Apseldian gnomes

Apseldia is a predominantly half-elf nation but the party of half-elf adventurers (now known as the Founders) that helped establish Apseldia as an independent republic included a gnome among them.  There are statues of him around Apseldia much like the other founders and gnomes were incorporated into Apselidia's government from the moment of it's founding.   Gnome citizens are considered on equal footing with half-elf citizens although they have to wait a bit longer to be eligiible to attend Apseldian Council meetings and vote.   Gnomes may be small but due to their social prowess they cast a disproportionately large shadow in the Council meetings.  There are a few especially skilled orators well known in the Council.  Other gnomes from elsewhere claim that Apseldian gnomes always act like they are addressing the council have a tendency to pontificate in unnecessarily flowery language and speak in the boisterous manner of stage actors.