Gnomish Hierarchy

The **Gnomish Hierarchy** was a major power in Cannor during much of the ancient and early medieval period (1127 BA - 470 AA). It consisted of gnomish and halfling peoples. It was destroyed during the Dragonwake, but eventually re-established by revanchists from the Nimscodd Hierarchy.

## History

### Pre-History

The gnomes were originally a semi-nomadic people living in the hills of the Dragonheights, safely away from the tribes of Cannor. The gnomes were an isolated people and had little trust of outsiders. They held especial disdain with their less-civillized cousins, the halflings, whom the gnomes claimed pushed their ancestors off the fertile land and into the mountains.

Over time, the gnomes regained their confidence and migrated down to the lowlands, settling on arable plains. The new agricultural power, combined with an abundance of wood and untapped fish made the lowland settlements very rich. The majority of the gnomes eventually migrated to the lowlands, transitioning from decentralized hill-people to an urban civilization centered around a palace economy.

### Age of Beasts

In 1127 BA, the Gnomish Lowlands was divided between many bickering city-states, most of them dotted around the Oddanroy River. During this time the city-states funded the creation of Royvibobb, a fort tasked with guarding the gnomish borders to the east. Any invaders would have to go through Royvibobb or face a war of attrition in the hills.

In Autumn 1127, a large group of human & halfling marauders broke through Royvibobb and the Gnomish Pass. The raiders laid waste to to the region, pillaging and burning. Unbeknownst to the city-states, this was masterminded by the rulers of Royvibobb to weaken the city-states and unify the gnomish people. With the help of the raiders (who were brought in with a promise of riches and tribute from the new government, not to mention an open gateway into the Lowlands), the city-states' armies were destroyed. Royvibobb annexed the entire Lowlands and announced the formation of the Gnomish Hierarchy.

As for the barbarian invaders, they were met with a full-strength Royvibobbian army as they tried to return to their homelands. They were promptly killed or enslaved. Historians have called this turn of events "deviously gnomish".

### Early Castanorian Period

With a unified gnomish state, the Hierarchy gradually expanded its rule across the Dragonheights and became a major center of trade in the ancient world. It exported gems and metals to local tribes as well as the Early Castan's Empire and Kheterata.

In this period, the Hierarchy aided Castanor's attempt to colonize the shores of the Dameshead. Gnomes aided in the founding of Vertesk and Damenath, and helped protect the region against barbarian incursions.

Castanor and the Hierarchy partitioned Western Cannor amongst themselves. The Hierarchy subjugated various human and halfling tribee, and also founded the city of Beepeck. With the fertile lands of the Small Province under their control, along with a halfling workforce who had farmed the area since antiquity, the Hierarchy underwent a population boom.

### Greater Castanorian Period

This period saw the Hierarchy at its height of wealth and power. Relations with Castanor turned sour, and the Hierarchy supported the Damerian Republic in the War of the Cerulean League. For the Republic's early years, the Hierarchy was its staunch ally, seeing it as a buffer state and balance against Castanor.

This alliance was short-lived, however, and for much of the period the Hierarchy would see itself at war with both the Damerian Republic and Greater Castan's Empire for dominance of the continent.

### Dragonwake and the Kobold Rising

In 470 AA, the Kobold Rising saw countless kobolds emerge from the depths of the Dragonheights and attack the Gnomish Hierarchy. Kobold victories caused the Hierarchy to focus its military attention on the heartland of the Dragondowns. This left its newer holdings in the Small Country and Beepeck victim to countless raids, as well as settlement by barbarian migrants fleeing westwards.

The Kobold Rising saw many gnomes enslaved, as well as the sack and destruction of many gnomish cities, including Oddansbay. After the Rising, the Gnomish Hierarchy was reduced to the island of Nimscodd. Its mainland territory was settled by various kobolds and barbarian migrants.

### Legacy

The shattered Hierarchy was succeeded by its fleeing remnants which eventually formed the Portnamm, Giberd, and Nimscodd hierarchies. During that period, over half the gnomish population was displaced and scattered throughout Cannor. The gnomes mostly settled in the aforementioned successor states, but others went to Lorent or major cities such as Anbenncóst and Beepeck.

Despite the gnomes' misfortune, many continued to dream of retaking of the Dragon Coast. Giberd was known to offer aid to those wishing to retake the region, and various others peoples of Cannor were also sympathetic to the gnomish cause. However it was the islanders of Nimscodd who eventually wrested the coast from the kobold tribes. They triumphantly reestablished the Gnomish Hierarchy as a technocratic state.

Another successor to the Hierarchy was the Small Kingdom, a halfling-ruled rump state comprised of part of the Small Province. The Kingdom received many gnomish refugees in its cities. They excelled in jewelmaking and craftsmanship, which would form the economic backbone of the country before its invasion and partition. The Small Country revolt would take inspiration from the Kingdom in the establishing of their republic.

## Military

The Hierarchy in its modern form relies primarily on subterfuge and diplomacy. It is fond of pitting enemies against each other while working in the shadows.

If this does not suffice, the Hierarchy has a long tradition of few-but elite military forces. Their tactics favor skirmishes and ambushes, with heavy use of artificery. They also employ a periphery of non-gnomish mercenaries or vassals to fill out the rest of the army.

## Institutions

Hierarchy Commission for the Regulation of Social Norms: The government department handling public moral considerations. They ensure classification, regulation, and labeling of media so citizenry can make their own choices, and so that descriptions of the Bayscodd Company's productions aren't left where children can stumble upon.