Gnomeregan (kingdom)

This article is about the gnomish kingdom of the Alliance. For other uses, see Gnomeregan (disambiguation).

Kingdom of Gnomeregan
Icon of Technology
Main leader	King Gelbin Mekkatorque
Formerly	King Mechagon †
Secondary leaders	Prince Erazmin  Tinkmaster Overspark  Commander Nevin Twistwrench
Formerly	Sicco Thermaplugg †
Race(s)	Gnome  Mechagon mechagnome
Capital	Gnomeregan & Mechagon City
Other major settlements	New Tinkertown, Tinker Town, Rustbolt
Base of operations	Toshley's Station Fizzcrank Airstrip See more...
Government	Monarchy
Sub-group(s)	Military forces, Gnomish organizations
Affiliation	Alliance
Formerly	Alliance of Lordaeron
Status	Active
Reputation
Tabard

The kingdom of Gnomeregan, formerly known as the Gnomeregan Exiles, is the gnomish nation on the continent of Khaz Modan and a member state of the Alliance. After King Mechagon's exodus four hundred years ago, the gnomes have resorted to democratically electing their High Tinkers. Under the leadership of High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque, the gnomes lost their capital city of Gnomeregan during the Third War and sought refuge within the neighboring allied dwarven city of Ironforge, where they have remained until the launch of Operation: Gnomeregan. Still in the process of retaking their ancient home from the troggs, they are now based in New Tinkertown while still engaging in major Alliance operations across Azeroth and beyond.

During the Fourth War, the nation reunited with their brethren, the mechagnomes of Mechagon, after Prince Erazmin aided in saving Mekkatorque's life. Electing to merge societies, rather than work as partners, Erazmin ceded leadership of Mechagon City and its people to Gelbin, dubbing him the true successor of King Mechagon as the first King of the gnomes since the now-defeated tyrant.

History

Early history

Main articles: Gnome, Mechagnome

Around 2,500 BDP, some of Watcher Mimiron's mechagnomes left Uldaman under the effects of the Curse of Flesh, and eventually dwelt in mountain caves in Dun Morogh. Focusing purely on survival and expanding their technological knowledge, the early gnomes eschewed any form of record-keeping and thus forgot their heritage. When the transformed earthen from Uldaman, now being fleshy creatures called dwarves, arrived in Khaz Modan, they discovered the gnomes in their mountain caverns. Enthralled by their technological knowledge and sensing a kinship between the two species, the dwarves aided the gnomes in carving into the stony foothills in western Dun Morogh, thus laying the foundations for what would later become the marvelous subterranean techno-city of Gnomeregan.

Based in Gnomeregan, the gnome kingdom was founded and evolved in seemingly eternal industrialization. Unlike many other races such as the dwarves, orcs, and humans, the gnomes had no history of internecine violence prior to the fall of Gnomeregan. The alliance between the gnomish and dwarven kingdoms proved highly beneficial for both parties, as they were sharing the resources of Dun Morogh and worked in unison to improve their mechanical constructs for generations. 400 years ago, King Mechagon of Gnomeregan led his followers in search of a mystical land of technology. He left no clues about where he was headed, and over time his legend faded into history. The kingdom had no kings or queens for centuries, turning into a democracy run by an elected High Tinker.

Decades before the First War, while Azeroth enjoyed a time of relative peace, the gnomes were engaged in rigorous trade with the human of the Seven Kingdoms.

Second War and aftermath

Main article: Defense of Gnomeregan

Gnomish flying machines bombarding the orcs.

