The crowning achievement of Gizzos Fip's young life was his second-place finish in MOUTHY (Master Orators' Union Tournament, Held Yearly), an annual competition in which young gnomes debate matters of personal, social, or aesthetic importance. Gizzos was always opinionated and well-read in addition to being a talented speaker, skills which combined to make him a fierce competitor who could be bested only by a gnome who went on to become an alderwoman. There's no shame in losing to such worthy competition, he assures anyone still listening by the time he reaches the end of this very long story.

Gizzos was the child of two tinkers, brilliant inventors who loved their son but had little interest in or aptitude for the practicalities of parenting. Nor did they, natural introverts, understand Gizzos's need for constant chatter.

Gizzos was fascinated by the world, and he wants to share his discoveries with everyone around him. He questions everything and is always ready with an opinion (and ready to support that opinion by citing relevant texts and authorities).

His parents tried to teach him to build and repair gadgets, as they did, but he mostly put those skills towards music and instruments. His greatest creation is the whizzcrankbong, which is essentially a portable, folding drum set that attaches to his waist. It contains a clockwork element that, when wound, enables it to keep one of several simple rhythms which Gizzos overlays with more complicated percussion or stirring oration.

Curiosity sparked wanderlust, and for a while Gizzos made a living as a wandering tinker, traveling among the villages of the larger races to sell and repair goods. He soon found that there was more demand for his stories and musical performances than for his tinkering work, which was of questionable quality.