Svirfneblin
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, svirfneblin , or deep gnomes, are a sub-race of gnome
.
(1978), and D3 Vault of the Drow (1978), and then in the original Fiend Folio (1981). The deep gnome was presented as a player character
race in Unearthed Arcana
(1985).
The svirfneblin appeared in second edition for the Forgotten Realms
setting in the Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (1989), and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993). The svirfneblin is presented as a playable character race in The Complete Book of Gnomes and Halflings (1993), and is later presented as a playable character race again in Player's Option: Skills & Powers
(1995).
The svirfneblin appeared in the third edition under the "gnome" entry in the Monster Manual
(2000), and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003). The deep gnome is presented as a player character race for the Forgotten Realms setting in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
(2001), and in Races of Faerûn
(2003) The svirfneblin appeared as a player character race in Underdark
(2003). The lesser deep gnome appeared as a player character race in Player's Guide to Faerûn (2004).
with one another, allowing them to exchange general ideas (for example, alerting comrades to danger).
.
due to some violent conflict in the past (like the drow elves), the deep gnomes were led underground peacefully by their patron god, Callarduran Smoothhands
. Most svirfneblin venerate the aforementioned deity primarily, and also the patron deity of all gnomes, Garl Glittergold
.
campaign setting
, the svirfneblin of the Underdark used to have a stronghold in the Northdark area, a city called Blingdenstone, but were forced to flee out of fear and good sense when their worst enemies, the drow (of Menzoberranzan
) marched upon the Dwarven
colony of Mithral Hall
(however, only a small force actually entered Blingdenstone, and then left after discovering it was uninhabited). A large force then marched after the Drow, determined to help the Dwarves defeat their long hated enemies. After a massive battle and many Svirfneblin deaths, the city was reclaimed after the drow march was defeated by Clan Battlehammer and their allies, and a treaty was enacted between Battlehammer and Deep gnomes that would stand for millennia.
. Presumably, the element -neblin derives from Old Norse niflinn 'the mist' from nifl 'mist', and is cognate with the German element nibl- in Niblungen
literally 'the children (-ungen) of the mist'. However the meaning of svirf remains unexplained.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, svirfneblin , or deep gnomes, are a sub-race of gnome
Gnome (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, gnomes are one of the core races available for play as player characters. Some speculate that they are closely related to dwarves; however, gnomes are more tolerant of other races and of magic, and are skilled with illusions...
.
Publication history
The svirfneblin (deep gnomes) first appears in first edition in the adventure modules D2 Shrine of the Kuo-ToaDescent into the Depths of the Earth
Descent Into the Depths of the Earth is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game coded D1–2. It was written by Gary Gygax, and combines two previously published modules from 1978, the original Descent into the Depths of the Earth and Shrine of the Kuo-Toa...
(1978), and D3 Vault of the Drow (1978), and then in the original Fiend Folio (1981). The deep gnome was presented as a player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
race in Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana is the title shared by two hardback books published for different editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1985).
The svirfneblin appeared in second edition for the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
setting in the Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (1989), and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993). The svirfneblin is presented as a playable character race in The Complete Book of Gnomes and Halflings (1993), and is later presented as a playable character race again in Player's Option: Skills & Powers
Player's Option: Skills & Powers
Player's Option: Skills & Powers is a supplemental sourcebook to the core rules of the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. This 192-page book was published by TSR, Inc. in 1995. The book was designed by Douglas Niles and Dale Donovan...
(1995).
The svirfneblin appeared in the third edition under the "gnome" entry in the Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
(2000), and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003). The deep gnome is presented as a player character race for the Forgotten Realms setting in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting is a role-playing game sourcebook first published in 1987, detailing the Forgotten Realms setting, containing information on characters, locations, and history as well as setting-specific rules for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
(2001), and in Races of Faerûn
Races of Faerûn
Races of Faerûn is an optional supplemental sourcebook for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons.-Contents:...
