Gnobby was the son of a very promiscuos gnome. She realized she couldn't raise all her children, so she sold Gnobby to a traveling carnival. Although he was forced to do mundane chores and abused by everyone in general, one of the sideshow magicians noted he had an aptitude for tricks. Gnobby always seemed to know where the hidden ball or the missing card was.
Gnobby learned that creatures are easily distracted and see what you want them to see, but more importantly, the marks see what they want to see. Gnobby lives for the tricks and the illusions. The final part, or "The Prestige" is all fine, but it all has to be set up just so. Gnobby's favorite spell is Phantasmal Forces--when set up properly, it can work so well--when set up poorly, it fizzles quite sadly.
Unfortunately the carnival had its seedier side, so Gnobby had to learn the art of the pickpocket and the footpad to survive. When people are tricked, fooled, and out of money--sometimes it is time to sneak away.
Gnobby isn't proud of his second profession, but he has found that when people know what magic Gnobby is peddling isn't real, it is harder to make them believe. Gnobby now advertises his thief abilities quite openly hoping to surprise them with his illusions.
Gnobby had a little 'problem' in Verbobonc. Verbobonc had some nice things; so Gnobby had to check out Vebobonc. Some things are clearly not be stolen, some things are clearly to be stolen, and there are those that require the good judgement of the thief. Well, Gnobby didn't use good judgement in Verbobonc, but luckily was allowed to help out the forces of good and do some service to his community after being caught and locked up. Gnobby jumped at the chance to spend some time helping out the good folks in Hommlett rather than waiting for his sentence to be up.
