R.P.G. Spelljammer Sandbox - Part 6 - The Glorious Gnome Empire of Mechanicles

To speak of the Glorious Gnome Empire is to tell a story about how the weak became the strong.  While not the largest faction, they have a few unique properties that makes just about anybody dread fighting them.  Most just want them to go away, but that period of peace might be coming to an end as the Gnome s get ready for the future!

Much of the world views the Gnomes with famed amusement at first.  Afterall, they are short and comical so how dangerous can they be?  But the sheer transformation of their society is unlike any other to a point of unquestioned peace and prosperity.

If only they had the wisdom to be wary of what they will unleash.

The Graveyard of the Future

 

Before we talk about the Gnomes we need to talk about a previous era.  A long time ago, the universe was threatened by a massive army of mechanical killers that only an alliance of the willing won by the narrowest of margins.  What’s left is the salvage zone, a massive field of scrab metal and debris that orbits a red Sun.  It is a dangerous place filled with automated horrors and death best to be avoided.  Most gave it a wide berth.

But not the Gnomes.  Where most species saw damnation, the Gnomes saw a bountiful harvest.  They were already at a level of Magitech that allowed them to scavenge, then repurpose and finally innovate.  They also learned the twin knowledges of standardization and progress.  They used the understanding of interchangeable parts that allowed them to build their magical war machines using economies of scale.

Worse, the Mechanicles people is obsessed that there is a weapon system that once they find it, it will allow them to conquer the universe. 

Afterall it is their duty to bring this prosperity whether everybody else likes it or not.

Government

The Governmental structure is best described as a meritocracy.  Gnomes are rigorously tested for aptitude and competency on a bimonthly basis.  They believe that such self-analysis brings out the best in everybody for the goal of galactic domination.  Besides their own assignment they answer to their team lead and in return they answer to their petty officer-manager.  This weird hybrid title that mixes navel terms and corporate structure goes up until you reach their leader: the G.G.G.G. or Greatest of the Great Gnome Genius.  This fearless leader provides a vision that all others follow for their inevitable success as a species.

Society

One of the great myths is that Gnomes are antisocial.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Gnomes like people and are very happy to talk with anybody (which unfortunately leads to Gnomesplaning).  However, their culture is so radically different that Gnomes come across as Alien.

For starters, Gnomes are notorious for being uber lawful, being obsessive planners, fanatical schedule-makers, and neat freaks on the border of being obsessive compulsive about it.  While it makes them systematic and ruthless, it is possible, for example, to throw a group into chaos just by throwing paint at the wall and watching them drop everything to clean up the mess.

This does not mean they are boring.  They are often involved in a strange ritual called “team building exercises” that they seem to enjoy.  They also consider pranks in the workplace to be an art form (followed by obsessive clean up).

Genders of all types are considered equal.  The Gnomes aren't sexist, but they like sexy much to the dismay of the other species.  Their preferred form of procreation is that of using clone tanks designed for personal optimization.  Baby Gnomes are raised lovingly by the community.

Gnomes and Automation

To be a Gnome is to be in the lap of luxury at the push of a button.  Autognomes and Warforged swell their numbers and are often used as ground troops, supported by Golems.  In fact, it’s rare that a Gnome goes down to deal with a conflict directly:  automated defenses are much more civilized.

Furthermore, the Gnomes often build magitech suits that allow them to be bigger stronger and above all else, taller.

They also like their magitech guns that are known for their flashing lights and pew pew sounds.

Their ships also reflect this mentality.  A Gnome ship can often punch far above its weight class for all the insane tricks and capabilities that have been added in the name of progress.  As they build a bigger and bigger fleet, it’s only going to get more dangerous over time.

Gnomes and Giant Space Hamsters

Where other species may have dogs or cats, the gnomes love their giant space hamsters.  While large, they are easily trained and often can be used to do simple tricks, like fire that cannon.  Some of the older Gnome ships use treadmill magitech devices specifically so the giant space hamsters can be used as a power source in an emergency.

Gnomes and Religion: The New Gods

 

You wouldn’t believe it, but Gnomes are very religious. They are quite literally near their god’s realm of existence: Quintessence space.

It is a world dominated by a Blackhole and two planets in the same orbit.

This is the home of the New Gods.

New gods start small and swim in schools of thousands amongst the dead gods of the astral sea no unlike glittering color flashes of fish among the coral.

Occasionally they will awe and inspire those that visit, gaining worship of a sort and starting the long jaunt to divinity.

When they do, these young gods must fight for dominance. The Domains are finite. The new gods must either seek out unoccupied domains that suit them or in extreme cases...make a vacancy.

Finally, the New Gods are not humanoid, but are designed for flying through space. Instead of God needing a spaceship, God is a spaceship.  They do is create “avatars” for humanoid interaction.

The two Factions are split into factions between order and chaos. This is often described as "New Gods, Old Ways."

The New Gods of Order control Quintessence space,

The New Gods of Chaos control External Space.

The New God's equivalent of a divine familiar is known as a pod. It is a small flying critter that helps whom they are assigned to in the hopes they will get fame and fortune to become a full god.

The legendary Spelljammer is an exiled new god that was birthed between two star crossed lovers: one of order and one of chaos. It is sought as those that get the Spelljammer will be able to rule the universe.  This is one of the things the Gnomes are looking for.

While there are many new gods, the Gnome of Mechanicles have a new goddess that they worship above all others:

Mandy the G.O.A.T. - the goddess of progress, networking, and popularity.

Since they know where her planet is, she checks in regularly for her “fans.”

 

Dyson

The great builder has been feared and respected for thousands of years and while no one is quite sure where he is, he has left massive examples of his handiwork across the universe/