Gnomic City-States

## History

During the reign of the Gnomic Dynasty marched the fabled ahus'ow akarla, the elite bodyguards of gnomish nobility.  These warriors wielded the dwarfin dar'ani dariggaḥ, which granted the ahus'ow akarla greater reach than their adversaries and, by tightening up the slack, were also quite effective against opponents who managed to close the distance. To this day, martial artists in both Thudwharaḥ and the Gnomic City-States utilize the ahus'ow akarla's techniques and styles.

The great gnomic weaponmaster Red-Bearded Agmarrh created many styles inspired by his studies of Scarhasi Kinetic Hermitism, his most famous by far is s'orn stance, based on the strange creatures of elemental earth known as xorns.  By analyzing these strange extraplanar beings, Agmarrh was able to develop a technique that is able to mimic the monster’s ability to stay constantly aware of its surroundings, teaching this secret to his most dedicated students.

## Physical Culture

### Weaponry

The dorhan derghahh (Pathfinder, 1st edition stats in *Adventurer's Armory 2* and *Dwarves of Golarion*) is a 10-foot-long chain weighted at the end by a ball of solid iron the size of a large fist. By adjusting the slack of the chain, the weapon can be used either with or without reach.

## Religion

The Gnomic City-States are the primary worshippers of the homosexual rabbit-god known as Hut'anbaon in Aoqina, and of course he is worshipped by the moon-gnomes among whom he lives with his wife Shaghei. She is worshipped by those lunar gnomes, but those devotions are much less common in the Gnomish City-States; one way that you could describe the difference is that the Academy is the primary alchemical cult in the City-States and Shaghei is a more minor one, but that on the moon, all those gnomes who woud be members of the Academy instead worship Shaghei.

In Thudwharaḥ, Face Painted with Bells is a secondary figure, overshadowed by Headless Ambrosia, whose delicious god-flesh is the reason for the dwarfs' presence on this world; in the Gnomic City-States, the situation is quite neatly reversed. Face Painted with Bells is an important figure in the religious landscape of the Gnomic City-States, both because of their marine ancestors' lunar origins and their cavern-dwelling ancestors' hunger, and Headless Ambrosia is a minor presence in their rites. Upright Tree is also a common figure in the mythology, rites, and theology of the City-States.

The gnomes of the City-States also provide cultus for their ancient ancester Merhovekh, who united the dwarf-kingdom and whose son kicked off the Gnomic Dynasty which ruled that kingdom for centuries. In remembrance of the Ttoi War a little less than 2000 years ago, the powerful nymph of the Qamanda River which encircles Ttoi and her naiad daughter who guards the Simoi, a tributary of the Qamanda, are honored widely throughout the Gnomic City-States.

One very unique aspect of religion in the Gnomic City-States is their development of the transcendentalist, ascetic, and scientific philosophy referred to simply as the Academy. In stark contrast to the Academy, if more often cooperatively than antagonistically, is the mystery cult known simply as Sivanahh. Organized around a series of initiations referred to as the Seven Veils, it posits that there is no truth, that the world is merely a series of illusions concealing other illusions, without any originating or grounding truth at their center.

Sky and Bunch of Grapes is an honored object of worship among the City-States, as is the clockwork god Exalted and its creator Jinx. Though their influence is muted, the various gods commonly worshipped by dwarfs do also find devotees among their gnomic descendants. Thus, a small but noticeable number of gnomes take on the priesthood of the Left-Handed Hummingbird, Victory, Strength, Toil, and the Bender of Metals, and these gods receive the occasional prayer or offering from gnomes, as do the dwarfin ancestor Vashanan and the archdevil Deyaghmwian.

