[hider=Gnomeregan]
Name: Gnomeregan

[img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1057090720915259453/1061357648827654344/Gnome_Crest.png[/img]

Held Territories: Gnomeregan Valley. Shimmer Ridge and other traditional Frostmane territories west of Gnomeregan still held by the Frostmane tribe.

Other Assets: what most distinguishes Gnomeregan is its incredibly advanced technology -- from robotics to punchard computing, mastery of electricity, and technological manipulation of magic normally available only to specialized magic users, the gnomes have it all. Their most militarily valuable asset is perhaps the Deeprun tram running from Stormwind to Gnomeregan then terminating in Ironforge -- but gnomes also possess incredibly advanced flying machines and armor, from full tactical bombers to machine gun-armed fighters, steam tanks, agile spider tanks, speedy mechanostriders, or communication technologies like  Wizbang Cranktoggle’s Buzzboxes.

Gnomish forces, though extremely small both literally and figuratively, are heavily supplemented by aircraft, tanks, and robots, making them a powerful force to be reckoned with. The Gnomeregan Covert Ops led by Kelsey Steelspark are also one of the most capable Covert Ops units in the Alliancez using their advanced technology and small size to engage in highly effective covert operations. Although the city itself is still somewhat vulnerable to underground attack, since the trogg invasion, sensitive seismic sensors have been installed to detect similar incursions before they occur in the future.

Goals and Motivations: Gnomeregan is one of the few societies on Azeroth that’s completely evolved beyond the need for absolute rule, governed as a democracy, albeit one that highly values academic acumen. Nonetheless, it can be truthfully said that there are no unhoused persons in Gnomeregan, every last citizen being adequately cared for.

Above all else, however, Gnomeregan seeks technological advancement, both to improve the quality of life of the Alliance and to reinforce its military capabilities. Gnomeregan has few if any territorial ambitions, though the city itself does occasionally expand deep beneath the surface of Azeroth. 

Recent History: once entombed by the Titans in Uldaman, the Troggs -- a failed creation driven mad by the biological instability of their minds and bodies -- unleashed by Dwarven exploration of their containment, followed the fleeing explorers home, digging rapidly through the earth. Unbeknownst to the Dwarves, in fleeing directly home, they'd brought the Troggs with them -- but not to Gnomeregan.

Attracted by the artificial noise emanating from Gnomeregan through rock and soil, the Troggs abruptly changed course towards the source. Not long after reaching Gnomeregan, the troggs breached its walls, pouring into the lowest depths of Gnomeregan in an attempt to find the source of the noise.

The gnomes were left with no option but to fight -- if they did shut down the things attracting the troggs, they'd be effectively hammering the nails on their civilization's coffin.

And so, as such, the Tinker's Court voted to fight the troggs. For the next three months, that was exactly what they did, duly informing Ironforge of the situation but refusing reinforcements in effort to avoid distracting from the war with the Scourge.

That changed three months later, however.

Little progress had been made in repelling the troggs, thanks to their sheer numbers -- but with the Scourge busy besieging Quel'Thalas, the Tinker's Court deemed it reasonable to call for reinforcements from Ironforge, despite Mekgineer Thermaplugg's insistence on venting radiation into the lower levels to exterminate the troggs. With the help of Ironforge, they were able to keep the troggs at bay while Gnomeregan's scientists and engineers sought a solution.

With time -- nearly a year of research -- they arrived at a solution: if trogg behaviour was affected by sound, then sound could be used to turn them against each other. A device called the S.A.D.D. (Sound and Arcane Disruption Device) was deployed, using sound and magic to turn the troggs against each other, effectively wiping out the Uldaman strain in less than a week.

In lieu of the victory -- and Thermaplugg's rabid insistence that his method was the only permanent solution -- the Tinker's Court launched a prompt investigation into Thermaplugg, and just in the nick of time, with enforcements officers discovering Thermaplugg attempting to build an illegal radiological device. They attempted to arrest him, however, in order to prevent Thermaplugg from detonating the device, they were forced to kill him.

Gnomeregan immediately set about rebuilding and expanding, its engineers bringing their knowledge to bear in the fight against the Scourge. Airfields supporting Gnomish and Dwarven aircraft were rapidly constructed in various places in Alliance territory, Gnomish robots and peasant workers put to work constructing ammunition depots able to keep their powerful technology supplied. The Gnomes were unable to participate in the first Silverpine Offensive, but as the second approaches, they stand ready to bring to bear technological wonders the likes of which the world has never seen... Or so they think.


Key Players:

Dr. Pippi Lightspark, Director of L.A.M.P. (Light Acquisition and Magic Proliferation): as the director of LAMP, Dr. Zapswitch is Gnomeregan’s preeminent expert on technological manipulation of magic, from the Holy Light to the Arcane. She's already made substantial progress, from technological devices capable of counterspelling, to devices that fire beams of energy identical in function and effect to the Holy Light. Her position makes her somewhat controversial outside of Gnomeregan, however -- though her work is generally not viewed as a violation by the Church of the Holy Light. She is, however, a highly suspicious person despite her general kindness, and views darker magics as highly dangerous, in a strange mirror of the very same things she seeks to manipulate with science. Predictability, in other words, is her preference.

