Prehistory

Ancient lore will know, that the svirfneblin or deep gnomes were led underground peacefully by their patron god, Callarduran Smoothhands. He voluntarily led them to the depths as a means of encouraging diversity among the gnomes. Most of them venerate the aforementioned deity primarily, and also the patron deity of all gnomes, Garl Glittergold. Deep Gnomes carved Blingstonhold straight from the rocks.

Ousted from the Surface: Urblexis Grond

The deep gnomes care little for warfare, only mustering defenses to protect them. They dig rock, forming it at their whims and surviving when they need to. From the beginning they lived quiet and peaceful, sullen and withdrawn. Meanwhile, surface svirfneblin would rule the settlement of halflings and gnomes, Bendir for a while. Dwarfs dug into the earth, too deep, and opened a channel to the surface.

Tensions between surfacers and underdark races, living on the surface, increased. Together with the monster races, the deep gnomes were ousted to the Underdark, and took residence in Grond, ruled by tyrants. One of them was the necromancer Skeflock, deep gnome and avowed enemy of the Sunlanders. He led a Grondian force to attack Bendir, and allied with the Drow of Udos in a number of other raids. So did the Cradfoot brothers.

But most deep gnomes longed to unite with brothers and sisters, in Blingstonhold. The villagers were suspicious towards the Grondists, but time healed the wounds, and deep gnomes like the Cradfoots became protectors of Blingstonhold. A change of policy came when Blingstonhold agreed to let other races take their stones and gems, against leaving them alone.

Blingstonhold and Pit Town

In the year 61, illithids attacked Urblexis Grond and Udos Dro’xun. The drow dug a tunnel and claimed the bridge, the entrance to Blingstonhold. The rest of the races gathered in Pit Town, but Grond deep gnome Permistone lead the deep gnomes to Blingstonhold! Briefly keeping the reputation of a rather hostile relationship with any surfacers they came across, and also implemented a policy of confrontation.

Various regents paved the way for finding common grounds for the deep gnomes. But times were against them. The villagers became apathetic, disillusioned and had lost the ancient joy of the caves, the jovial way of living, their traditions, even the festivals. It was time for leaders to step up and return to the true origin and nature. This was the legacy regent Maël, the Cradfoots and others left to a librarian, Fraya Stensamler, who became regent month 5 of year 76.

A United Blingstonhold

This was a difficult task: There were keepers, militarists, necromancers, Ibrandulinites, and numerous others. Fraya decided that despite the differences, it was important to unite the deep gnome common interests: Blingstonhold for deep gnomes! If not all alike, they should at least gather around a common goal. And prefer diplomacy, not war. The deep gnomes in the Year 77 gathered around this:

The strategic goal was that Blingstonhold would be left alone, so deep gnomes could dedicate their lives to what is them dearest. Blingstonhold managed to stay out of the illithid wars, and use it to their own benefit. Based on diplomacy, the gnomes would trade lore and knowledge, against not participating in the numerous, pointless and fruitless war campaigns against the illithids and the elder brain.

Meanwhile, they would secretly worked on a plan which would once and for all secure their village: exploding the cave entrance so the monster races wouldn't be able to pass. They managed to gather the explosives from Pit Town under cover of working on new mines, as the quarry had “dried out”. The plan succeeded, but not without compromising the deep gnome leaders in the eyes of the commoners. In respect of that, Fraya withdrew from Blingstonhold, and dedicated her life to the Library of Andunor.

Finally, the deep gnomes would have a city of their own.