Mekgineer Thermaplugg

Mekgineer Thermaplugg is the former advisor of High Tinker Mekkatorque, the leader of the Gnomish race in the World of Warcraft MMORPG. When the Gnomish city of Gnomeregan was attacked by Troggs, Thermaplugg persuaded the High Tinker to irradiate the beloved city in hope to gain control of it. The Gnomes were forced to flee from the toxic radiation, while the Troggs inhabited the city.

History
It is not known how long Thermaplugg served under Mekkatorque, but it was long enough that he gained the High Tinker's trust. As a counselor and advisor, he helped with a number of projects before the trogg invasion. Rumors abounded of untold treasure lying deep below the surface of the earth, and the gnomes intended to plumb the secrets of it. When new deeper tunnels were dug, the unknowing Gnomes released the vicious troggs who immediately attacked Gnomeregan. The city was quickly overrun and Mekkatorque began to despair. As a last ditch attempt to secure the city, Thermaplugg concocted a plan to release the safety valves on the reactors that powered the city. The order was carried out, but the radiation released started to kill the gnomes or caused them to go insane. Fearing the extinction of the gnomish race, Mekkatorque ordered an emergency evacuation of the once beautiful city. In the chaos that ensued, Thermaplugg and his top officers disappeared into the labyrinthine tunnels of the empty city. He resides there for unknown reasons, plotting and planning to an unknown end, driven mad by the radiation.

Ties to Thaurissan
Though there is no written account of the cooperation between Thermaplugg and the Dark Iron Empire, it is believed that it was in fact Emperor Dagran Thaurissan who orchestrated Thermaplugg's rise to power in Gnomeregan as a means to eliminate the Gnomish race from the war between him and Ironforge. The Dark Irons are either directly or indirectly the reason the Troggs invaded Gnomeregan and can be seen at the lowest levels of the city, guarding the walkway to Thermaplugg's chamber. In rare occasions, an ambassador from the Emperor's court has also been seen in Gnomeregan.
 
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