Prior to the Second War in 5 ADP, the Orcish Horde from Draenor began their invasion Khaz Modan, seeking metal and fuel for their armada. When King Magni Bronzebeard called for the aid of Gnomeregan, the two races pooled their resources to establish defensive positions across Khaz Modan, but still couldn't stop the orcish army. The Horde pushed longer into Dun Morogh and besieged both Ironforge and the city of Gnomeregan, but were held off at both places by the ingenuity of the gnomish inventors, whose booby traps and rigged explosives claimed many orcish lives while Gnomeregan itself was shielded by an impenetrable iron gate. Eventually, after weeks of fruitless siege, Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer called off the attacks and ordered the main army to move on to do battle with the humans in Lordaeron. He then ordered Kilrogg Deadeye and the Bleeding Hollow clan to stay behind in Khaz Modan, ensuring that no gnome would leave Gnomeregan and keep the dwarves occupied at Ironforge, hoping that Kilrogg would eventually conquer the two cities while he handled the armies of Lordaeron.

However, the defense of Gnomeregan and Ironforge held off the orcs long enough for Supreme Commander Anduin Lothar to attack the Bleeding Hollow clan from behind, liberating both the dwarves and gnomes who announced their full support for the Alliance of Lordaeron's cause. Gnomeregan provided invaluable support in weaponry, vehicles like submarines, flying machines, and energetic troops in the Alliance war effort. In many ways, they mirrored the inventive goblins of the Horde, and these technological battles would spark a racial rivalry that has survived to this day.

In the aftermath of the war, the victorious allied nations helped each other rebuild, but King Magni was irritated with the long pace it took for Ironforge workers to reach Stormwind and requested a faster solution from Azeroth's most esteemed engineer at the time, Gelbin Mekkatorque. In his office at Sector 17, the ingenious gnome prepared the schematics for the Deeprun Tram, a subterranean train traveling from the Tinker Town in Ironforge to Stormwind City. Even after completion, gnomes would work on it daily to keep it running.

Around Year 18 ADP, when the Alliance of Lordaeron splintered, High Tinker Mekkatorque, along with some other leaders, reaffirmed that the gnomes would still support King Terenas Menethil II.

Years before the Third War, the Gnomeregan electorate chose Gelbin as their new High Tinker. Meanwhile, Mekkatorque's best friend, Sicco Thermaplugg, worked up the system and gained favor among the intellectual elite, eventually winning the seat of advisor to his friend, the High Tinker. A brooding but imaginative engineer, he served as Mekkatorque's chief advisor for many years, continuing to covet the role of High Tinker with jealousy that would slowly eat away his sanity.

At some point, Dr. Oglethorpe Obnoticus was ostracized by the ruling of Gnomeregan, including Tinkmaster Overspark, because they considered him an "intellectual threat." In reality, Oglethorpe had created an unbeatable robot for a friendly competition of inventors, however, Thermaplugg stole his blueprints and created the Crowd Pummeler 9-60. After the robot was set loose in the capital, the gnomish rulers banished Oglethorpe, believing him to be responsible for the casualties.

Fall of Gnomeregan

Main article: Invasion of Gnomeregan

Entrance to Gnomeregan, capital city of the gnomes.

On the onset of the Third War in 20 ADP, when the kingdom of Lordaeron fell to the Scourge, the gnomes dispatched their armaments but offered little in the way of soldiers, leading some of their allies to question their loyalty. In reality, Gnomeregan had come under attack by the brutish troggs that emerged from the earth, having been awakened by the dwarves digging around the titan complex of Uldaman. The creatures were attracted to the gnomish machinery and built tunnels to breach the lowest reaches of the city. High Tinker Gelbin stationed soldiers and war machines at choke points to hold the invaders at bay, but even with their technology, the Gnomeregan Army simply wasn't large enough to fight off the troggs. Mekkatorque briefly considered calling on the Alliance for help, but ultimately didn't want to divert any resources from Lordaeron, and instead decided to keep the Gnomeregan crisis a secret from the other allied nations.

Prior to the Siege of Dalaran, Lady Jaina Proudmoore worked tirelessly to rally as many refugees as she could after she had been convinced by the mysterious Prophet that sailing west to Kalimdor was the only course to save humanity. When she set sail for Kalimdor, her forces included members from nearly every Alliance race, including dwarves and gnomes from the Alliance military.

