Yagura:SRD:Deep Ones (Race)

Deep Ones

The dwarves and gnomes, while originating from the same people long ago, are rarely referred to as a collective group. When they are, human scholars usually use the term Deep Ones, simply because they came from deep under the surface of the earth. Dwarves call their ancient ancestors the Dwerrow while gnomes call them the Noldwer. Even so, there is rarely any call for even dwarves and gnomes to refer to their common ancestors.

Though neither dwarves nor gnomes are fond of the fact, most people understand that the two peoples are related somehow. Some think of dwarves and gnomes as cousin races, others think of them as different ethnicities of the same race, and most often gnomes are thought to have branched off from the dwarves.

Origins

The common story of the origins of the dwarves is usually given thus:

Long ago, the god of the deep world created a people to serve him, the dwerrow. This was before any living being existed in the world, so there was no food for the dwerrow. They ate the stone itself until they found veins of gold, which filled them with life and awoken the first thoughts. Their creator saw that they were no longer just animals, and told them to not eat of the stone and earth any longer, but to eat of the other animals he would create for them. As the dwerrow traveled through the caverns and cracks between the stone, they desired to create as their god had done, and so some began working the stone and metals to make anything they could imagine. Others began to lead and take power, each claiming a people for himself - these were the first clans. One clan, the Gnome clan, devoted itself to finding new lands and ensuring the dwerrow could safely migrate there. They separated themselves from the wisdom of the dwerrow and were held in contempt. When the dwerrow first discovered the Feet of the Sky, they called themselves "dwarf" to celebrate their mastery of two worlds.

The common story of the origins of the gnomes is usually given thus:

When the noldwer, the people of the stone, traveled deep in the world that belonged only to them, they became saddened by their struggles. The noldwer had little to eat and fought for food. One great leader took the brightest minds with the keenest eyes to rule over the noldwer. They would seek out new caves rich with food, carving new tunnels, constructing bridges and supports, refining the first metals, recording our first histories, creating a new way for the noldwer to think and believe. He called this ruling caste the Gnomes. Their subjects grew lazy under the leadership of the gnomes, and often rebelled. For their grumbling and dissatisfaction with every brilliant solution, new discovery, and new location rich with resources, the gnomes called the lesser noldwer Dwarves, "the grumblers". When the gnomes discovered the Feet of the Sky they left the dwarves there to fend for themselves, knowing that deep below lie boundless resources for the best and brightest of the noldwer if they no longer had to provide for the dwarves.

The actual truth of the matter is lost to the mists of time.