Library of Erudin“…for knowledge is the greatest quest of all.”Erud
Race

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.

Gnome
Canon lens
Connections
Created bydeity:brell-serilisRuled bynpc:biddynRuled bynpc:king-akanonHomelandszone:akanonHomelandszone:iceclad-oceanHomelandszone:kernagirHome territoryplace:elizerain-lakeHome territoryplace:faydwer
At a glance
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.

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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.

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Overview

No RPG source leads this topic — its RPG accounts are listed below.

Official Lore

22

Collected official lore pieces, from in-game and out — the 22 strongest of 49 listed.

EQ1Primary · officialPrincipal account

EverQuest 20th: Gnome Memorial Mountain

Official articleSOE/Daybreak · 2019

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.

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EQ1Primary · mirroredPrincipal account

The Founding of Ak'Anon

In-game bookVerant

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.

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EQ1Primary · officialPrincipal account

The Fabled Planes of Power Lore – Part 5 - 3/18/08

Official articleSOE/Daybreak · 2008

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.

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EQ1Primary · officialPrincipal account

Ognit Eznertob

Character ProfileVerant

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.

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EQ1Primary · official4 volumes

From the notes of Gimblestan

In-game book — a 4-part series · Verant/SOE

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?

EQ1Primary · officialPrincipal account

DoNRaceBookGnome

In-game bookVerant/SOE

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.

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EQ2Primary · mirroredPrincipal account

The History of Gnomes (House Item)

In-game bookSOE-EQ2

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.

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EQ1Primary · officialPrincipal account

52387

Official articleSOE/Daybreak · 2011

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.

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EQ1Primary · officialPrincipal account

Firepot1

In-game bookVerant/SOE

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.

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EQ1Primary · officialPrincipal account

Gnome Kabobs

In-game bookVerant/SOE

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

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EQ1Primary · officialPrincipal account

EverQuest Manual — Gnome

ManualVerant/SOE · 2001

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

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EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Secrets of Faydwer – Unfolding the Lore: Part 1 - 8/24/07

Official articleSOE/Daybreak · 2007

…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

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EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

New Continent Discovered!

Official articleVerant

…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…

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EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Underfoot: Unfolding the Lore – Brell’s Rest

Official articleSOE/Daybreak · 2009

…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.

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EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Dabner Drednever

Character ProfileVerant

…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.

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EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Journal Excerpt Ten

In-game bookVerant/SOE

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.

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EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

CiceroTornNotebook

In-game bookVerant/SOE

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.

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EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Meldrath: Balance Sundered

In-game bookVerant/SOE

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.

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EQ1Primary · mirroredMajor source

The Story of Edril

In-game bookVerant

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

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EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Secrets of Faydwer – Unfolding the Lore: Part 4 - 9/13/07

Official articleSOE/Daybreak · 2007

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.

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EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Into the Depths of: Solusek’s Eye

Official articleSOE/Daybreak · 2008

…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.

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EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Secrets of Faydwer – Unfolding the Lore: Part 2 - 8/30/07

Official articleSOE/Daybreak · 2007

…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.

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Further sources

79

Lore that mentions this in passing — the 50 strongest of 79 listed.

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Community articles

56

Fan-written encyclopedia entries — useful overviews, lower authority than the primary sources above.

Show 50 of 56 community articles
Connections
Created by
deity:brell-serilis
Ruled by
npc:biddyn
npc:king-akanon
Homelands
zone:akanon
zone:iceclad-ocean
zone:kernagir
Home territory
place:elizerain-lake
place:faydwer
Allied with
race:high-elf
Enemy of
race:minotaur
Worships
deity:brell-serilis
deity:bristlebane
deity:rallos-zek
deity:bertoxxulous
deity:solusek-ro
† opens the source text behind a claim.