Gnomehearth

The homeland of gnomes, a land of ingenuity and industry in the mountains south of the wood elves of Londar.

History
One does not simply ask about the history of Gnomehearth, unless they are prepared for a three hour lecture by a very enthusiastic gnome about various dynastic feuds and trade disputes. Compared to the bloody history of most human realms, the gnomes had a fairly peaceful history where most conflicts were resolved by an excessive amount of debate instead of large-scale violence.

Courage of the Gnomes
It is common for other races to underestimate the gnomes, but in A.I. 37 during the Century of Conquest they showed the world their true quality. When the threat of the expanding Imperium became apparent the gnome city states banded together to form unified resistance to the invaders. No one expected the tiny gnomes to put up much of a fight, but - to the surprise of the entire continent - the gnomes managed something none of the great empires and kingdoms of the past could: they defeated the Imperial Legion in open battle, a feat that fills the heart of every gnome with pride to this day. (Note that the Encyclopedia Imperium disputes this being an actual victory for the gnomes as their army was subsequently wiped out by an Edict, allowing the Legion to quickly regroup and conquer Gnomehearth.)

Life
Although most of the population are gnomes, other races are also welcome in their cities. This hospitality and the famed gnomish expertise in all manners of industry has led to a form of "pilgrimage" in certain professions: one has to spend at least several years as an apprentice under a gnome master before any guild would recognize them as a master craftsman. Most gnome towns and cities are independent, there is no formal structure binding them together. But when external threats arise the gnomes put aside all their differences and unite towards a common goal.

The gnome cities are run by a complex and strange system of bureaucracy with elected officials, respected elders and career bureaucrats at every level interacting in a bizarre way that is almost incomprehensible to everyone but the gnomes. While they do have nobility, it is very different from the rigid dynastic system of humans, and it relies more on the renown of the individual families, which allows well-respected commoners to become nobles and also for a old noble dynasties to fall due to the acts of several "bad apples".