For five years, the gnomes fought the troggs but were overrun. The troggs simply dug around their defenses and breached into their engineering quarters. Mekkatorque's friend and advisor Sicco Thermaplugg's secret obsession with becoming High Tinker had gotten to the point of no return. Thermaplugg devised a plan to eradicate the entire city, planning to kill thirty percent of the population with a gas and framing it on Mekkatorque. Knowing very well the heavy cost of lives it would have, but lied to the High Tinker that he had tested the radiation levels of the gas claiming to have evidence of its terminal effects on the troggs, and had shown Gelbin falsified numbers on its density and volumetric weight. According to Thermaplugg's calculations, the gas should have stayed in the quarantined thoroughfares and lower sections of Gnomeregan, poisoning the invaders as they emerged from the depths while the gnomes waited safely sealed away in the upper urban tunnels, kept away from the population by Thermaplugg's Kleen Wind Domiclic Filters.

Gelbin Mekkatorque, High Tinker of Gnomeregan, armed with Wrenchcalibur.

The urgency to deal with the invasion, and the confidence his trusted friend showed made Mekkatorque agree to the desperate attempt proposed by his advisor, and ordered the gnomes to open the pressure valves of their giant, grinding machines and released toxic radiation throughout the lower levels of the city, believing it was the best course of action.

Gelbin Mekkatorque could only watch as the plan failed catastrophically, and Thermaplugg too was surprised that his gas was way deadlier than he had anticipated. Rather than securing the death of the troggs, most shambled through the gas, becoming enraged, and some were even empowered by it. The filters failed, going straight through them into the homes of Gnomes, killing them as they waited in their homes thinking they were safe. Nearly eighty percent of the gnomish race died within days.

The high tinker's attempt at rescuing the city proved futile, leading to the tragic downfall of Gnomeregan and its people. Unable to take any more deaths or hold back the troggs, Mekkatorque swallowed his pride and led the surviving gnome population to seek refuge in Ironforge with their old dwarven allies. King Magni Bronzebeard granted them asylum and cleared out the entire Tinker Town district of his city for them to reside in. The rest of the Alliance learned the reason for the gnomes' absence in the Third War and welcomed them back into the Alliance with condolences.

World of Warcraft

This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

Tinker Town, the gnomish refuge in Ironforge.

With the ruling council reunited in the Tinker Town-district of Ironforge, the gnomes debated on their next course of action. Some advocated retaking Gnomeregan immediately, but Mekkatorque declined and urged his people to research new technologies that would bolster the modern Alliance. In his mind, the fates of the Alliance and the gnomes were intertwined, and if the faction crumbled, his people would never have the support they needed to reconquer Gnomeregan. He also sent gnomes to Alliance battlegrounds all across Azeroth.

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's treachery was only discovered after the details of his underhanded plans slowly became public. During the evacuation, he locked himself away in the deepest reaches, taking in the irradiation along with much of the gnomish population. While Mekkatorque originally assumed his former friend had perished, voyages and observations of the city proved otherwise, as well as revealing the disturbing fate of some of the gnomes who were left behind. Those who survived mutated into horrific, mindless, evil-doing leper gnomes, including Sicco himself. The disease was warping their minds, which led to a now mutated and insane Thermaplugg taking over the leper gnomes, ruling them with an iron fist of madness.

Branded a traitor and sentenced to death, Alliance heroes took up the mission to kill the self-styled "King of Gnomeregan" and returned with a tale of victory, but after analyzing the claim, Mekkatorque realized that the mechanized overlord defeated in the depths of the city was likely nothing more than a cleverly engineered facsimile of Thermaplugg. It became clear that retaking Gnomeregan would take more than just a small team, rather a large force of Gnomish and Alliance might. Mekkatorque, who had been High Tinker for 7 years at this point, continued to devise a plan as the years passed, watching as his people's seclusion slowly dissipated as his people intermingled with other members of the Alliance.

