Gnome (race)

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This article is about the race. For the monster, see Gnome.

Gnomes are one of the most concentrated races, other than humans. Not only do the gnomes have their own empire, but they also have their own food, clothes, transportation, quests, and even semi-popular minigames called Gnome Ball and the Gnome Restaurant. The Gnome race is primarily located in Kandarin.

Gnomes: the people

Gnomes are much like in real-world folklore. They appear as short men, women, and children, about two to three feet tall (about 0.6 to 1 meters). The gnomes are very human-like, and they often dress in green tunics and trousers, with red or green pointed hats. In many ways, they appear similar to dwarves, although unlike dwarves they rarely have facial hair and have pointed ears similar to the elves.

Gnomes are often regarded as more intelligent than most other races, and have a higher standard of living. Gnomes generally love nature, making their homes in treetops and living in heavily wooded forests. Despite their usually peaceful nature[1], gnomes are militarily experienced due to territory disputes and harassment from other races, such as goblins and humans. They mount prehistoric terrorbirds and battle tortoises to make up for their small size. Most Gnomes, even civilians, carry bows, and some carry metal weaponry in combat. Incidentally, following the Glouphrie incident, gnomes have developed a general kind of distrust of mages.[2][3]

Crystal Singing Bowl in Brimstail's cave

Gnomes are a highly diplomatic race, holding alliances with many other mortal races, both in and outside Kandarin. In many large cities and unexplored areas, gnome ambassadors, researchers, or explorers can often be found attempting to increase their knowledge of the world. Gnomes are unique culturally: they love cooking, music, animals and inventing new things. They are also infamous pranksters and are well known for their own sport, Gnome Ball.

Gnomes are perhaps the most technologically advanced race on the mainland, rivaled only by the dwarves. One of their most notable invention is the gnome glider, an aerial transport system used both in combat and peace. Other technological innovations include their ballistic military devices, their invention of the parachute, and their knowledge of elven crystal equipment.

Many believe the gnomes follow the god of balance, Guthix. There is much evidence to support this; gnomish mages generally use Claws of Guthix in combat, Hazelmere mentions his loyalty to Guthix, Hudo shouting "Great Guthix!" when showing him giant frog legs, Gnome children may recite a prayer to Guthix when spoken to, and the player mentions at one point that they thought Guthix created the gnomes and dwarves as the first races. Additionally, the Battle mages who are aligned with Guthix are gnomes. Guthix himself, in the God letters, has expressed deep fondness for the Gnomes.[4]

According to Saradomin, "As I understand it, the gnomes speak their own tongue, yet are also fluent in the common language used by humans within the world, allowing communication to be made between the races." Their own tongue is called Ancient Gnomish.

History of gnomes

In the Second Age, gnomes dwelt on Gielinor with dwarves, elves and humans. They built great and powerful cities, and many technologies from that period cannot be reproduced today, even with all their wisdom and intelligence.

Prior to the God Wars, the gnomes and elves were engaged in an economic partnership that was severed as the conflict in question grew.[5]

During the God Wars, gnomes did not fight in the wars; like the dwarves, they hid underground.[6]

Unlike the dwarves however, the gnomes returned to the surface right at the beginning of the Fourth Age during the Great Migration to found their new city, the Tree Gnome Stronghold— most of which was built by the famous engineer and architect, Oaknock.[7] This began with the planting of the Grand Tree, with other settlements to follow in its creation, such as the Tree Gnome Village. The gnomes engaged in a beneficial alliance with the elves and humans, wherein each party saw mutual prosperity under a peace agreement. When the elves left late in the Fourth Age, the gnomes began to quarrel with the goblins from the south who were driven out from Feldip Hills by ogres and seeking a new place to settle.[8] Eventually, with the help of Glouphrie's illusion tricks, they managed to scare goblins even further north.[9]

Glouphrie the Untrusted
Glouphrie the Untrusted

They still thrive today, although they are currently at war with the humans under the command of General Khazard. However, there is internal strife seen within the gnome community. The misanthropic Glough persistently tries to incite an attack on humanity, spawned from the continuous heinous mistreatment of his kin by such aggressors as Khazard and his army. He has made efforts to enter into a partnership with Ape Atoll in order to see to his goals of eliminating the human threat to gnomes at large. Glouphrie the Untrusted is the most notable figure of opposition to the monarchy, who has a history of subverting the throne and manipulating the rulership for their own undisclosed, ominous goals, as well as spying on the Tree Gnome Stronghold. He is currently said to reside in a hidden city called Arposandra and is, himself, making connections with the more unsavory elements of the Keldagrim dwarves.

