Gnomish Guards by @The-Wizard-of-Zaar (The Wizard Of Zaar)

Gnomes make good fighters; they tend to be well trained in the use of tools and weapons (Most Gnome tools double up as weapons.), they are physically tough and have much in the way of stamina. They have a knack for throwing their weight into blows, and are experts at building and defending walls, palisades, guard towers and other finite areas.

For like their Kobold cousins, Gnomes are short, stocky and aren't great runners. Also like Kobolds, Gnomish warriors are all essentially GUARDS. Tough fighters specializing in the defence and policing of hamlets, towns and cities.

Gnomes rarely ever commit to long term, aggressive campaigns; and when they do- It is always to take control of a specific place and hold it.

Like all Gnomes, they are voracious eaters and their armies consume ridiculous amounts of food. Though Gnomes are great in prolonged sieges, as they are able to grow adequate food stuffs fairly quickly and reliably regardless on which side of a wall they are on; Gnomes are incredibly talented gardeners and farmers.

Particularly when angered, Gnomes have a fearless stubbornness. This mentality is taken to a new potency when combined with the discipline and training of a Gnomish guard.

As Gnomes are an inherently lawful and structured people; even those lawless and destructive among their kind will be made to obey or accountable to the law. Gnomish guards are also lawmen and peace keepers; they are by the book, but fair. A bit heavy handed, but just, and they take their duties seriously. The only thing they'll punish more severely than a pest or a bandit, is one of their number succumbing to corruption.

Gnomish law has many brutal, humiliating and or bizarre punishments; depending on the crime they will vary in observance and degree of harshness. Some odd sentences can actually seem not that bad, but for a Gnome they may see as deeply dishonourable.

Some well known Gnome punishments are pitchfork prodding, head clubbing, being forced to wash their clothes in fish juice for a month, pushed down a steep hill or being made to sit in a hole whilst the community throw dirt and mud on them. Some may be forced to do community service in the form of ram wrangling or working someone's farm.