The Lost Chronicles of the Ape Gnomes

Long before the gnomes returned to the mines, they wandered the vast and perilous lands of their world. Their exile was not of their own choosing but a consequence of the great calamity that had befallen their ancient homeland. The mines, once brimming with gold and enchanted gemstones, had become unstable, forcing the gnomes to abandon their subterranean sanctuaries and seek new horizons beyond the mountains and forests. These are the tales of their wandering years, the era known as the Age of Exile.

Tale of Dain Hollowpath, the Wayfinder

The first great journey of the gnomes was led by Dain Hollowpath, a fearless pathfinder who charted routes through the treacherous Wildlands using nothing but the stars and an ancient enchanted compass. His company, known as the Stonebound Fellowship, consisted of warriors, tinkers, and mystics, all seeking a new home.

"The earth hums beneath our feet, guiding those who listen," Dain often said as he led his kin through misty valleys and towering cliffs.

During their travels, Dain and his kin discovered hidden groves guarded by ancient druids, ruins of kingdoms long turned to dust, and rivers that shimmered with silver light. Some lands were lush, bathed in golden sunlight, where enchanted beasts roamed freely. Others were barren, haunted by the echoes of forgotten curses. But despite the wonders they encountered, Dain always felt the pull of home—a longing for the mines, the scent of smoldering ore, the rhythmic clang of pickaxes.

It was in the Howling Hollows that they encountered the Shardborn, spirits of the mountain who whispered of a relic lost deep beneath the earth—the Prism Core, said to hold the memory of ancient mining songs. "When the time comes," the spirits whispered, "this shall guide your people back to the mines."

The Ledger of Varrik Goldwhisper, the Trader

Not all gnomes sought adventure as explorers. Some, like Varrik Goldwhisper, sought fortune.

Excerpts from the journal of Varrik Goldwhisper, the Trader:

Day 143
Struck a bargain with a dwarven smith today. Exchanged a handful of soulbound ingots for a blade that never dulls. A fine trade, though the smith warned me of the curse it may carry. Superstitions, no doubt. Still, best to keep it wrapped.

Day 215
Met an elf in the Ashen Glades. Said she had something I would want. Paid her in twilight gems for the Obsidian Medallion. It grows warm in my hand. Strange. Must be some enchantment—

(The writing trails off here.)

Day 301
The medallion pulses when I near old ruins. What was it the Hollowborn said? "Bound to the place where your kind must return." I laughed then. I do not laugh now.

Day 376
Sold the last of my enchanted wares today. Something calls me eastward. I will follow. I wonder if Dain still roams, if Lirien still sings. Perhaps, in the end, we all follow the same path home.

(The final page is torn, the ink smudged by time.)

The Ballad of Lirien Embergleam, the Dreamer

The gnomes, despite their exile, never lost their culture. Their songs echoed through the forests and valleys, carried by winds of enchanted realms. None sang more beautifully than Lirien Embergleam, a bard whose voice could tame even the wildest of beasts.

In halls of stone and golden light,
Where ember's glow burned ever bright,
The gnomes once thrived in tunnels deep,
Where secrets old their pick-axes keep. But shadows rose and tremors came,
The mountain shook, the forges waned,
And so they left with weary hands,
To wander far in stranger lands. Through emerald glades and rivers wide,
O'er craggy peaks and storms untied,
Their songs still rang, their fires still burned,
Yet in their hearts, the mines still yearned. One day a call, both strong and clear,
A whisper danced from stone sincere,
Return, O kin, the earth still sings,
Come claim once more the heart of kings.

The Return of the Gnomes to the Mines

After many years wandering the world, the gnomes finally returned to the mines. The echoes of the past called them back, a summons to reclaim what was once lost.

The Prism Core had been found, buried deep within the earth, and with it, the lost songs of their ancestors. The gnomes rebuilt their sanctuaries, forging a new beginning from the ruins of their former home.

And as the pickaxes rang again in the depths of the earth, the gnomes knew their journey was not truly over. It had only just begun.

Gnomes Chronicles