## City-States

* Omes'a, ruled by Dyash (gnome barbarian on the path of the storm herald 6/gunslinger fighter 6/Dominion cleric 3)
* ?cnidus in asia minor?, ruled by <<Aphrodite>> (gnome bard 8/cleric 3/sorcerer 3)
* Irhere, ruled by Apolhumi (gnome champion fighter 3/bard in the college of glamour 5/divination wizard 3/Light cleric 3)
* ??, ruled by <<Ares>> (gnome cleric 7/fighter 7)
* ?ephesus in asia minor?, ruled by <<Artemis>> (gnome druid 7/ranger 7)
* ?athens?, ruled by <<Athena>> (gnome fighter 7/cleric 8)
* ??, ruled by <<Demeter>> (gnome druid 7/abjuration wizard 6)
* ?thebes?, ruled by Diwo Snuso (gnome bard in the college of glamour 6/druid in the circle of dreams 5/ranger in the fey wanderer conclave 3) ~ 7th level spell slots, with knowledge of 3rd-level bard and druid spells, and 1st-level ranger spells
	+ Cup of Forbidden Knowledge (Pathfinder, 1st edition *Horror Adventures*)
* ??, ruled by <<Hades>> (gnome fighter 8/assassin rogue 7)
* ??, ruled by <<Hecate>> (gnome wizard 7/cleric 7)
* ??, ruled by <<Hephaestus>> (gnome fighter 6/cleric 5/artificer 3)
* ?argos?, ruled by Bopish (gnome mastermind rogue 7/ornamancer wizard 8)
* ?sparta?, ruled by <<Hercules>> (gnome barbarian 6/fighter 6)
* Dhom, ruled by Emahha (gnome thief rogue 7/psionics wizard 7)
* ??, ruled by <<Hestia>> (gnome noble 13)
* ??, ruled by <<Nike>> (gnome fighter 6/cleric 6)
* ??, ruled by Pehhus'on (gnome druid in the circle of dreams 7/bard in the college of satire 3/barbarian on the path of delirium 3)
	+ Pehhus'on wields the Phallus of the Engorged Satyr (*Book of Erotic Fantasy*)
* ?corinth the party city?, ruled by <<Poseidon>> (gnome barbarian 8/druid 7)
* ??, ruled by <<Tyche>> (gnome rogue 7/cleric 3/sorcerer 3)

## Inspirations

In the past, the Gnomic Dynasty resembled a more successful version of the Merovingian Franks, ruling over the dwarfs. Now, the Gnomic City-States blend a wide range of inspirations into a single whole: Ancient Greek city-states, certain Hindu/Buddhist philosophies, Ray Harryhausen, Victorian/steampunk England, *The Story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde*, and *The Invisible Man*.

## Regional Traits (Pathfinder, 1st edition)

You can only choose these traits if you have strong cultural connection, probably since early childhood, to the Gnomic City-States.

* **Sexually Open Society:**  You come from an area where sex and sexuality are open and acknowledged aspects of existence.  In such a society, clothing is used for ornamentation and allure, not to hide breasts and genitals.  Sexual topics are valid and frequent topics for discussion.  You gain a +1 bonus on all Perform (sexual techniques) checks and sexually oriented Knowledge checks.

## Common Classes (Dungeons & Dragons, 3.x edition)

* Arcane Body (reskinned tantrist; *Book of Erotic Fantasy*)

## Common Class Options (Pathfinder, 1st edition)

### Domains

* Darkness (Moon) (*Book of the Damned*, *Dragon Empires Gazetteer*, *Dragon Empires Primer*, *Inner Sea Gods*)
* Darkness (Night) (*Advanced Player's Guide*)
* Darkness (Shadow) (*Blood of Shadows*)
* Death (Shadow) (*Blood of Shadows*)
* Void (*Book of the Damned*, *Gods and Magic*, *Horror Adventures*, *Bestiary 4*, *Inner Sea World Guide*)
* Void (Dark Tapestry) (*Horror Adventures*, *People of the Stars*, *Inner Sea Gods*, *Pathfinder #46: Wake of the Watcher*, *Paizo Blog - Golarion Day Subdomains*, *Bestiary 4*)
* Void (Stars) (*Horror Adventures*, *Bestiary 4*, *Paizo Blog - Golarion Day Subdomains*, *Pathfinder #46: Wake of the Watcher*, *Inner Sea Gods*, *People of the Stars*)

