Prologue: The four clans
It was said that the traits of the gnomes were inherited from the environments they lived in. There were four different clans of gnomes all within a three mile radius. However none of the clans were aware of the water gnomes lived in a pool at the base of a waterfall. Obviously they inherited their traits from the water. Their bodies were thin and lean, but strong, in order to swim against the currents of the river. For the most part their hair was blue, of all shades. Brown was also common. Gray and musty green surfaced occasionally. Gnomes of water clan had gills, and thus could swim underwater, catching fish for as long as they like, however, they were also able to walk on land.
If you travel up the waterfall on a narrow rocky trail you'll meet the bush gnomes. Shorter than any other gnomes, but of a medium build. Their hair is normally dull green, wiry and disheveled. However, dim shades of orange and yellow occurred often too, due to the small flowers on bushes. The bush gnomes were known for notoriously guarding their territory against predators.
Next you will come to a small waterfall that splutters across the trail and joins with several small creeks to form the main cascade. Once there you are in rock gnome territory. They live across the waterfall in an array of rocks fallen from the mountain long ago. They are strong and muscular from climbing among the rocks. Their hair is short, thick and neatly cropped close to their skull. Gray is almost the universal hair color among their clan. Sometimes in the tangle of gray hairs green, yellow, or orange highlights appear because of the mosses growing on the boulders. Due to the mundane shades of gray they are the only clan that uses hair dye derived from mud .
If you continue up the mountain you'll notice a gradual change in landscape. The short, coarse bushes will turn lush and colorful. The boulders will shrink to gravel and dirt beneath the grass. Once you pass the plume of the waterfall you'll come to a quaint little meadow. A creek runs through the tall grass and wildflowers dot the floor of the meadow. You'll also notice something strange about this place; everything is miniature, the trees, creek, flowers, rocks and the residents; meadow gnomes. They live in the hallows of tiny pine trees and in nests of grass and reeds. Their hair is bright, almost any color is possible. Surrounding the meadow is a small group of trees. Were the clan council meets. Unfortunately our story does not start her in the bright sunshine of the meadows, but in the shadowed land of the rock gnomes.
It was a still, quiet night. All the stars were out and all that could be heard was the hoot of an owl. Suddenly the silence is broken by a shrill scream coming from a cluster of domed huts in the rocks. A baby was being born, but the scram was not from the mother giving birth, but from the father when he saw the pink shock of hair on his newborn son.
Yes, all gnomes were born with a head full of hair. It was already the length it would be for the rest of their lives. Cutting hair was an unheard of sin that rarely took place. There was a legend that told of death, in a matter of hours, to any gnome that cut their hair. Hence nobody dared attempt the sinful task. Anyway, as you may guess, pink was an unheard of color in rock gnome. Not only unheard of but un-tolerated. The father knew something had to be done to hide the hideous hew.
Dave proceeded quickly down to the creek that flowed across the slab of rock just above the waterfall. In the moonlight he could barely make out the crescent shaped pool that held the only supply of clay red hair dye. Nobody would question him if he dyed the infants hair, they would only assume that another baby had been bon with a boring shade of gray.