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The Councils of the Small and the Silly - the religious practices of Halfings and Gnomes
100 Geek Cred points if you get the reference.
I should start by saying that my halflings are a mixture of the Tolkien extended-metaphor-for-the-innocence-of-Britain and the rather odd turn D&D took in making the official halflings sort of pseudo-Romany nomads. In Europe, there is a large colony of halflings living where Switzerland is today. They farm for the dwarf clans of the mountains, and get protection in exchange. Being surrounded by natural barriers and fierce warriors sworn to defend them allow these halflings to enjoy the bucolic, Shire-like existence we associate with hairy-footed short people. Outside of this idyllic agrarian paradise, other halflings do travel about in groups of wagons and carts. I'm seeing these as more recent arrivals in Europe, pushed out of their homes by barbarian migrations or warfare. These halfling do fill the traditional roles of wandering circuses, complete with pickpockets. The two groups of halflings have a strong dislike for each other. The Shireland halflings see the wanderers as disreputable thieves, while the While the wanderers see the other side as fat, complacent gits with no clue about the real world.
( Read more... )
My gnomes are also a mash-up of different influences. I've always liked the "mad mechanics" aspect given to them in RPGs, so I've stuck with that. My gnomes are a bit like Moties crossed with the Adeptus Mechanicus from WH40K. They see the universe as a machine, and the God of Law as the perfect controlling machine.
One of the great mysteries about the gnomes is where they came from. Unlike the other races, who can trace their origins to the beginning of life, the gnomes just appeared in some dwarven mines a thousand years ago. It is suspected that a dwarf enchanter may have created the race to serve as assistants, but this can not be confirmed. But all dwarf communities know that leaving a deep burrow of gnomes unwatched is dangerous. Because they will start improving things. Then building new things. Lots of new things.
Almost nothing is known about their actual religion. One of the problems is the gnomish tongue is completely unintelligible to outsiders. It is extremely high-pitched and is described by many as a series of chirps and whistles. Another barrier is the fact that gnomes carve tunnels to their comfort level. Very few humans can fit through an opening designed for a being standing two feet tall. What is known is that the gnomes see the universe as a machine that has been knocked out of alignment by the existence of both Good and Evil. Shockingly to many, the gnomes seem to believe that only when both these deities are destroyed will paradise be achieved. Beyond that, nothing is known about the rituals or clerical orders of the gnomes. Even those gnomes who venture forth into world are extremely reluctant to discuss matters of faith.
Next up, I make my wizards into Medieval Jews! Whee!
Comments?
I should start by saying that my halflings are a mixture of the Tolkien extended-metaphor-for-the-innocence-of-Britain and the rather odd turn D&D took in making the official halflings sort of pseudo-Romany nomads. In Europe, there is a large colony of halflings living where Switzerland is today. They farm for the dwarf clans of the mountains, and get protection in exchange. Being surrounded by natural barriers and fierce warriors sworn to defend them allow these halflings to enjoy the bucolic, Shire-like existence we associate with hairy-footed short people. Outside of this idyllic agrarian paradise, other halflings do travel about in groups of wagons and carts. I'm seeing these as more recent arrivals in Europe, pushed out of their homes by barbarian migrations or warfare. These halfling do fill the traditional roles of wandering circuses, complete with pickpockets. The two groups of halflings have a strong dislike for each other. The Shireland halflings see the wanderers as disreputable thieves, while the While the wanderers see the other side as fat, complacent gits with no clue about the real world.
( Read more... )
My gnomes are also a mash-up of different influences. I've always liked the "mad mechanics" aspect given to them in RPGs, so I've stuck with that. My gnomes are a bit like Moties crossed with the Adeptus Mechanicus from WH40K. They see the universe as a machine, and the God of Law as the perfect controlling machine.
One of the great mysteries about the gnomes is where they came from. Unlike the other races, who can trace their origins to the beginning of life, the gnomes just appeared in some dwarven mines a thousand years ago. It is suspected that a dwarf enchanter may have created the race to serve as assistants, but this can not be confirmed. But all dwarf communities know that leaving a deep burrow of gnomes unwatched is dangerous. Because they will start improving things. Then building new things. Lots of new things.
Almost nothing is known about their actual religion. One of the problems is the gnomish tongue is completely unintelligible to outsiders. It is extremely high-pitched and is described by many as a series of chirps and whistles. Another barrier is the fact that gnomes carve tunnels to their comfort level. Very few humans can fit through an opening designed for a being standing two feet tall. What is known is that the gnomes see the universe as a machine that has been knocked out of alignment by the existence of both Good and Evil. Shockingly to many, the gnomes seem to believe that only when both these deities are destroyed will paradise be achieved. Beyond that, nothing is known about the rituals or clerical orders of the gnomes. Even those gnomes who venture forth into world are extremely reluctant to discuss matters of faith.
Next up, I make my wizards into Medieval Jews! Whee!
Comments?
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