Gnome monsters

There are 2 non-humanoid domesticated creatures who fight alongside the gnomes, those are the Tortoise and the Terrorbird. It is common to see gnomes mounted upon these creatures.

Gnomes themselves are quite a low level, and it's common to see them below level 90 (5 historical). These low level gnomes can be stolen from at level 75 Thieving, giving 198.5 experience and one of several items.

Gnome settlements

The Gnomes only have two cities in total. Those being the Tree Gnome Stronghold and Tree Gnome Village. The gnome Hazelmere lives on a small islet on the eastern coast of Kandarin, and a ship yard in eastern Karamja may also be considered a gnome settlement.

Gnome cooking

The Gnomes have a very sophisticated sense of taste and so they make and eat gourmet foods and cocktails. With a bit of training, the player can also make Gnomish food and drinks. The ingredients for these foods can be purchased from Hudo, Heckel Funch, or looted from gnomes using the Thieving skill.

Gnome clothing

Gnome clothing such as cream, turquoise, pink, green, and blue robes, hats, and boots can be found in the clothing store in the Grand Tree, located on the 1st floor[UK]2nd floor[US].

Their small pockets are why they require level 75 Thieving to pickpocket them.

Transportation

The Gnomes have a few different types of transportation available to humans. One method is to use the Spirit trees (requiring the Tree Gnome Village quest to unlock) and another being the Gnome Glider (requiring The Grand Tree). Both methods of transportation feature several destinations that are locked behind additional quests or, in the case of spirit trees, a sufficient Farming level.

  • Gnome Glider
    Gnome Glider
  • Spirit Tree
    Spirit Tree

Notable gnomes

Quests

References

  1. ^ "Glough's Journal". Old School RuneScape. "We are small and at heart not warriors but something must be done! We will pick up arms and go forth into the human world!"
  2. ^ Brimstail in The Eyes of Glouphrie. Old School RuneScape. "Excellent, it's so rare I can find someone discuss my researches, most gnomes seem to find it all very tedious. [...] Well that's true. These days, apart from a few combat spells, most gnomes seem a bit suspicious of mages."
  3. ^ King Narnode Shareen in The Eyes of Glouphrie. Old School RuneScape. "Glouphrie! Now we know what he has been up to all these years. Gah! Never trust a Mage."
  4. ^ God Letter 12: "Guthix Manifests". RuneScape God Letters. Jagex.
  5. ^ "Eastern Discovery". Old School RuneScape. "They found a land in chaos; many of the races that had been dominant before the end of the God Wars were on the edge of extinction or had simply vanished. The gnome city, which in years past had good trade with the elves, was now little more than a village."
  6. ^ "Glough's Journal". Old School RuneScape. "After spending half a century hiding underground you would think that the great migration would have improved life on Gielinor for tree gnomes."
  7. ^ Brimstail in The Eyes of Glouphrie. Old School RuneScape.
  8. ^ Hazelmere in The Eyes of Glouphrie. Old School RuneScape. "Let us travel back in time, to the time you humans call the Fourth Age. King Healthorg had become King. The elves mysteriously decided to travel west, leaving most of Kandarin open for conquest. The humans weren't here yet, only King Healthorg and the gnomes to the north, and a collection of Goblin tribes to the south. Both armies moved to claim the lands, and were of course destined to meet in battle... And so it came to pass the Goblins and Gnome armies met at the battle of Atarisundri"
  9. ^ Hazelmere in The Eyes of Glouphrie. Old School RuneScape. "Both sides faced each other on the Battlefield. A bloody battle was in prospect, our gnomes were brave, but we were no match for the mass of brute goblin stupidity...
    ...but Glouphrie and King Healthorg had devised a plan...
    ...If you don't lead an invincible army - pretend you do...
    And so, Glouphrie created an army of illusory Giant tortoises, knowing that goblins would be scared of anything bigger than they were."
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