Gnome
Brell's second creation, after the dwarves; wiry, clever, knee-high tinkerers with an innate skill for gadgets and machinery. Their city Ak'Anon is ruled by a mechanical king. Neutral; centered on Tinkering.

- Type
- Race
- Allegiance
- The Underfoot — Brell's makers
- Attested in
- EQ1EQ2RPG
- Sources
- 188 texts
Overview
Drawn from On the Town of: Ak’Anon - 12/05/07 — official article.EQ1Primary · official
Overview of Ak'Anon
Ak'Anon, home of the gnomes, is a maze of tunnels beneath the Steamfont Mountains on the continent of Faydwer. The entrance is dug into the face of one of the mountains and is guarded by warriors of both clockwork and mortal build. Dark and grand with carvings and jewels, the city is filled with the strange machinery of gnomes, and powered by cold water.
Reclusive by nature, the gnomes wished to remain apart from the raging conflicts of Norrath's surface dwelling races and were one of Faydwer's secrets for centuries. The years of seclusion allowed the gnomes to continue their projects and research in relative peace. When the time came for their presence to be discovered, it was a discovery of magnitude and wonder unfathomable by even the most eccentric of the era's bards.
Now a well known part of Faydwer, the gnomes of Ak'Anon continue to remain as far from the affairs of the continent's other races as possible. However, their discovery led to their mechanical inventions being unleashed upon the world. Clockwork mechanisms of all sorts made their way across the globe, entrancing and bewildering all of Norrath's citizens. Some of these mechanisms would eventually escape their crafters into nearby countryside of Steamfont where even today the rogue clockworks can be seen roaming aimlessly.
King Ak'Anon
The city of Ak'Anon is ruled by King Ak'Anon, considered the greatest invention of all gnomish kind. An immortal ruler who represents all that the gnomes have prided themselves upon since their creation – immense creativity and ingenious craftsmanship – King Ak'Anon is a mechanical construction like no other. Although the King is of clockwork construction every bolt, nut, and turning cog of his form has been infused with the original entity of though, emotion, and intelligence.
During the first year of King Ak'Anon's reign, it is said that he brought great prosperity and peace to his people, delivering them from the depths of an ancient and mysterious conflict where his predecessors had previously failed.
Overview
Drawn from The History of Gnomes (House Item) — in-game book.EQ2Primary · mirrored · best available source
Through my own experiences, I have gained knowledge and insight into the gnomes. Each part of this history tome can only be completed in its own time.
Story 1
As we like to joke with our stouter dwarf cousins, Brell finally got things right when he made us! You have to pick who you say this to, though, as apparently not all dwarves have a sense of humor. You have to watch out for those who enjoy the joke, too, because a dwarven back-slap can be potent.
We gnomes are not very interested in history for its own sake. We do like to think about it from time to time because you can learn so much from someone else's mistakes, but we don't dwell on it. The elves kind of take that a bit far, you know, living through past glory.
What we do miss about the old days are the inventions of the ancestors in Ak'Anon. But that's getting ahead of history, isn't it? Since you've just started reading this, you can hardly already know that we no longer live on Faydwer, can you? Except that I just told you!
Our ancestral home is Ak'Anon, as mentioned, and it was devoted to tinkering and building, and discussions of building and tinkering. There is nothing a gnome enjoys more than building something if it's not thinking about it or telling someone else how it works.
Gnomes have a great reputation for tinkering and talking about it. Way back when, the Academy of Arcane Science called upon some of our best minds to devise standards of measurement that are still used today as the Norrathian Code of Trade Standards.
Overview
No RPG source leads this topic — its RPG accounts are listed below.
Official Lore
22Collected official lore pieces, from in-game and out — the 22 strongest of 49 listed.
EverQuest 20th: Gnome Memorial Mountain
There was a time, long ago, when the Combine Empire dominated Norrath. At the peak of their rule, those in power became concerned that they were losing important cultures and societies as they swept over the lands. To ease their conscience, the Combine decided to preserve some of the species that they deemed to be interesting or important.
Read the full sourceThe Founding of Ak'Anon
Of the gnomes and the empire of Felwithe Ever the since the first days of the elven rebellion, it had been decided by the emperor of Felwithe that the gnomes would be a free race allied with the elven empire and able to live on elven lands, much unlike the almost slave-like persecution the little tinkerers suffered under the rule of the dark elves.
Read the full sourceThe Fabled Planes of Power Lore – Part 5 - 3/18/08
The Fabled Planes of Power Lore – Part 5 The Plane of Innovation The Plane of Innovation in its current state is an industrialized land of clockworks. Many gnomes rising into a perfect state of mind with machinery have been allowed access here. In the Plane their imaginations feed off the plane itself.
Read the full sourceOgnit Eznertob
Ognit is most happy in a warm, well-furnished study with tomes and papers and tools surrounding him. He is actually known to smile when a formula he has been working with is finally completed. Other than that, he is a grump. His hobby is tinkering with devices and contraptions.
Read the full sourceFrom the notes of Gimblestan
First Assistant to King Ak-'Anon the XVII, Master of the Tinkering Arts. Volume XI As previously mentioned, the fishing expedition had been planned for second-week, with a prize going to he clan that could pull the most fish from the waters of our beloved Lake Tildunk. How could we resist such a contest?
DoNRaceBookGnome
This book outlines some of the most famous battles involving Gnomes throughout history. Many of the stories told here are ones told in other books, books that mostly ignore or minimize the contribution of Gnomes in the battle. This book focuses less on the entirety of those battles and focuses in on the individual stories.
