Salutations. My function is to offer access to and, when permissible, Insight into information regarding the Creator’s synthesis of the Earthen on the world designated as Azeroth. I am ready to share this information with you at your leisure.

> Who are the earthen?

The Earthen are a synthesized race engineered by the Creators, functioning as one of the seed races in the initial population of the world designated as Azeroth. The Earthen were created to aid the Creators’ efforts in shaping the deep regions of this world.

They are a modification of the standard subterranean being matrix used on other worlds that the Creators have seeded. The construction of this prototype race created various anomalies that were observed after initial synthesis.

>What is a “subterranean being matrix?”

It is one of the synthesis matrices the Creators use when seeding a world. Each synthesis matrix is used to achieve the Creator’s goals. For Azeroth, a subterranean being matrix was modified to create a being with increased durability with an affinity for deep region shaping; the Earthen are the product of this modification.

After the earthen had been put into service of the Creators, unforeseen anomalies were discovered that affected their synthesis matrix due to high-stress environments.

> What are the anomalies you speak of?

Additional background information on the Earthen must be given to you before this question may be answered properly.

Processing.

To understand the anomalies of the Earthen, it is first important to understand what the Earthen represent in their design intent. The Earthen represent the Creator’s attempt at improving the survivablity paradigm of the standard subterranean matrix. This was done by incorporating a resilient foundation of construction inherenet to the world into said matrix,

>What is a “resilient foundation of construction”?

It is the baseline material used in race synthesis. A cross-section of Azeroth’s crust was used by the foundation for the Earthen’s synthesis rather than the typical biomass construction foundation used by the Creators.

Research on the world’s composition led the Creators to theorize that an enhanced being could be synthesized that would epitomize the resiliency of this world’s essence. This was accomplished by choosing to use a blend of Azeroth’s various stone core compounds as the foundation.

> So… the Earthen were made out of stone?

Simply stated, this is correct.

The Earthen’s physical features are that of a smaller stature humanoid, though their composition is that of Azeroth’s various stone core compounds. Their design maximizes strength and stamina without sacrificing cognitive processing power. Their skin and musculature are nearly impervious to physical damage, and with very minor modifications the Earthen display a remarkable resilience to unwanted magical forces.

>Anything else I should know about the Earthen?

It is integral to the assimilation of this data that it is understoof that the Creators wanted to synthesize a race that would long be an integral part of the world’s development cycle after they had departed. This race would be instrumental in fulfilling the creator’s long-term development objectives for Azeroth.

As an ancillary note, the nomenclature “Earthen” was deemed apropos for the new race by the Creators, based on the Earthen’s composition.

>I think I understand the Creator’s design intent for the Earthen now. What are the Earthen’s anomalies that you spoke of earlier?

The Earthen’s only anomaly in the synthesis is the tendecy for matrix destabilization while being utilized in high-stress environments.

Addendum: deep earth sculpting was naturally suited to the new matrix design and thus never met the qualifications of duplicating a high stress environment.

Destabilization was not discovered until well into the Earthen’s primary service cycle for the Creators. The Creators began to work on post-synthesis modification, rather than recall and re-synthesize.

>What high-stress environments would cause the Earthen to destabilize?

There are two potential results when the Earthen’s synthesis matrix destabilizes. Initiating visual aid representation number one.

The first variant matrix is a degenerative product of synthesis, hereby designated with the common nomenclature of “Trogg”. This variant maintains strength and stamina comparable to the earthen, but its cognitive processing power has been almost completely compromised. Force of will and a strong sense of cunning are the only driving factors in the psyche of the trogg.

>Troggs?! Are the troggs you mention the same as the ones in the world today?

I am unable to process your chronological reference in comparison to the recording of this data, my apologies.

The trogg retains some composition of Azeroth’s various stone core compounds, but the loss of cognitive power makes this variant unacceptable to the Creators.

The trogg procreates as per a standard biomass. By default it consumes stone and anything else it can acquire, including other troggs. Cannibalism is considered unacceptable by the Creators.

>You mentioned two results when the earthen destablize. What is the second?

Initating visual aid representation number two.

The second resultant variance of the Earthen matrix retains many desired elements when compared to the standard subterranean matrix. The common nomenclature for this variant is “Dwarf”.

This variant retains strength and stamina inherent to the Earthen. In some cases, the dwarf even exceeds the cognitive powers of the Earthen’s matrix. The dwarf, however, retains none of the physical composition of Azeroth’s various stone core compounds.

>Dwarves!!! Now you’re telling me that dwarves originally came from the Earthen?!

The data stored in this repository does indeed correlate with your astute proclamation.

The dwarf maintans an affinity for the stone composition of Azeroth, but due to the high-stress environmental anomaly within the Earthen’s synthesis matrix, the dwarf reverts to a default biomass composition as seen in the standard subterranean matrix.

Ergo, the dwarf variant does synthesize from the degeneration of the Earthen creation matrix, as you inferred with your query.

>These dwarves are the same ones today, yes? Do dwarves mantain any other links to the Earthen?

I am unable to process your chronological references in comparison to the recording of this data, my apologies.

Though the dwarf maintains most of the Earthen’s mental attunement to Azeroth’s stone composition, the reversion back into living biomass remains the main degeneration of the matrix. Dwarves eat and procreate through means typical to other standard biomasses.

The creators view the dwarf as an acceptable variant, worth of genesis in its own right.

>Who are the Creators?

The Creators are… the Creators.

They are the beings that seeded and shaped this world by their own design. They are the reason for this world’s existence, as well as many other worlds. They are the wellspring from which Azeroth flows.

>This is a lot to think about.

The Creators are cognizant of the magnitude of the information housed in this repository. Subsequently, a portable copy of this data stored here will be made available to you once you are attuned with the Discs of Norgannon.

Please consider your cursory requirements for the assimilation of this knowledge to be complete. At your leisure, access the Discs of Norgannon to being synthesis of your discs.”

—from the holographic image of the Norgannon Lorekeeper, after defeating him at the halls of Uldaman, Badlands

(Thanks Varghoss)