### Archetypes

* Alchemist
	+ Mad Scientist (*Horror Adventures*)
* Occultist
	+ Talisman Crafter (*Horror Adventures*)
* Slayer
	+ Family Hunter (*Horror Adventures*)

## Common Feats (Dungeons & Dragons, 3.x edition)

### Sexual Feats

* Eureka (*Book of Erotic Fantasy*)
* Self-Aware (*Book of Erotic Fantasy*)
* Serpent-Fire Rising (*Book of Erotic Fantasy*)

## Common Feats (Pathfinder, 1st edition)

### Combat Feats

* Darting Viper (*Adventurer's Armory 2*; *Dwarves of Golarion*)
* Dorhan Derghahh Master (*Adventurer's Armory 2*; *Dwarves of Golarion*)
* Stance of the Xorn (*Dwarves of Golarion*)
* Tantrum (*Gnomes of Golarion*)
* Witty Feint (*Gnomes of Golarion*)

### General Feats

* Arcane School Spirit (*Gnomes of Golarion*)
* Bewildering Koan (*Gnomes of Golarion*)
* Blood Ties (*Gnomes of Golarion*)

## Common Equipment (Dungeons & Dragons, 3.x edition)

### Alchemical Items

* Feather powder (*Book of Vile Darkness*)
* Festering bomb (*Book of Vile Darkness*)

### Armor Modifications

* Plate armor locking trap (*Book of Vile Darkness*)
* Alchemist's fire in breastplate (*Book of Vile Darkness*)

### Equipment Modifications

* Poison gas in coin purse (*Book of Vile Darkness*)

### Weapon Modifications

* Detaching axe head (*Book of Vile Darkness*)
* Spring needle trap in sword hilt (*Book of Vile Darkness*)

## Common Equipment (Pathfinder, 1st edition)

### Armor and Shields

* Steel snarlshield (*Adventurer's Armory*, *Gnomes of Golarion*)
* Wooden snarlshield (*Adventurer's Armory*, *Gnomes of Golarion*)

### Fleshcrafts

* Adhesive Slime (*Potions & Poisons*)
* Blinding Spittle Glands (*Horror Adventures*, *Pathfinder #16: Endless Night*)
* Burrowing Claws (*Horror Adventures*, *Pathfinder #16: Endless Night*)
* Carapace (*Horror Adventures*, *Pathfinder #16: Endless Night*)
* Claw Gauntlet (*Horror Adventures*)
* Darksight Eyes (*Horror Adventures*)
* Poison Fangs (*Horror Adventures*, *Pathfinder #16: Endless Night*)
* Ring of Eyes (*Potions & Poisons*)
* Webbed Appendages (*Potions & Poisons*)
* Wings of Darkness (*Horror Adventures*)

### Weapons

* Battle ladder (*Adventurer's Armory 2*, *Gnomes of Golarion*)
* Dorhan derghahh (*Adventurer's Armory 2*, *Dwarves of Golarion*)
* Flailpole (*Gnomes of Golarion*)
* Flask thrower (*Adventurer's Armory 2*, *Gnomes of Golarion*)
* Piston maul (*Adventurer's Armory 2*, *Gnomes of Golarion*)
* Ripsaw glaive (*Adventurer's Armory 2*, *Gnomes of Golarion*)
* Shrillshaft javelin (*Gnomes of Golarion*)
* Switchscythe (*Adventurer's Armory 2*)

## Common Spells (Pathfinder, 1st edition)

### Spells

* Blood ties (*Horror Adventures*)
* Compelling rant (*Horror Adventures*)

### Occult Rituals

* The hungering of shadows (*Horror Adventures*)

## Common Prestige Classes (Dungeons & Dragons, 3.x edition)

* Frenzied disciple (*Book of Erotic Fantasy*)
* Sacred prostitute (*Book of Erotic Fantasy*)

## Common Magic Items (Pathfinder, 1st edition)

* Eldritch scholar's monocle (*Horror Adventures*)
* Perilous puzzle box (*Horror Adventures*)

## Common Templates (Pathfinder, 1st edition)

* Fleshwarped creature (*Horror Adventures*)
* Familial lich (*Horror Adventures*)