The society of the Dust Walker gnomes is secretive and complex, but it is known that they value moral turpitude and blamelessness above all else. To signify this they adorn themselves with white paint, representing purity. Repentance is unknown to the Dust Walkers; the stain of a sin committed can never truly be washed away.
The Dust Walkers know the secret of preparing a strong hallucinogenic brew from the poppies that grow near their home and the twigs of sandalwood trees (24.23). Its effect is to make any imagined or visualized event have a real somatic effect upon the imbiber. Thus, a person under the influence of this drug can be slain by an illusionary sword or trampled by an imaginary horse. The drug is of course much desired by illusionists, but the Dust Walkers jealously guard the secrets of its manufacture.
The purpose to which they create this brew is to use it in a rite of passage ritual; all Dust Walkers must undergo this when they come of age, and again if they are challenging for the position of chieftain. After drinking the preparation, the gnome who is to be tested will take a pilgrimage to the ruins, there to drink from the bone-white fountain. The combined effect of the two drugs is to make the subject suffer an incredibly harrowing experience for each of their great guilts. Those who have anything less than a spotless conscience are unlikely to survive the ordeal.
The Dust Walkers are suspicious of outsiders and will most likely seek to capture them and subject them to the trial of the fountain. Those who pass the test are considered worthy of respect, and can expect aid and friendship from the desert gnomes in future.
Connections
- The gnomes have created a legend of a great blue dragon in order to scare away outsiders and its “lair” can be found at (20.24).
- The gnomes claim that the Black Ziggurat (18.26) has recently appeared out of nowhere.
- The gnomes make their sandals (see below) from the sandalwood trees (24.23)
Hooks
- Who’s willing to pay money for the recipe of that brew? And how would you get your hands on it?
- Are there any outsiders who have passed the test and established good relations with the gnomes?
- Are all the chieftains of the tribe pure and righteous? Or is there a way to circumvent the trial?
Sandals
The Dust Walkers use sandalwood trees (24.23) for their nuts, the medicines that can be brewed from their wood, their twigs which the gnomes use to cook their famous hallucinogenic brew and, of course, to make sandals out of.
Gnomes place great value in a good pair of sandals, carved out of proper sandalwood. In fact, it is a customary display of generosity for a rich gnome to exchange sandals with a poor one, especially after they have enjoyed a string of good luck. Also, it is a traditional gnomish belief that any creature that hides its toes is hiding its true intensions. This is not as strange as it seems, for illusionists often have a terrible time getting the toes just right.
When you see a gnome staring at your toes trying to puzzle out their shape, they may be a Pointer. These gnomes are renowned for their skills at detecting illusions and often do this by checking the toes of any suspicious creature and by taking part in the traditional gnomish cheek-patting greeting. These Pointers are often hired on by parties venturing into the towers and tombs of magicians and have proven their worth time and time again.
However, all of this may also explain a lot of the distrust that gnomes have for those who hide their toes, have feet too big to exchange sandals with and who don’t like gnomes grabbing at their faces whenever they meet.
Hooks
- Who have some famous gnomish Pointers been?
- Halflings don’t wear any shoes at all. What do gnomes feel about that? What about gnolls? Do they wear shoes?
- Do all gnomes care about sandals or just these desert ones?