived in the Cloudsea from Eberron, similarly to how other creatures arrived; restless gnomes, dissatisfied with their lives, found themselves in Monax’ Burrow Mounds after awakening from a long sleep.

## Tinkers of the Burrow Mounds

Being creatures of both the earth and of a hard working nature, the Groundhog claimed them for his domain, where they find a fulfilling existence with their innate skills as craftsmen and tradeswomen. All gnomes have a bonus profession or craft they are proficient in, which can be any skill from the following list: engineer, mechanic, surveyor, tinker, alchemist, carpenter, mason, jeweler, smith, armorer, laborer, aviator OR one of forge master, constructor; one craftsperson of each being required for creating or modifying Cloudforged beings and components. The rock gnome also receives proficiency in mining, but not as a profession; instead as a hobby.

## Racial Features

* **Ability Score Increase**. Intelligence score increases by 2 and Constitution increases by 1.
* **Age**. Gnomes mature at the same rate humans do, and most are expected to settle down into an adult life by around age 40. They can live 350 to almost 500 years.
* **Size**. Gnomes are between 3 and 4 feet tall and average about 40 pounds. Size is Small.
* **Speed**. Base walking speed is 25 feet.
* **Darkvision**. Accustomed to life underground, gnomes have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. They can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. They can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
* **Gnome Cunning**. Gnomes have advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic.
* **Languages**. Gnomes can speak, read, and write Common and Gnomish. The Gnomish language, which uses the Dwarvish script, is renowned for its technical treatises and its catalogues of knowledge about the natural world.
* **Artificer’s Lore**. Whenever gnomes make an Intelligence (History) check related to magic items, alchemical objects, or technological devices, they can add twice your proficiency bonus, instead of any proficiency bonus you normally apply.
* **Tinker.** Rock Gnomes have proficiency with artisan’s tools (tinker’s tools). Using those tools, they can spend 1 hour and 10 gp worth of materials to construct a Tiny clockwork device (AC 5, 1 hp). The device ceases to function after 24 hours (unless you spend 1 hour repairing it to keep the device functioning), or when you use their action to dismantle it; at that time, they can reclaim the materials used to create it. They can have up to three such devices active at a time. When players create a device, choose one of the following options:
	+ *Clockwork Toy*. This toy is a clockwork animal, monster, or person, such as a frog, mouse, bird, dragon, or soldier. When placed on the ground, the toy moves 5 feet across the ground on each of your turns in a random direction. It makes noises as appropriate to the creature it represents.
	+ *Fire Starter*. The device produces a miniature flame, which you can use to light a candle, torch, or campfire. Using the device requires your action.
	+ *Music Box.* When opened, this music box plays a single song at a moderate volume. The box stops playing when it reaches the song’s end or when it is closed.

As with any creature on the Cloudsea, the Rock Gnomes have innate magical abilities.

## Speaking Stone

In this case they have an ability akin to Speaking Stones:

* The key to long-distance, virtually instantaneous communication are Speaking Stones. Rock Gnomes on the Cloudsea can touch a stone and use an action to cast the Sending spell from it. The target is any other speaking stone whose location or unique sequence of symbols is known by the Rock Gnome. A creature within 5 feet of the stone hears the message as if they were the target.

A Cloudsea Rock Gnome can create one Speaking Stone, whose arcane symbols correspond to their established ‘name in stone.’ Among Rock Gnome culture in the Cloudsea, gnomes who come of age are given a name in stone; a second name which they carve into the deep rock at the centre of the Burrow Mound gnome community. It’s noteworthy that the deep gnomes of the Horns have a similar culture, but instead of carving their name, they whisper it the central ‘mantle core’ deep under the base of the Horns.

The Cloudsea version of Speaking Stones however can be any mundane stone or rock that a Rock gnome comes across, however, they can only maintain one Speaking Stone at a time. The deep rock however, is established as the Speaking Stone of Bilybar Nabblezabble – a particularly well known and long lived gnome who began the tradition of carving a ‘name in stone’. As such the deep rock is a central point of communication for all Rock Gnomes.