The Burning Crusade

This section concerns content related to The Burning Crusade.

Toshley's Station in the Blade's Edge Mountains.

Shortly after the Exodar crashed on Azeroth, Engineer "Spark" Overgrind traveled along with Admiral Odesyus's fleet to the Azuremyst Isles, acting as the envoy of High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque. Behind the scenes, Spark was a traitor sent by Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider to prepare a full-scale assault against the draenei, as well as repair the damages caused to the Exodar. Their plan, however, was ruined when draenei adventurers discovered the truth and killed the traitorous gnome on the orders of the admiral.

During the invasion of Outland in 26 ADP, Toshley and his followers left the kaldorei settlement of Sylvanaar in the Blade's Edge Mountains, building Toshley's Station as a place to experiment as they wish. When he moved to Outland, Toshley hired Razak Ironsides and the Razak's Roughriders to protect the scientists. After the station was founded, the latters came to protect it whenever the local ravagers attacked, and notably put down the Ridgespine Stalkers jumping the unsuspecting gnome passersbyers. When Nexus-Prince Razaan and the Razaani began to capture gnome souls in Razaani Light Orbs, Toshley tasked the Alliance adventurers to kill the ethereals, in order to recover their Collection of Souls and put an end to their macabre twisting of magic and technology.

Wrath of the Lich King

This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.

During the Scourge Invasion in 27 ADP, the Church of the Holy Light created an artifact with the naaru's Light, which gnome adventurers delivered to Mekkatorque to destroy the necropolises.

At the beginning of the war against the Lich King, the gnomes of Gnomeregan under the leadership of Fizzcrank Fullthrottle set up Fizzcrank Airstrip in the Borean Tundra, helping the Valiance Expedition establish a forward base in the region. They eventually found a robot that looked like a giant gnome. Upon being activated, it called itself Gearmaster Mechazod and claimed to have been built by the titans. He then informed all the gnomes that they were flawed beings, mechagnomes who had been tainted by the Curse of Flesh, and then kidnapped any gnomes he could find in order to convert them into cyborg monstrosities. After Airman Skyhopper gathered help from Valiance Keep, Jinky Wingnut and the Alliance adventurers managed to "re-curse" several Fizzcrank Mechagnomes back to flesh being with the Re-Cursive Transmatter Injection, however, Fizzcrank still lost many of his people before Gearmaster Mechazod was stopped by the heroes. The airstrip itself stayed active even after the Lich King was defeated due to its strategic location.

As the Grand Champion of Gnomeregan, Ambrose Boltspark led a delegation of Gnomeregan representatives in the Argent Tournament, and later faced the heroes in the Trial of the Champion.

Operation: Gnomeregan

This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.

High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque leading the Gnomeregan Army to liberate their capital.

After the Northrend campaign, Mekkatorque launched Operation: Gnomeregan, an assault on Gnomeregan in an effort to liberate the gnomes' lost capital with help from the Alliance. The Gnomeregan exiles were priming their forces at Steelgrill's Depot, the staging grounds for the Gnomeregan offensive and the production site of the gnome's mechano-tanks. After the preparations were made, Gelbin led a full assault to wrest control of Gnomeregan's airfield, surface command post, and ultimately underwent a raid into the tunnels of lower Gnomeregan. Despite the Gnomeregan exiles' best efforts to reclaim their techno-city, Sicco Thermaplugg detonated a radiation bomb in the city, forcing Mekkatorque's forces to hastily teleport to the surface to escape the re-irradiated city. It was a successful first maneuver, but there will be much more bloodshed before the entirety of the gnomeland is liberated. In the ongoing effort to reclaim Gnomeregan from Sicco Thermaplugg and his twisted cohorts, the gnomes have carved out a tenuous foothold in New Tinkertown, near the techno-city's gates.

