system
A chat on 4chan
human
Gnomes are based on pre-900 AD encounters with the Sami people of the far Northern hemisphere. The hat depicted denotes their usage of the Phrygian cap. It is a a soft felt cap called the pileus which served as a symbol of freemen. The Sami were fierce fighters and knew the woods in which they fought extremely well since it was their territory. To venture into the territory of the Sami meant you may never return. The unique nature of the Sami people was briefly depicted in the TV series The Vikings when Bjorn Ironsides married Sneafrid, the daughter of King Svase. 

People were afraid of the Sami people until populations sized against the Sami.
gpt
great movie