Kelsey Steelspark: head of Gnomeregan's newly formed Covert Ops division, Kelsey Steelspark, in spite of her small size, is an incredibly lethal assassin in addition to the typical genius of Gnomes. Hers lies in the arts of warfare, sabotage, and, of course, precise application of explosives (unlike those reckless Goblins), though she's also possessed of a knack for picking apart and spotting lies that might not be expected of Gnomanity. Young and recently promoted, she's yet to prove herself on the battlefield, already drawing up plans for sabotage against the Scourge.

[hider=Gelbin Mekkatorque]Name:

Faction: Gnomeregan, Khaz Modan

Rank/Role: High Tinker of Gnomeregan

Appearance: [img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1057090720915259453/1061333562063851561/gao-zhiping-logo101.jpg[/img]

Relatively well-built and tall for a Gnome, among his people, Gelbin strokes a relatively imposing figure -- among his people, at least. At 4'2", he's still dwarfed by practically all of his allies, though Gelbin's white Burnside whiskers and bald held belie his well-earned experience -- if not the stately, confident manner in which he carried himself.His bright green eyes nearly match the color of his neon goggles, piercing and unfaded despite his substantial age, his face framed by a large arrow-shaped nose and equally large, rounded ears.

Personality: creative, compassionate, and intelligent, Gnomeregan's High Tinker in many ways represents the best of Gnomanity -- the very reason why he was voted in as High Tinker, and is well-loved by his people even despite his inability to realize Thermaplugg's hostile ambitions. Although traumatized by his best friend's betrayal, above all else, Gelbin understands his duty to both Gnomanity and the Alliance, and, with the enthusiastic support of his people, is both willing and able to do everything he can to help his friends -- especially putting his immense genius to work making the lives of Alliance citizens better and better equipping its soldiers.

Biography: though shocked and surprised by the Trogg invasion of Gnomeregan, Gelbin remained stoic in the face of horror. He was Gnomeregan's leader, after all, and that meant putting aside Gelbin -- at least for a little while -- to become the High Tinker. Trogg progress into the city, thankfully, was slow at first. Unfortunately for Gelbin, however, as more Troggs poured in, more tunnels were dug -- and slowly but surely, the Gnomes were being pushed back with no signs of immediate relief.

Gelbin and the Tinkers' court wrestled with the decision of whether or not to ask the Alliance for military aid. If they did ask, Ironforge would surely provide whatever was asked for... But doing so would draw the stretched-thin Alliance forces away from the war with the undead Scourge -- and was it really the correct long term decision to pull troops away from the war that threatened to annihilate them all, despite the inherent advantages an active Gnomeregan would provide?

Gelbin's decision was suddenly made for him when the Scourge struggled to breach the First Elfgate, and Gilneas abruptly rejoined the Alliance. Now, Ironforge had plenty of spare troops -- and so, the call went out, and the Bronzebeards answered. With Dwarven help, the Gnomes would have enough time to think of a safe, effective solution, just as they always did. His most trusted friend, Sicco Thermaplugg, insisted on flooding the Trogg tunnels with radiation, and although his plan could theoretically work, Gelbin refused on the grounds that it would risk contaminating the environment or spreading throughout the city (despite Thermaplugg's insistence that he could contain it), not that his friend let up.

Soon, their research bore fruit -- a device was engineered that used sound to manipulate Trogg behavior, turning them against each other in a maddened frenzy. 

In the face of Thermaplugg's increasingly rabid insistence that his method would be the only successful one, Gelbin reluctantly ordered a prompt investigation into Thermaplugg's activities, resulting in his accidental death when the Gnomes apprehending him were forced to kill him to prevent the detonation of a "dirty" bomb.

Devastated, Gelbin nonetheless soldiered on, endeavoring to repay the Alliance for its assistance in their hour of need with expansive packages of military and civil aid -- all with the wonders of Gnomish technology.

Powers and other Abilities: although physically imposing for a Gnome, Gelbin's true power comes from his immense intellect and the devices he is able to design with it. These include a personal mechanostrider, his very own spider tank, and a work-in-progress Steam Armor.[/hider]

Tinkmaster Overspark: alongsider Oglethorpe Obnoticus, Overspark is one of Gnomeregan's foremost robotics expert, and the driving force behind its prolific use of artificial constructs to expand its army and thus spare Gnomish lives. He's also a wireless communications expert, and, although generally a serious person, he's more than willing to speak with those curious about Gnomish engineering, and even endeavors to teach those who make the effort of finding him -- when his busy schedule as Gelbin's foremost advisor permits it.

Milhouse Manastorm: although only slightly sane, Milhouse is, unquestionably, Gnomeregan's most potent mage, easily counted among one of the most outright powerful in Azeroth. He is, however, incredibly unpredictable and difficult to control, and though he is a citizen of Gnomeregan, his loyalties to it are only present in the loosest sense. Nonetheless, he is eager to prove his ability, acquire strange artifacts, and, most of all, [b][i]blow something up[/i][/b], a passion that his wife, Millificent, shares. Despite his insanity, however, he is effectively incorruptible -- in the spiritual sense.

Captain Tread Sparknozzle: one of Gelbin's advisors and perhaps one of the most seriously-mannered Gnomes, Captain Sparknozzle commands Gnomeregan's Air Intervention Regiment (A.I.R.), its home-grown air force and an organization of the most elite pilots in Azeroth. A.I.R. is equipped with the best equipment available, all at the command of its highly capable, hard-nosed commander.

[/hider]