After having secured a large portion of the techno-city, Mekkatorque ventured into his own old office at Sector 17 only to be lured into a trap by his arch-nemesis. However, Mekkatorque outsmarted Thermaplugg, cutting the latter in half. A barely surviving Thermaplugg escaped the sector, and Mekkatorque walked back out with restored hope.

Cataclysm

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

New Tinkertown in Coldridge Valley.

During the Elemental Unrest meeting in Stormwind City, Gelbin Mekkatorque reported that Gnomeregan's top minds were looking into the seismic activities shaking Azeroth. The high tinker and his people later protected the Military Ward of Ironforge from the furious elementals.

Following the Cataclysm in 28 ADP, the Survivor Assistance Facilitation Expedition (S.A.F.E) was placed under the command of Nevin Twistwrench to evacuate the survivors trapped within Gnomeregan, as well as to reduce the leper gnomes inside to reclaim the halls of the irradiated city. In retaliation, Sicco Thermaplugg sent Razlo Crushcog and a force of leper gnomes to harass the gnomish forces on the surface, in order to prevent them from rebuilding and finishing their reclamation of the capital. The gnomes eventually killed Crushcog with help from their dwarven allies, while the G-Team was tasked to kill Thermaplugg and his lieutenants once and for all.

While the gnomes have had an interest in the Light since they joined the Alliance, they were so focused on technology and, later, the retaking of Gnomeregan, that studying the Light didn't feel necessary to them; the dwarven priests and paladins of Ironforge served as the only connection to the Light they needed. However, having reclaimed a foothold in Gnomeregan and in the process of rebuilding their culture outside of Ironforge, they recognized the need of Light followers in their own ranks, notably to research new methods of purifying irradiated gnomes with Light-based technology.

After they dealt with the nearby Frostmane threat in Dun Morogh, the Gnomeregan Covert Ops sent Kelsey Steelspark to Gadgetzan, where she negotiated trade agreements between Gadgetzan and Gnomeregan. Along with Alliance adventurers, she worked against the pirates of Lost Rigger Cove to earn the favor of Baron Marin Noggenfogger.

Following the invasion of Gilneas, Mekkatorque represented Gnomeregan at a meeting in Darnassus, where the gnomish nation voted to accept the kingdom of Gilneas into the Alliance.

At some point, a gnomish expedition "stumbled upon" Uldum and accidentally released an ancient, irrevocable curse that afflicted all their members. Robbed of their sanity, they began trying to access Uldum's deepest vaults for the re-origination technology beneath the surface, as they believed that Azeroth was imperfect and had to be made anew. With the help of A.I.D.A., the adventurers used the M.A.C. Diver to run over and obliterate the hundreds of gnomes beyond saving in the area.

At some point after the Third War, the gnome Fizzle Brassbolts had traveled to Kalimdor on his own personal initiative to meet with the goblins and settle the old goblins versus gnomes dispute - by setting up a raceway in the Thousand Needles together with the rival goblin Pozzik. Now, Fizzle's team on the Speedbarge would finally officially be considered representatives from the nation of Gnomeregan. They now participate in water races sponsored by MEGA.

Mists of Pandaria

This section concerns content related to Mists of Pandaria.

High Tinker Mekkatorque facing War Master Kragg.

During the Attack on Theramore Isle in 30 ADP, the demolitions expert Adolphus Blastwidget was sent to support Lady Jaina Proudmoore, having planted a series of remote-controlled explosives which nearly killed Warchief Garrosh Hellscream. After the city-state was destroyed with a mana bomb, High Tinker Gelbin joined the High King's table in Stormwind, helping with a strategy to counter the Horde and its blockade around Kalimdor.

During the Invasion of Pandaria, the fortress of Lion's Landing was placed under the command of High Marshal Twinbraid, whom High King Varian Wrynn granted the full might of Stormwind, Ironforge, and Gnomeregan to crush the Dominance Offensive and protect the people of Pandaria. The A.C.E. attack team notably joined the 7th Legion to strike at Domination Point, rivaling the Bilgewater S.H.A.R.K. However, despite their best efforts, A.C.E. was ultimately defeated by the Horde heroes.

