Gnomonia

 A riff on a thing mentioned in The Phegnomenon from I Don't Remember That Move

——

Every forest is cursed, this is common knowledge.

One of the more peculiar and dangerous curses emanate from fairy rings. You can tell such a cursed forest from a whiles off by looking for the proper signs.

The woods themselves will be full of new growths- with any older trees being nothing but smooth spires. Hornless deer will meander around, occasionally painted strange hues but always with a scared look in their eyes. Emaciated bears will forage for honey, as it's the last thing their toothless mouths can ingest.

Such peculiarities are all thanks to gnomenogenesis- the spontaneous transmutation of pointed objects into gnomes- which occurs within a certain radius of fairy circles.

——

The effect of course hinges on a couple factors:

• The more cone-like something is, the quicker it will become a gnome.
• Cones will transform near instantly.
• Simple pointed objects like swords may take hours.
• Non-pointed objects which still end in a stump may take days to weeks.
• The closer to the Gnome Core of a fairy ring the subject is, the quicker the transformation will take place.

As a result, the area immediately around a fairy ring is almost instantly lethal under normal circumstances. Besides the near instant transformation of all matter into gnomes, the raw density of gnomes also leads to a dense cannibalistic throng of micro-gnomes as an additional hazard. Even other gnomes tend to avoid fairy rings as a result.

Even at a distance, gnomenogenesis can result in the horrifying condition of gnomonia in which the body breaks down into gnomes.

Cases of gnomonia typically arise in the teeth first, or horns if a creature has them. The danger lies however when the extremities begin to experience symptoms. When the digits go, soon the limb will break off into a gnome. And once the limbs have gone, the torso and head will eventually succumb to gnomonia together. 

Occasionally tying up a criminal to be tortured and transformed into gnomes may be used as a form of torture or execution, however it is typically much more popular to somehow affix a cone-like hat to the victim and then simply turn them loose to transform into a gnome all at once.

——

Those travelling through a gnome-infested wood are highly recommended to take all efforts to disguise any points they or their property may have. Wearing mittens, rounded sheaths, capping teeth, shaving down horns, and more are just some of the basic precautions. And under no circumstances should anyone bring any actual cone-shaped objects, or the voyage may as well be lost.

Travelling with a ranger of the gnomewoods is also highly recommended, for dealing with any gnomes which may be encountered on the journey. One can tell a seasoned ranger from a novice by the following symptoms of repeat gnomonia:

• The canine teeth are almost always the first things to desert the ranger in the woods, leaving them with a peculiar whistling voice.
• Fingers may often be lost- if not directly to gnomonia, then to the gnomes themselves.
• Elder rangers or the supremely cautious are usually completely devoid of all hair. For does hair not end in a point which may become gnome?
• Beware of any old rangers with beards, hats, or spritely smiles. If they have not yet been put down by their brothers in arms, they will soon heed the call of their new and more petty brethren.

——

The gnomes themselves are pitiful nuisances. They look akin to your standard garden gnome, but distorted into the proportions of whatever spawned them (e.g. a long thing spindly gnome made from a sword, a little stout tooth gnome, etc). Deep in their hearts they feel only a love of mischief- specifically mischief involving the highest and most elaborate efforts.

Gnomes have been observed spending hours setting up elaborate traps to hurl dung at travelers, sneaking through underbrush to drug travelers and graffiti their faces with crude drawings, or making a racket to try and just cause a wandering creature to attack at an inopportune time.

Above all else, gnomes are only in it for pranks.

Normally this wouldn't be too much of a danger outside of wasted time or resources (and given the density of pissed off beings in vicinity of a gnome forest: more chances at dangerous encounters). However- given that the more you are delayed in the gnome wood, the more you are subjected to gnomonia- the danger of becoming trapped or diverted closer to the fairy ring substantially increases the mortal peril. There's a reason mothers tell their children tales of rascals who ran away to the woods, only to end up sad limbless sacks to be taunted by gnomes with no escape other then death by gnomonia.

Thankfully should the worst arise gnomes may be dealt with.

Gnomewood rangers often act akin to rodeo clowns, of a sort- purposefully triggering traps or walking into gnomish jokes to buy time for the main group to escape. They are experts at how to take the tumble and play along with the act, as well as general escape artistry.

Gnomes in general also can be bargained with. They are about as reasonable as a child, and hold interest in similar childish things like toys or material for their pranks. They will also try to bargain for pointed objects or cones. Under no circumstances should the latter ever be given to them. In return: their skillset is fairly limited to prank-based engineering and japes however, which along with their limited attention span make them marginally helpful.

As a last resort, getting a gnome to laugh can be distraction enough. Though trying to match their unique sense of humor can be a tall task.

Rumors also tell of some gnomes more devoted to their craftsmanship, who spend their days devising large cone monoliths. Nobody has really seen such monoliths completed, but then again nobody has really seen any massive gnomes either...