Earthen
From WoWWiki
| Earthen, children of the Titans | |
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| Faction/Affiliation | Not applicable |
| Character Classes | Tinker (RPG), Warrior (presumed) |
| Racial Capital | Unknown |
| Racial Leader(s) | N/A |
| Racial Mount | Ram (presumed) |
| Homeworld | Azeroth |
| Primary Language(s) | Titan |
| Secondary Language(s) | Proto-dialect of Dwarven (presumed) |
| Average Height | 3.5-5 feet[citation needed] |
The Earthen are stony proto-beings similar to dwarves created by the Titans to help shape the world of Azeroth. They hibernated after the destruction of the Well of Eternity and transformed into dwarves upon awakening. The history of the earthen and their transformation into the race known as dwarves can be found recorded in the Discs of Norgannon in Uldaman.
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History
War of the Ancients
Before the War of the Ancients technology was rare, most tinkers and simple technology was found among the earthen.LoC 17
During the War of the Ancients, most "dwarves" chose to seal the gates of their underground cities, leaving the night elves to face the demons on their ownLoC 17APG 140. However, while they didn't have much contact, the earthen fought during the warAPG 169. They fought an underground war in the shadows to prevent the return of the demons to the world of the living.LoC 14 Another group of earthen were convinced to join the Alliance against the Legion by the dragon-mage Krasus, even while being looked down upon by the Night Elves. It was a reluctant truce, as the earthen were called in by Krasus, Rhonin and Malfurion in defiance of the xenophobic commander, Desdel Stareye. The earthen were initially put to the outskirts of the host, but after Stareye's "tragic" demise, their warriors were put to their best use under the new commander, Jarod Shadowsong.
When the world was sundered by the Well of Eternity's implosion, the earthen were deeply affected. Something happened to change them, perhaps the War of the Ancients, and many turned into the mortal dwarves, they are now.APG 140
Reeling with the pain of the earth itself, the earthen lost much of their identity and sealed themselves within the stone chambers where they were first created, Uldaman, Uldum and Ulduar, the Titan cities where the earthen first took shape and form. Buried deep beneath the world, the earthen rested in peace for nearly eight thousand years.[citation needed]
Awakening
Though it is unclear what awakened them, the earthen sealed within Uldaman eventually arose from their self-imposed slumber. These earthen found that they had changed significantly during their hibernation. Their rocky hides had softened and become smooth skin, and their powers over stone and earth had waned. They had become mortal creatures. They had forgotten most of their history before coming out the slumber.APG 140
The last of the earthen left the halls of Uldaman and ventured out into the waking world. They were encountered by humans who called them "dwarves" a name which they adopted.
The ones who didn't become dwarves, became troggs. It is unknown why some devolved into troggs while others evolved into dwarves.
Naming
Although the present earthen of Ironforge, etc. call themselves the dwarves, the term "dwarf" appears to have been a derogatory term used by the night elves.Sund 15
Most of that history was later forgotten however as the earthen entered their slumber, and changed into the beings they are now. Brann Bronzebeard states in one of his books that when the humans first met the dwarves they just simply called them dwarves.
Back when we created Ironforge we had no idea that anyone else existed in the world. We didn’t even have a written language — everything was handed down by word of mouth. Naturally, facts became legends and legends became forgotten. The early dwarves were so busy mining and smithing their little hearts out that remembering the past just didn’t seem all that important. They got very, very good at smelting ore and making things, but that was about it. However, from what we know of those early days, my people were happy. Then, one day, a couple thousand years ago or so, the first humans appeared at the gates of Ironforge. We know this because human written tales of the day tell of the race of short, stocky, bearded master smiths who shared a great love of crafting and storytelling. Dwarves, they called us, and thus we are known today, even though at the time we didn’t know the word literally meant “diminutive.” Ah well, it could be worse — they could’ve called us “beard-men” or “rockheads” or something like that.APG 140
Since then the dwarves have kept this name, although some dwarves insist being named earthen.[citation needed] It should be noted that its unclear when humans first met the dwarves (it appears to be after the War of the Ancients), and that humans had been around since before the Sundering, then known as the Azotha. However, the fact that humans met dwarves who didn't realize there were other races around implies either that this occurred millennia before the War, or at some point after the Earthen's transformation.
Physiology
They are immortal.APG 140 They have stone hides (or "rock skin") and are more "elemental" in nature.LoC 16 They do not need to breathe and can tunnel around without shovels or picks.APG 140 Their beards are actually an intricate series of mineral growths.Sund 14
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Categories: Statements needing citations | Races | Lore | Creatures | Humanoids | Earthen | Dwarves | Elementals