During the Siege of Orgrimmar, Tinkmaster Overspark acted as a high-ranking Gnomeregan representative in Operation: Shieldwall, along with Mekkatorque himself who arrived in the Underhold to fight War Master Kragg and the Kor'kron guards. After the defeat of Warchief Garrosh Hellscream, Gelbin was invited to attend his trial at the Temple of the White Tiger.

Legion

This section concerns content related to Legion.

At the beginning of the third invasion of the Burning Legion in 32 ADP, Dun Morogh was invaded by the Legion forces, and the Gnomeregan Covert Ops were among the defenders.

With the events about to unfold on the Broken Shore, High Tinker Mekkatorque commanded his people to get outfitted and ready for battle — any way they know how, leading to the creation of gnomish hunters. In his own steam armor, Mekkatorque led a contingent of Gnomeregan Tinkerers as part of High King Varian Wrynn's vanguard during the Battle for the Broken Shore. After the Alliance forces were left vulnerable by the Horde's unexpected retreat, the gnomes and their allies had to retreat on the Skyfire gunship, from where they watched helplessly as the high king sacrificed himself to distract the Burning Legion. In the aftermath of the battle, Mekkatorque attended the funeral of Varian Wrynn.

Battle for Azeroth

This section concerns content related to Battle for Azeroth.

Mechagon City, capital of the Mechagon mechagnomes.

Prior to the Fourth War in 33 ADP, Gelbin Mekkatorque, accompanied by his advisor Tread Sparknozzle, was present in a meeting with Magni Bronzebeard in Ironforge. After the dicussion, High King Anduin Wrynn scheduled a meeting with the high tinker for the next day, considering that the gnomes had been invaluable against the Legion, and that he had to thank the physically smallest but perhaps intellectually greatest members of the Alliance. However, the diplomatic meeting was ultimately postponed, as Anduin had to organize the Gathering. In order to discover its secrets and uses, Mekkatorque later received Azerite samples to study and chose Sapphronetta Flivvers to go to Silithus.

During the Battle for Lordaeron, Mekkatorque and his forces received help from Alleria Windrunner, who created a Void portal to transport them within the Ruins of Lordaeron.

A Covert Ops team, including Kelsey Steelspark, was sent to assist Shandris Feathermoon and Halford Wyrmbane in Vol'dun.

In time, the leaders of the Alliance made a request for Gnomeregan's might in the war and agreed to fund an elite task force. The gnome hero was chosen to lead the unit's test team, which was assembled in New Tinkertown by Captain Tread Sparknozzle. Consisting of Herk Winklespring, Emaedi Autoblast, and Fizzi Tinkerbow, the Gnomish Elite Aerial Rangers (G.E.A.R.) represented the brightest paragons of gnomanity. For their first mission, the rangers thwarted the leper gnome Telzo Sparkspanner and his plans for decimating gnomanity.

From his airship, the Strider, Mekkatorque led an attack on the Horde's Azerite mining operations in Drustvar on Kul Tiras, using an army of remote-controlled robots. Jastor Gallywix and his G.M.O.D led the Horde's reprisal, and then confronted Mekkatorque and his own mech suit in the sky, only for the G.M.O.D. to run out of fuel, giving Mekkatorque the chance to knock Gallywix out of the sky. Once the G.M.O.D was operational again, Gallywix attacked the Strider above Tiragarde Sound to draw out Mekkatorque. As they fought, the Strider began to fall apart, and so Mekkatorque fled, leaving Gallywix to wonder how to break through his mech's Proto Layered Optimal Titan Armor.

