Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sabre 01-06-04, 03:45 PM	Just an idea that sprang from the Ed Greenwood thread about the new elven kingdom. Lashan had inquired about the retaking of the lost dwarven kingdom of Tethyamar. This in itself is a great "epic" dwarven quest to retake the lost kingdom. A number of posters had stated that they desired more input for dwarves, gnomes, and halflings. The taking of Tethyamar is basic, simple as it gets dwarvish quest. The motivation is simple. I began to think of what would be an epic gnomish or halfling adventure or quest? As a player, I've only played a bladesinger and a human fighter so I'm not quite sure where to go. I'm not asking you for just an adventure or quest but a motivation. Can you post a true reason why most gnomes or halflings would engage in the idea you are submitting. I'm asking you to put your roleplaying caps on for your ideas.
Gotrex 01-06-04, 04:18 PM	translating the dwarven quest directly into a gnomish oen you could have svirfneblin (deep gnomes) retaking blingdenstone both races have a lack of large kingdoms so you could have some rather ambitiouse epic gnomes or halflings try to carve out a sizable kingdom in an inhospitable but empty (in terms of civilisation that is) land such as the stonelands also you could endanger an existing gnome or halfling society with forces far greater than they can muster and have the PCs save them this would work expecialy well if the halfling/gnome society has a large temple to a deity and your party happens to have a high level cleric of that deity who gives the cleric a vision or somthing instructing them on what to do
Lashan 01-06-04, 04:18 PM	Well, I like to start thinking about gnomes. They are never really talked about much and were even on the cutting room floor of 3E until pulled out at the last minute (or close enough to that). The are called the "Forgotten Race" in the Realms. This is all due to their history, and that is where we should look for an epic gnome quest. The ancient empire of Nethril enslaved the gnomes of the world and treated them harshly. All the gnomes were rounded up and used to toil away for the human empire. Some fled and some escaped, and this is how gnomes spread throughout the world. They were ever fearful of the Netherese coming after them or larger creatures in general doing worse to them. This has lead them to become a bit withdrawn and quiet as opposed to the other races. Perhaps there is something that was once a unique treasure of the gnomish religion that was a gift from their gods. It was a treasure and blessed the race with some unique gifts. When the magic tossing Netherese enslaved the gnomes, this item was lost to the race of gnomes as it was hidden away by priests who were then killed. The item became just a legend told by few gnomes who knew about it. Times have changed since then. Forces that blocked and hid the item before have withdrawn (leave this vague and uncertain) and the time is right that the item can be retreived again! Perhaps the gnome pantheon has a prophet that talks of the item to be retreived once more for the gnomish people! The gods speak in mysterious ways and only fragments of images are seen by the prophet. It is up to the players to uncover clues to find out even what the gods are speaking of, let alone where one can find the missing artifact. Clues can be found in ancient ruins of Nethril, or even in artifacts of the time that were created by gnomes, yet instilled with secret messages for the gnomish people on where to find the item. These relics could be scattered throughout the world and in the hands of many powerful parties. Most groups do not let anyone to study their anceint artifacts! Also, what other group will find out that something is up and also want to try to aquire the powerful relic as well? And for what ends? Perhaps it is an anceint Netherese lich that still hates gnomes and would do anything to put them down again? Perhaps with the relic, he can use it to enslave the entire gnome people once again! Just some ideas...
Wooly Rupert 01-06-04, 07:15 PM	Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the gnomes strong on Lantan? And the halflings do have a kingdom, Luiren.
Gotrex 01-06-04, 07:37 PM	by lack i meant not as many as other races not none at all :)
Sabre 01-06-04, 08:36 PM	Exactly, I've been searching the archives and there is very little in the way of canon on gnomes or halflings. If you look in the FRCS, the island of Lantan doesn't even receive any stats. It's not completely gnomes and it appears to be more a place for Gond worshippers. The nation of Luiren is mentioned by alot of folks but that's about it. I guess I'm just asking for more ideas that seem to embody an aspect of what it means to be a gnome or halfling in Faerun. Both elves and dwarves seem to have this consistent theme of "reclaiming what's lost" be that their strength via kingdoms or population. What about gnomes? What about halflings? It's not enough to mention that halflings have a kingdom to the south. What about it? When you think Luiren what adventures spring to mind? What is a consistent enough theme that you can construct an epic adventure from it?
Gotrex 01-06-04, 08:48 PM	there is help coming later this year though in august WotC are releasing "races of stone" which is a source book that focus's on dwarves and gnomes though i think it is generic so wont have any FR specific locations or anything but should still be nice
Lashan 01-06-04, 10:29 PM	I have to say that I dislike the idea of "tinkerer gnomes" that Dragonlance started. I think the whole Lantan thing is because that place is big in Gond worshipers. Gnomes were also there due to the lingerin effects of "tinkerer gnomes syndrome" that caused the FR designers to believe that they were in Dragonlance. At least, that is my take on it.
