Notable Gnomes of Highforge

Highforge is the gnome-dominated town in the middle of Karameikos between the Windrush and Hillfollow rivers. Rather than a full description and map, I will simply describe some of the more significant gnomish members of the community, using my new Gnome Warrior and Gnome Trickster classes. 

In terms of age, I am going with the numbers in 1E AD&D DMG:

• Young adult 50-90
• Mature: 91-300
• Middle Aged: 301-450
• Old: 451-600
• Venerable: 600-750

Tershimal Hieronymous

10th level Gnome Warrior male, align Neutral
Str 16, Int 12, Wis 14, Dex 13, Con 10, Cha 14
AC 0, HP 36, THAC0 9, Dam 1d8+4, Save as Dw10, Ml 8 (11 vs undead)
Equipment: Mithril Plate mail +2, Dawnstriker (normal Sword +2 +4 vs undead, casts Light at will), 2 potions of extra healing, Scarab of Protection (6 charges).

Appearance: Tershimal is 3'10" and 330 years old, with coper-brown skin and iron-grey hair and goatee, balding on top. He is instantly recognsiable because he is missing a left ear and has a large sHe is  As far as gnomes go, he is fit and muscular. He usually wears his mithril armour and carries his sword slung over his back. 
Personality: Tershimal is surprisingly dark and intense for a gnome. He has been through tragedy and loss, with half of his family dying at the hands of a vampire and its ghoul minions. He is now on a personal crusade to destroy as many undead as possible. He has even gone on a year-long quest to find the right weapon for the job - Dawnstriker, a broadsword that he wields in two hands. 

Dorfus Hilltopper, King of Highforge

12th level gnome warrior male, align Lawful
Str 13, Int 13, Wis 14, Dex 10, Con 16, Cha 16

AC 0, HP 44, THAC0 9, Dam 1d6+3, Save as Dw12, Ml 10
Equipment: Chain mail +3, Shortsword +2, Boots of Speed, Ring of Protection +2, Medallion of ESP 30' range

Appearance: Dorfus Hilltopper is tall for a gnome: 4'2". He is now getting quite plump and well-fed and is 360 years old . He has coppery skin and golden brown hair, including a handlebar moustache that joins up with his sideburns. He usually wears smart robes, only donning his armour if he expects trouble. But he always has his ring of protection and sword strapped on. 

Personality: Dorfus is a charming and hale fellow, who makes friends easily. He is widely considered a good king, certainly by gnomes across Karameikos and to an extent by humans and dwarves. He is smart and experienced enough to know how to deal with different races, including elves, halflings, dwarves and humans of different nations. He is the current head of the Hilltopper clan that can trace its ancestry back over two thousand years to the retreat of the Hutaakans and the end of the Traldar golden age. He is not particularly ambitious, and for the moment is content to maintain Highforge as it is. 

Humberdan Ambereye

4th level gnome trickster, male, align Neutral

source

Str 8. Int 16, Wis 10, Dex 13, Con 10, Cha 14AC 6, hp 9, THAC0 19, Dam 1d6, Save as Th4, Ml 6
Equipment: Leather armour, shortsword +1, sling + 10 bullets, gemcutting kit
Spells: Light, Simple Illusion, Ventriloquism, Mirror Image, Wall of Fog
Appearance: Humberdan is 3'4" tall, and quite old even for a gnome (536 years if you have to know). He has silvery white hair and long beard, and is bald on top. He has an intense, often scowling expression on his face, though this is usually a matter of concentration rather than annoyance. He typically dresses in loose fitting leather armour robes lined with pockets filled with useful things like gem-cutting tools.
Personality: Humberdan Ambereye is an expert in gems and mineralogy and takes his profession very seriously. He is interested in reports that dwarves in Grulven's Prospect have found a unique gem and is looking for agents to investigate this. Humberdan is financially astute, and as well as appreciating gemstones for their own beauty, he is well aware of their value to other people. 

