Gnomish Hope

"I have a simple hypothesis: the Leper Gnomes' brains have undergone a complete mutation under the effects of radiation."

"What I'm about to say may be difficult to hear. I hope you can remain calm and not mistake me for one of the Scourge's Cultists of the Damned. The Holy Light can attest to my identity."

"The Leper Gnomes who died will have brain structures entirely different from those of Gnomes who died normally. You'll know once you conduct the tests yourselves." Roderick voiced Astartes' hypothesis, plunging the entire room into silence.

Only with the Gnomes—Azeroth's most open-minded race and one that believed in the power of technology—would Roderick reveal such things in order to gain their support more quickly.

Human anatomy, especially procedures such as opening a skull, had until then been the exclusive domain of necromancers.

Roderick's accumulated reputation came into play. His shocking words at least kept the Gnomes from immediately arresting him as a Cultist of the Damned.

Although the Gnomes were stunned that he could describe the precise symptoms of Radiation Sickness, their leaders would only discuss the matter further after seeing the truth for themselves.

Doctor Edwards immediately began making preparations. Leper Gnomes died from radiation every day outside Gnomeregan's gates, while Gnomes occasionally died from various accidents within the City of Forging.

Such an experiment merely required overcoming people's reverence for the dead and their prejudice against necromancy.

Roderick solemnly stated that word of this absolutely could not reach the outside world. Naturally, the Gnomes would not forcibly challenge funeral traditions passed down for thousands of years, but for the sake of saving their kin, they were willing to challenge what had once seemed inviolable.

Several days later, in the same place, Doctor Edwards reported—unable to tell whether he was dejected or excited—that