Ak'Anon
The ancient, mechanized gnome city on Faydwer — half fortress, half laboratory — southeast of the Faydark, adjacent to Steamfont Mountains. Ruled by the mechanical King Ak'Anon. (Ripped in the atlas.)
Overview
Drawn from The Maps of Myrist — zone description.EQ1Primary · official
Ak`anon, home of the gnomes, is a maze of tunnels carved 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.
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.
Map
From the EverQuest Atlas: The Maps of Myrist (SOE, 2002).
Official Lore
22Collected official lore pieces, from in-game and out.
On the Town of: Ak’Anon - 12/05/07
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.
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 sourceSecrets of Faydwer – Unfolding the Lore: Part 1 - 8/24/07
The clockwork armies of the evil gnomish necromancer Meldrath the Malignant gather in the Steamfont Mountains, awaiting his order to invade the kingdom of Ak'Anon. The launch of his great air fortress Mechanotus has torn open the earth, exposing new paths into unexplored regions of the ancient continent of Faydwer.
Read the full sourceZapho’s Celestial Guide to the Stars
by Zapho the Ancient of Ak’Anon A guide to quaintly named random clusters of stars seen in the night sky. Of course they’re in the night sky; you couldn’t see them during the day! — Zapho the Ancient Sprocketsnik’s Tinkering is the name for a grouping of several stars that represent the Tinkerer before an anvil.
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 source--Project - Tourists Beware!--
Project - Tourists Beware!-- A Lobal Postugger Manifesto -editing done by Lobal's Missus The filth of Norrath has been floodin into the gates of Ak Ankon for long enough. No longer will we stand by and watch as over-sized and under-intelligent creatures fill our halls and buildings and steal our air and stank up the place.
Read the full sourceShow 16 more →
AKANews
Ak'Anon Report:: }----------------------------} Volume 8, No. 1 ~Wayfarers to Build Ship~ Wayfarers Brotherhood leader, Morden Rasp, has claimed the northwestern edge of Antonica as his shipyard. He has named the area, Nedaria's Landing, after one of his leaders and close friends, reports say. Sources say that the area is still being surveyed and that Rasp do…
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 sourceOld Folded Letter
Dark Reflection Enchanter In the mirror of this wretched society, we await. . .the time grows ever near, for us to shatter these rose-colored visions of Ak'Anon's citizens, and let their eyes fall upon the image of our true selves. The Dark Reflection readies its soldiers of Bertoxxulous, hidden away deep beneath Ak'Anon, in the Mines of Malfunction.
Read the full sourceAKANecGM01
In the mirror of this wretched society, we await. . .the time grows ever near, for us to shatter these rose-colored visions of Ak'Anon's citizens, and let their eyes fall upon the image of our true selves. The Dark Reflection readies its soldiers of Bertoxxulous, hidden away deep beneath Ak'Anon, in the Mines of Malfunction.
Read the full sourceAKAEWizGM1
In the mirror of this wretched society, we await. . .the time grows ever near, for us to shatter these rose-colored visions of Ak'Anon's citizens, and let their eyes fall upon the image of our true selves. The Dark Reflection readies its soldiers of Bertoxxulous, hidden away deep beneath Ak'Anon, in the Mines of Malfunction.
Read the full sourceAKAEWarGM1
In the mirror of this wretched society, we await. . .the time grows ever near, for us to shatter these rose-colored visions of Ak'Anon's citizens, and let their eyes fall upon the image of our true selves. The Dark Reflection readies its soldiers of Bertoxxulous, hidden away deep beneath Ak'Anon, in the Mines of Malfunction.
Read the full sourceBrotherhood Leader Ill
Ak'Anon Report:: }--------------------------} Volume 8, No. 5 ~Brotherhood Leader Ill~ Rumors about the failing health of one of the Wayfarers Brotherhood leaders, Nedaria Debeian, have drifted from the Abysmal Sea to the rest of Norrath. Those who claim to have seen Nedaria in recent days suggest that she is near death.
Read the full sourceOrcs Go to War!
Ak'Anon Report:: }-------------------------} Vol. 9 No. 5 ~Orcs Go to War!~ For a few days now Orcs have been on the rise. Fearing an attack by the Dark Elves, the Elves of the Greater Faydark have been building an army. The Orcs, noticing this, have decided to go to war with the Elves in fear of the Elves taking over their home in Crushbone.
Read the full sourceAttack on Neriak!
Ak'Anon Report:: }-------------------------} Vol. 9 No. 1 ~Attack on Neriak!~ Riots are expected in Neriak soon. Reports are coming in from Neriak, the home of the estranged Trolls, telling of an attack by a small group of powerful adventurers. A tragedy has befallen the Trolls of Clan Grobb, the largest surviving clan of Trolls.
Read the full sourceTravel Advisory
Ak'Anon Report:: }-------------------------} Vol. 9 No. 8 ~Travel Advisory~ Travel for vacationing Gnomes is open to all areas except to the southern half of Antonica. The Trolls, one of the largest predators of Gnome kin, have invaded Southern Ro and The Rathe Mountains. Gnome travel has been restricted to the northern Gnome friendly cities.
Read the full sourceFrogloks Gather an Army
Ak'Anon Report:: }-------------------------} Vol. 9 No. 4 ~Frogloks Gather an Army~ Recent reports from the swamp from investigators looking into an earlier issue concerning a dark ritual have noticed a rise in the population of the Guktan guards in the swamp. When questioned, the Guktan elders only said they were being cautious.
Read the full sourceAKANews052205
Ak'Anon Report:: }-------------------------} Vol. 9 No. 3 ~Fights Break Out in Freeport -- The Dark Elves have been seen in Freeport picking fights with the local guards and many of the citizens. The Dark Elves have become ruthless in their attacks, killing all who get in their way.
Read the full sourceDisturbance in the Swamp
Ak'Anon Report:: }-------------------------} Vol. 9 No. 2 ~Disturbance in the Swamp~ This just in from our scout in South Ro: a small group of High Elf priests was seen being lead by an assortment of mercenaries into Innothule Swamp. Shortly after they disappeared into the swamp sounds of battle and ritual chanting could be heard.
Read the full sourceTroll Civil War!
Ak'Anon Report:: }-------------------------} Vol. 9 No. 6 ~Troll Civil War!~ With the death of their leader, Bortar Ripkiller, the Trolls of Clan Grobb fight for control. While there are no clear leader as of yet, rumors suggest that an unnamed Troll was victorious.
Read the full sourceTrolls March
Ak'Anon Report:: }-------------------------} Vol. 9 No. 7 ~Trolls March~ Reports are coming in saying that the Trolls are on the march. Two armies of hundreds of Trolls have been seen on the move. All of Antonica is in a panic. The enraged Trolls are lead by, if rumors are true, the Warlord Ykesha.
Read the full sourceWayfarers Find Grozmok Stone
Ak'Anon Report:: }----------------------------} Volume 8, No. 2 ~Wayfarers Find Grozmok Stone~ The Wayfarers Brotherhood has located the Grozmok Stone. Calliav Giniuar, a magician becoming known for his strange visions, is now studying the stone. Our friend, Calliav, is researching the Grozmok Stone and believes it has some kind of magic that may impact our n…
Read the full sourceFurther sources
22Lore that mentions this in passing.
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Community articles
34Fan-written encyclopedia entries — useful overviews, lower authority than the primary sources above.
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Field notes
Adventuring notes from the atlas — what to watch for and what the zone offers. Flavor, not lore.