02 / 27

Physical Characteristics

Feature	Description
Appearance & Physique	Height 3 ft - 4 ft (90 cm - 120 cm). Compact, muscular frames built for fine motor control. Skin tones range from earthy umber to pale ash, often dusted with oil or soot from workshop work. Eyes are large, amber-to-emerald, adapted for close-up inspection.
Distinguishing Features	Prominent, slightly protruding ears (useful for hearing the faint clicks of gears). Most Gnomes wear goggle-frames permanently affixed to their foreheads, fitted with interchangeable lenses (magnifying, infrared, arcane-filter). Many have mechanical prosthetics (e.g., a clock-hand finger) that double as tools.
Lifespan & Reproduction	Average lifespan ≈ 250 years; maturity reached at ~30 years. Reproduction is pair-bonded and highly ritualised: a couple constructs a “Life-Cog” - a clockwork device that synchronises their heartbeats and stores a fraction of their life-force. After a gestation period of 2 years, a single offspring (rarely twins) is “born” from the Life-Cog, emerging as a fully formed infant with a faint, resonant hum.
Physiology	Enhanced fine-motor dexterity (thumbs with an extra joint). Slightly higher basal metabolic rate to support the energy demands of constant mental calculation. Gnomes possess a latent “Arcane Conductivity” that allows minor enchantments to be woven directly into metal without external spell-casting.