(2003) The svirfneblin appeared as a player character race in Underdark
Underdark (supplement)
The Underdark sourcebook for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.-Contents:...
(2003). The lesser deep gnome appeared as a player character race in Player's Guide to Faerûn (2004).
Ecology
Svirfneblin have the ability to listen to earth and stone (but not to speak to it, as do the pech). Additionally, the deep gnomes have a very basic form of telepathyTelepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
with one another, allowing them to exchange general ideas (for example, alerting comrades to danger).
Typical physical characteristics
Svirfneblin closely resemble their surface-dwelling brethren, save for their paler complexions and the fact that they have little or no hair.Alignment
Svirfneblin are usually of neutral alignmentAlignment (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, alignment is a categorization of the ethical and moral perspective of people, creatures and societies....
.
Society
Contrary to many other racial varieties who were forced to retreat to the UnderdarkUnderdark
The Underdark is a fictional setting which has appeared in Dungeons & Dragons role-playing campaigns and Dungeons & Dragons-based fiction books, including the Legend of Drizzt series by R. A. Salvatore...
due to some violent conflict in the past (like the drow elves), the deep gnomes were led underground peacefully by their patron god, Callarduran Smoothhands
Callarduran Smoothhands
Callarduran Smoothhands is the gnome god of the earth in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.He is the patron deity of the svirfneblin , and is not very popular among other gnome subraces. Unlike other gods of the Underdark, he is not an outcast...
. Most svirfneblin venerate the aforementioned deity primarily, and also the patron deity of all gnomes, Garl Glittergold
Garl Glittergold
Garl Glittergold is the patron deity of gnomes in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, and a member of the game's default pantheon of deities. His symbol is a gold nugget.-Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition :...
.
Svirfneblin in the Forgotten Realms
In the Forgotten RealmsForgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, the svirfneblin of the Underdark used to have a stronghold in the Northdark area, a city called Blingdenstone, but were forced to flee out of fear and good sense when their worst enemies, the drow (of Menzoberranzan
Menzoberranzan
Menzoberranzan, the City of Spiders, is a fictional city-state in the world of the Forgotten Realms, a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting. It is located in the Upper Northdark, about two miles below the Surbrin Vale, between the Moonwood and the Frost Hills...
) marched upon the Dwarven
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
colony of Mithral Hall
Mithral Hall
In the fictional world of Forgotten Realms, Mithral Hall is the fabled dwarven home of Bruenor Battlehammer, an old dwarven city where tunnels were often lined with natural veins of mithral as thick as an arm....
(however, only a small force actually entered Blingdenstone, and then left after discovering it was uninhabited). A large force then marched after the Drow, determined to help the Dwarves defeat their long hated enemies. After a massive battle and many Svirfneblin deaths, the city was reclaimed after the drow march was defeated by Clan Battlehammer and their allies, and a treaty was enacted between Battlehammer and Deep gnomes that would stand for millennia.
Creative origins
The name svirfneblin originates in Scandinavian folkloreScandinavian folklore
Scandinavian folklore is the folklore of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the Swedish speaking parts of Finland.Collecting folklore began when Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden sent out instructions to all of the priests in all of the parishes to collect the folklore of their area...
. Presumably, the element -neblin derives from Old Norse niflinn 'the mist' from nifl 'mist', and is cognate with the German element nibl- in Niblungen
Nibelungenlied
The Nibelungenlied, translated as The Song of the Nibelungs, is an epic poem in Middle High German. The story tells of dragon-slayer Siegfried at the court of the Burgundians, how he was murdered, and of his wife Kriemhild's revenge....
literally 'the children (-ungen) of the mist'. However the meaning of svirf remains unexplained.
Additional reading
- Oppen, Eric. "The Folk of the Underworld." DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#131 (TSR, 1988).
- Salvatore, R.A, "Homeland" & "Exile" of the Dark Elf Trilogy