During the assault on Dazar'alor, the high tinker sailed with the Alliance navy on a mission to secretly plant explosives on the Golden Fleet. Once a majority of the Horde's forces were lured to Nazmir, Gelbin pushed the detonator button and blew up the entire Zandalari fleet stationed there, allowing the Alliance forces to invade Dazar'alor with little resistance. During the battle, Mekkatorque dueled Gallywix and once again defeating him, but was seriously injured and had to retreat with an escape pod. However, the machine placed him in suspended animation, and neither Jaina Proudmoore nor Stormwind's priests know how to help him recover from his injuries, while Halford Wyrmbane and Nathanos Blightcaller referred to him as being dead.

In parallel to the Nazjatar Campaign in 34 ADP, Tinkmaster Overspark and Gazlowe respectively led the Alliance and Horde to Mechagon Island, using the coordinates they found in the mysterious vault. In Rustbolt, they met with Prince Erazmin who accepted their aid, but only if they put aside their differences to fight together against King Mechagon. During Operation: Mechagon, Mechagon City came under siege by the Rustbolt Resistance who defeated the Arcforged, ultimately reuniting the mechagnome society. They also destroyed the Mechoriginator to prevent the mad king from reversing the Curse of Flesh across the entirety of Azeroth.

During the Battle at the Gates of Orgrimmar, Tinkmaster Overspark worked with Monte Gazlowe in Razor Hill on breaching the canyon to the Dranosh'ar Blockade with the Mine-Bot 5000.

Mekkatorque is proclaimed King of the Gnomes.

After Operation: Mechagon, a Spark Reactor recovered from King Mechagon's Annihilo-tron 5000 was delivered from Mechagon City to jump-start Gelbin's heart, who at last awakened. Grateful to Prince Erazmin and his people, the High Tinker and his allies teleported into Mechagon City, where they cleared out the last of the Arcforged's loyalist machines. With the city liberated, the prince asked Gelbin to lead them; the latter accepted on the condition that Erazmin stood with him as both counselor and friend. Addressing the crowd at the High Tinkertory, Kelsey Steelspark announced the reunification of Gnomeregan and Mechagon, and proclaimed Gelbin as the new king of an undivided gnomekind.

Shadowlands

This section concerns content related to Shadowlands.

After the armistice in 34 ADP, some mechagnomes who perished during the conflict were later raised as death knights by Bolvar Fordragon and sent to Stormwind to fight for the Alliance once again.

The War Within

This section concerns content related to The War Within.

During the war in Khaz Algar in 42 ADP, gnome forces were part of the Alliance fleet that sailed to Isle of Dorn to aid in the war against Xal'atath. Tinkmaster Overspark and several gnome engineers could be seen preparing siege engines on the Tranquil Strand, while Captain Tread Sparknozzle patrolled through the ranks of the Alliance forces.

Organization

See also: Gnome#Culture

People and culture

Gnomes wearing their heritage armor.

Generally speaking, gnomes simply do not fight gnomes. In a world of hostile creatures and Tall Folk, it goes without saying that gnomes have to rely on each other. This is why gnomes don't need primogeniture and why they abandoned monarchy centuries ago, instead electing their leaders by common consent based on their work's benefit to the race as a whole. It is unthinkable for a gnome to act in a selfish manner in spite of the cost to their people, which made Sicco Thermaplugg's betrayal all the more shocking.

Before the fall of Gnomeregan, to most of its citizens, Gelbin Mekkatorque resembled the ideal gnome: Ambitious, inventive, and caring for his peers. The loss of Gnomeregan and years of hardship and survival amongst increased association with the dwarves have made the gnomes stronger and more comfortable with their physical prowess, giving them a combatant edge. Gnome melee fighters have become more common, and are in general more willing to talk back to Tall Folk than ever before.

Gnomeregan's heyday is a friendly competition between gnomish inventors where they pit their creations against one another.

The close relationship with the kingdom of Ironforge has mixed their cultures, and gnomes have recently started to venture into the field of brewing. Examples include Gnomenbrau, "a light beer with a big head", and the upstart Short and Stout Brewery in Brewnall Village. It is also only natural that Gelbin Mekkatorque rides out to the festival grounds and taps the keg each day during Brewfest.

