The Gnome Kingdom of Cnockdolian

Located on the Northern Isles, The Gnome Kingdom of Cnockdolian is divided into two, occupying both the west and east isles. To the south of Cnockdolian on the west isle is Eowar, an unorganised state, and to the south of Cnockdolian on the east isle is Aloath, also an unorganised state.

The Shadow Reign
Before the Shadow Reign Cnockdolian occupied all of the Norther Isles (with the exception of the North Woods which are occupied by Elves). During the reign of the Shadow King, many of the inhabitants of Galeria and Elderich fled the violence by travelling across the White Sea to the Northern Isles. When these refugees arrived they were surprised not to find any settlements of villages and so they made their own, often clearing forests in the process. What they didn't realise is that the gnomes who live in Cnockdolian make their homes under the hills and dales of the forest and so they were building their homes sometimes directly on top of the homes of gnomes. Soon there were so many humans, half-elves and halflings crowding the southern parts of Cnockdolian that the gnomes decided it would be more prudent to withdraw from their homes in the south and wait for the refugees to go home.

Unfortunately, the refugees have discovered that the Northern Isles are a beautiful place to live and despite the fact that it is save for them to go home to the mainland they have chosen instead to stay on the Northern Isles. This decision has put these refugees directly at odds with the gnomes who were gracious enough to grant them a safe haven during a time of war.

Demographics
Cnockdolian used to be 100% gnome, however in recent years population growth in Eowar and Aloath have resulted in scattered human and half-elf settelements on the Cnockdolian side of their borders. However the kingdom itself does not recognize these settlements as legal and so still considers itself a fully gnome kingdom.

Capital City
The capital city is Limerick though a human or a half-elf would not consider it a city in the true sense of the word. It is made up of thousands of underground burrows and galleries with very little showing on the surface. It is home to approximately 40,000 gnomes.

Etymology
The name Cnockdolian is a Gnome name that means roughly Hills of Deception and is in reference to the fact that the hilly kingdom seems to be empty wilderness but is actually home to hundreds of thousands of gnomes, right below the surface.