The eccentric, often brilliant gnomes are held as one of the most peculiar races of the world. With the obsession for developing radical new technologies and constructing marvels of mind-bending engineering. It's a wonder that any gnomes have survived to proliferate. Though a young race, the Gnomes have over four hundred years of history. However, the Gnomes' existence was discovered barely two hundred years before the Dark Portal. Over the years, the gnomes have contributed ingenious weapons to aid the Grand Alliance in its fierce battles against the Horde.
During the Second War, the Gnomes provided the Alliance with Gnomish Flying machines and Gnomish Submarines to contribute in the defeat of the Horde.
Thriving in the wondrous techno-city of Gnomeregan, the gnomes shared the resources of the forested peaks of Dun Morogh with their dwarven cousins for generations. Yet recently, a barbaric menace rose up from the bowels of the earth and invaded Gnomeregan. The troggs - believed to have been unearthed from the Uldaman excavation - erupted beneath Gnomeregan and began to slaughter every gnome within the city. Though the gnomish defense forces staged a valiant defense, they could not save their wondrous city.
At the command of the High Tinker Mekkatorque, the gnomes opened the pressure valves of their giant, grinding machines and released toxic radiation throughout the city. Though the radiation killed the troggs, the gnomes soon discovered that it killed their own people just as quickly. Nearly eighty percent of the gnomish race died within days. Those that survived evacuated the great city and fled to the protection of their dwarven cousins in Ironforge.
There they remain, devising radical strategies to retake their beloved city at any cost. As a gnome of proud standing, it falls to you to answer the challenge and lead your curious people to a brighter future.
High Tinker Mekkatorque
The Gnomes have not had a proper king or queen for over 400 years. Instead, they prefer to elect their highest officials for set terms of service. The highest office in Gnomeregan, High Tinker, has been held by the crafty Gelbin Mekkatorque for the past seven years. Gelbin is one of the most renowned inventors ever, and has been honored as a just and skillful leader. However, when the Troggs began their invasion of Gnomeregan, Gelbin was unprepared to stop them. At the behest of his top advisor, Mekgineer Thermaplugg, he ordered that the city be bathed in toxic radiation. THough the radiation stopped the raiders advance, it ultimately killed more gnomes than troggs. Now the High Tinker carries the weight of the dead on his shoulders and seeks to avenge his people by reclaiming their lost city.
Mekgineer Thermaplugg
Sicco Thermaplugg served as High Tinker Mekkatorque's chief advisor for many years. A brooding but imaginative engineer. Thermaplugg secretly coveted the role of High Tinker. It is rumored that Thermaplugg actually knew of the trogg invasion before it began, and that he ushered in the events that befell the gnomish race. Though these reports were never verified, Mekkatorque believes they could be true. Mekgineer Thermaplugg disappeared shortly after the evacuation of the irradiated city. None can say whether or not he still lives within the toxic halls of Gnomeregan.
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World of Warcraft Collector's Edition Manual. All rights reserved. |