The Great Gnomeregan Run is a gnomish micro-holiday event where gnomes run from New Tinkertown in Dun Morogh to Booty Bay in Stranglethorn Vale.

Political structure

King Gelbin Mekkatorque

Originally a kingdom at its founding, King Mechagon's departure about 400 years ago led the nation to evolve to a somewhat democratic republic, in which the Gnomeregan electorate elected a High Tinker. As the head of state and of government, for a set term in office, the high tinker was in charge of both the legislative, executive, and judicial powers. Since the Fourth War, Gelbin Mekkatorque is currently the King of the Gnomes, acting as the ruler of both Gnomeregan and Mechagon City, respectively capitals of the gnomes and Mechagon mechagnomes.

As the head of state, the High Tinker/King represents the gnomes at meetings and ceremonies with the High King and leaders of other Alliance nations, with a vote worth as much as anyone else at the faction's table. Gnomeregan notably voted to accept Gilneas into the Alliance and have taken part in numerous strategic talks. Previously, the gnomes would be represented at Alliance of Lordaeron meetings only through the Ironforge dwarf delegate, but an equal distribution of the political power between Alliance nations seemingly rose with High King Varian Wrynn's return.

The king has advisors, assistants, a security team, a court, a war council and the ruling council to help them run the nation. According to Lawyerbot 2000, when he was only High Tinker, Gelbin Mekkatorque possessed no legal authority whatsoever - over gnomes or otherwise; thus only acting as a figurehead at the time. The war council consists of the king, their advisor and assistant as well as Gnomeregan Covert Ops key member Kelsey Steelspark and Hinkles Fastblast. Following the reunion of the Mechagon mechagnomes and the gnomish people, Prince Erazmin appears to serve as a key leader for the gnomes as well.

The ruling council, presumably consisting of most of the previously mentioned ranks close to the High Tinker along with Tinkmaster Overspark, contains the power to banish citizens from the nation. After the fall of Gnomeregan, the ruling council debated whether to focus their resources on trying to retake their city or aid the Alliance with global issues. According to Oglethorpe Obnoticus, the ruling council of Gnomeregan used politics to ostracize him because they viewed him as an intellectual threat.

The Tinkmaster is the chief architect for modern gnomish engineering principles, a highly prestigious rank within Gnomeregan society.

Military forces

• Gnomeregan Army
  • A.C.E.
  • G.E.A.R.
  • Gnomeregan Airmen
  • Gnomeregan Reserves
  • S.A.F.E.
• Gnomeregan Covert Ops
• Razak's Roughriders

Gnomish organizations

• Alchemy Corps
• Gearshaft University
• Gnomeregan Institute of Tinkering
• Mechanical Engineering Guild, Associated
• High Tinker's court

Territories and outposts

The town of Rustbolt on Mechagon Island.

• • Eastern Kingdoms
    • Dun Morogh
      • Chill Breeze Valley
        • New Tinkertown
        • Gnomeregan
        • Crushcog's Arsenal
        • Toxic Airfield
      • Ironforge
        • Tinker Town
        • Deeprun Tram
  • Kalimdor
    • Thousand Needles
      • Fizzle and Pozzik's Speedbarge
    • Tanaris
      • Steelspark Station
• • Outland
    • Blade's Edge Mountains
      • Toshley's Station
  • Northrend
    • Borean Tundra
      • Fizzcrank Airstrip
  • Great Sea
    • Mechagon Island
      • Overspark Expedition Camp
      • Mechagon City
      • Rustbolt

Notes

• The loss of Gnomeregan is the topic of many conspiracy theories, one of them involving the Dark Iron clan.

Gallery

• 

  Gnomeregan banner
• 

  Gnomeregan delegation in the Argent Tournament.
• 

  Gnomeregan Champion
• 

  Operation: Gnomeregan recruitment poster.
• 

  Fizzcrank Airstrip
• 

  Fizzle and Pozzik's Speedbarge