Norberten Trollscorcher

Image by Eric Belisle, source

9th level Gnome Warrior, male, align Lawful
Str 16, Int 9, Wis 12, Dex 15, Con 14, Cha 12
AC 0 (-2 vs missiles), 39hp, THAC0 8, Dam 1d6+3, Save Dw9, Ml 10
Equipment: Mithril Shortsword +2, Banded Armour +2, Shield +1 +3 vs missiles, 
Appearance: Unusually for a gnome, Norberten prefers to be clean-shaven. He is 3'8", solidly built for a gnome and 133 years old. He often goes around fully equipped for battle with his sword, shield and banded armour. He is often quite serious and does not often smile. 
Personality: Norberten Trollscorcher is a gnomish warrior and adventurer who has made a name for himself after defending a gnome burrow from a marauding troll. He loves Highforge but refuses to be tied down to a formal military role

Egglethorpe Critterchatter

Image by Nicolás S. Astete  source

7th level Gnome Trickster, female, align Neutral
Str 7, Int 16, Wis 14, Dex 13, Con 8, Cha 14
AC 6, 20hp, THAC0 14, Dam 1d6, Save Th7, Ml 10
Equipment: Staff of Wizardry, Ring of Protection +2 
Appearance: Egglethorpe is old, even for a gnome - approximately 620 years though she has lost count. She has silver-white hair tied up in a bun. She doesn't bother with armour these days - if in trouble she just uses her trickster spells to disappear.
Personality: Egglethorpe Critterchatter prefers wandering the woods, talking to squirrels and badgers. She also talks to elves, halflings, druids and sylvan creatures that have accepted her as friendly. She hates orcs and goblins but also gets angry with human destruction of the wilderness and will use her trickster spells to annoy or scare away human woodcutters or intrusive farmers. 

Shandrae Hillwanderer

6th level Gnome Warrior, female, align Neutral

Str 15, Int 12, Wis 10, Dex 16, Con 13, Cha 10

AC 1, hp 29, THAC0 12 (melee) for 1d6+3 or 11 (missile) for 1d6+1, Save Dw6,  Ml 8, 

Equipment: Chain mail +2, shortsword +1 +3 vs giants, shortbow, quiver + 20 arrows +1, Ring of Levitation
Appearance: Shandrae is quite young for a gnome (92 years old!) and is 3'9", and of athletic build. She has coppery red hair which she keeps in a plait and has fair freckly skin. She has several scars on her arms and legs from various fights. She often wears her armour and weapons, even when going around town, as she does not want to be caught off guard. 

Personality: Shandrae Hillwanderer is a prospector looking for gems across the hills and mountains of northern Karameikos who has become familiar with the area and is something of a local guide. She knows both which races and tribes inhabit where, as well as notable locations such as Quasqueton, Guido's Fort and even the Frost Shamans Tomb. However, unless it is clearly for the good of fellow gnomes, she does not do this guiding for free.

Gnimthel Bluerock

image by WillOBrien source

6th level Gnome Trickster, male, align Neutral
Str 9, Int 15, Wis 12, Dex 15, Con 10, Cha 13
AC 5, hp 20, THAC0 15 (melee) for 1d4+1, 15 (missile) for 1d6
Equipment: Leather Armour +1, Light Crossbow + 20 bolts, dagger +1, ring of Spider Climbing, 2 x potion of healing
Appearance: Gnimthel is a young rogue of a gnome, 95 years old and slim build, with a constant grin on his face only partially hidden by a well-trimmed beard without a moustache. He has light brown hair and fair skin. He always wears his leather armour which looks very similar to a leather overcoat and his dagger tucked underneath in his belt. He only carries his crossbow when expecting trouble. 
Personality: Gnimthel Bluerock is the leader of a band of gnomish ne'er-do-wells who use their trickster skills to take money and valuables, usually from humans and dwarves, though when they steal from other gnomes, the target "deserves" it in their eyes.