Hoondatha 01-07-04, 01:10 AM	In the old Complete Book of Gnomes and Halflings it says that gnomes of all types love gemstones, and each race loves one stone above all others (diamond for rock gnomes, emerald for forest, and ruby for deep). A good adventure for all levels would be the gnomes hearing of a "mother lode," a vein of gems of the beloved type that is incredibly rich/pure/Hope diamond every try, etc. Where it gets difficult is what stands in the way of mining the gems, anything from a kobold nest for low level characters to a drow city or worse for high level guys. Oh, and I think tinker gnomes are hilarious... as long as they stay in Dragonlance. Or Spelljammer, that works too.
Wooly Rupert 01-07-04, 01:34 AM	Originally posted by Hoondatha Oh, and I think tinker gnomes are hilarious... as long as they stay in Dragonlance. Or Spelljammer, that works too. I'll agree with that! The tinker gnomes are a funny bunch to watch, but the Realms certainly don't need any of them!
Monksflat 01-07-04, 09:52 AM	For a Gnome quest, you could focus on some of the cooler innate abilities that they have. Talk To Animals for example. A Wolf, or Chihuahua, or something could come up to the party and say something about a Druid enclave that's been destroyed. When the PC's get there they find evidence leading them elsewhere. This goes on and on until they find their way back to their starting point and find it on the verge of destruction by whatever it is that destroyed the grove. Nice flexible storyline that isn't terribly predictable. Halflings are my second favourite race (behind Elves). A good adventure would be...hmm... AH! One of the PC's uncles went on a quest to slay a dragon years ago with a bunch of Dwarves. He recovered a wonderful ring with the power to turn him invisible. After passing it on to his niece/nephew Elminster shows up and says the ring is evil. Wait a sec... this sounds like it's been done before... Sadly, I just can't think anything up for Halflings right now
Morka 01-07-04, 10:27 AM	For gnomes, why not focusing on their evil god Urdlen? Perhaps he sent (or a priest of Urdlen conjured) some beast, a dire fiendish mole. This thing is attacking a city. While the humans ruling this city are wondering what's happenning, the gnome perfectly know, and wish to keep it for themselves... Halfling get few land populated only by their siblings, except Luiren. They are welcomed everywhere and they welcome everyone. They have few natural ennemy (gnomes have kobolds). They have a simple life. They have no evil deity! Perhaps an evil halfling wishes to become a god of greed & domination...
Alac Luin 01-07-04, 02:28 PM	This is knda funny, I just updated my sig and I deside to read this thread... A gnome loses an artifact, say a stone, that his people rely opon. He neads to travel the world of the big people to recover the item. How about a halfling quest to find the perfect easy chair?
Elith E'Lyan 01-07-04, 09:29 PM	What about rather than seeking something that is lost, protecting what little they have? It's obvious that Gnomes and Halflings and Gnomes aren't to high on the political/power food chain of Faerun. What about an invasion to wipe out Lurien. And the peaceful friendly halflings, who haven't given much thought to alliances, or huge defences, find themselves standing alone against an overwhelming force. Could be interesting too if the invading force isn't some force of ultimate evil. Perhaps the big-folk start moving in and basically usurping the land bit by bit. And when the halflings complain, they are ignored. And when they rebel they are put down with force. That's got a pretty epic appeal to it...a group of Halfling leaders have to unite the entire nation to repel the invaders and protect their soverignty. It's dangerously close to following into the epilogue of Return of the King. You'd have to make it much harder to get hobbits to stand up and fight. And you could have the big-folk play the victim, that they're suddenly being turned upon by their neighbours. Gnomes is even harder..... can't think of what to suggest for that one.
tauster 01-08-04, 04:06 AM	i posted it in another thread before i discovered this one, so sorry for double- posting... for halflings, try an adventure centered around the blickish (found in mythic races, p.30 from the legend & lairs- series (fantasy flight games)). essentially, they are halflings which can dimension door and turn etheral several times per day. itīs some kind of halfling subrace whose ancestor was an celestial (hound archon, if i remember correctly). start with a pc- halfling party, let them have some race- centered adventures (example: blickish have almost no own communities, so let them find a suitable location somewhere on faerun where no one harasses them and they could settle down...). during the adventures, some of your pc (or all of them) start to discover that they have odd abilities (see above), and after their triumphant return home their elders reveal their secret origin... granted, itīs a blickish- campaign rather than a halfling-campaign, but as long as you give them only hints about their abilities, it feels halfling-like and should do the trick. :cool: gnomes: the trail of mists from the mintiperīs chapbook- series: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/mc/mc20010829f can be the perfect frame! tauster