Read the full sourceShow 16 more →
The History of Gnomes (House Item)
Through my own experiences, I have gained knowledge and insight into the gnomes. Each part of this history tome can only be completed in its own time. Story 1 As we like to joke with our stouter dwarf cousins, Brell finally got things right when he made us! You have to pick who you say this to, though, as apparently not all dwarves have a sense of humor.
Read the full source52387
Deep in the valleys of the Steamfont Mountains the Gnomes are preparing perhaps their most ambitious endeavor to date, the construction of a massive airship.
Read the full sourceFirepot1
Firepot's Disertation of Utility I Greetings! As I find myself growing a bit in years, I decided the time has come to sit down for a bit and organize some of my best findings in this world. There are wizards that seek power, and others who travel to the ends of the world, and I am neither of these types.
Read the full sourceGnome Kabobs
Need: gnome meat spices jug of sauces skewers Start fire. Grab gnome. Dip in sauces. Grab skewer. Push pointy end through gnome. Hold over fire and spin. Add spices, spin more. Bite. If crunchy, eat. Nose is good place to grab. Lots of sauces in mouth so Taste better inside and Cooking not so loud. Spin slow or spices fall off Smoked Wood Elf
Read the full sourceEverQuest Manual — Gnome
Gnome. Distant cousins to Dwarves, Gnomes tend to burrow in the hillsides in underground communities. A lack of surface light lends a tan hue to their skin tone, and they rarely emerge to mingle with other races. Starting city Ak‘anon Occupations Cleric, Enchanter, Magician, Necromancer, Rogue, Warrior, Wizard Racial tensions lksar
Read the full sourceSecrets of Faydwer – Unfolding the Lore: Part 1 - 8/24/07
…It is not an uncommon occurrence for young gnomish adventurers, or even the sturdier gnome guards who patrol the mountain region, to disappear and never be heard from again. Many believe this to be the work of Meldrath, who has made his absolute hatred and desire for revenge upon the people of Ak`Anon more than apparent. Fortress Mechanotus
Read the full sourceNew Continent Discovered!
…We have received recent reports from Ak`Anon that a new continent has been discoveredNew marine technology recently developed by the gnomes enabled the Ak`Anon Marines to break through the Frigid Barrier to the south of Odus and in doing so, they discovered lands previously unknown. A remarkable marine craft created by the gnomish inventors is capable of actu…
Read the full sourceUnderfoot: Unfolding the Lore – Brell’s Rest
…Brell's Rest is the place where the worthy of Brell's worshippers go when their time on Norrath ends. Some worshippers are given places amongst those of the Underfoot, to work on the world, but few find such a thing to their liking. Many spend their afterlife in an "ideal" setting for their race.
Read the full sourceDabner Drednever
…This fact has garnered him great respect with Dagda and she does view the small gnome as one who is surprisingly brave for his size. Though Dabner is completely devoted to the worship of Brell, he also has studied, and is quite knowledgeable about, the religions of other cultures in Norrath, as well as the lore of the gods they worship.
Read the full sourceJournal Excerpt Ten
My company and I have arrived and been welcomed to the Gnomish city of Ak'Anon, and I must say, of all the things I have seen on this journey the city of the gnomes is the most perplexing. The gnomes seem to be equally adept at creating material marvels as well as magical ones.
Read the full sourceCiceroTornNotebook
If found, please return to my clockwork assistant Model XG CVIII. Thanks! Cicero Quikwire Esquire After drilling downwards at a five-degree angle for the better part of two-and-a-half years we've finally located a cavern large enough to warrant exploration. Alas, our burrownizer dug into the cavern's ceiling and now lies smashed across the cavern floor.
Read the full sourceMeldrath: Balance Sundered
It is said that Meldrath had a conjoined twin with whom he was connected at the chest. One boy's heart was as pure as the waters of the Vasty Deep and his eyes shone with a beautiful light and the other's heart was as dark and cold as the waters of the Ink Sea and his eyes were as black as two pools of oil.
Read the full sourceThe Story of Edril
Edril was a famous elven hero from the rein of Emperor Carandril who was involved in the founding of Ak'anon and the founding of Crushbone. His story is presented below. How the Elven hero Edril discovered the Dragon Trakanon and learned of the end of the world. Of Carandril's death and Edril's journey to Antonica
Read the full sourceSecrets of Faydwer – Unfolding the Lore: Part 4 - 9/13/07
Secrets of Faydwer – Unfolding the Lore: Part 4 Meldrath's Majestic Mansion Meldrath's Majestic Mansion sits atop the massive flying fortress called Mechanotus. The mansion is a marvel of metal, beautiful yet harsh and hard. There are few concessions to comfort in this place.
Read the full sourceInto the Depths of: Solusek’s Eye
…Located within the great volcano of the Lavastorm Mountains, Solusek's Eye is a set of caverns with molten lava and precious ores running through it. The depths of these lava-filled caverns are full of gnome miners, vicious kobolds, and fire goblins.
Read the full sourceSecrets of Faydwer – Unfolding the Lore: Part 2 - 8/30/07
…Gyrospire Beza and Zeka are two of three towers made by Meldrath specifically to guard his keep and serve as a flanking force in attacks. Gyrospire Azia was destroyed in the attack by the Gnomes from Ak`Anon while Gyrospire Beza and Zeka both remain functional. Beza is currently the oldest tower.
Read the full sourceFurther sources
79Lore that mentions this in passing — the 50 strongest of 79 listed.
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Community articles
56Fan-written encyclopedia entries — useful overviews, lower authority than the primary sources above.