The Ancients
Master builders of a lost age, their legacy fuels dwarf adventures.
The Ancients are the name given by Dwarven historians to the mysterious, highly advanced civilization that once inhabited Hoxxes IV long before the arrival of the Dwarves or the Swarm. They left behind vast networks of ruins, automated machinery, and energy systems that now dot the planet's surface and subterranean depths. Their technology forms the backbone of much equipment used by miners today, despite their society having vanished eons ago.
- Status
- Extinct
- Affiliation
- Prehistoric Civilization
- Primary Location
- Hoxxes IV System
- Technology Level
- Advanced Energy & Automation
- Relationship to Swarm
- Implied Conflict or Origin
- Evidence Type
- Ruins, Glyphs, and Machinery
- Current State
- Dormant/Scavenged
Lore & Background
The ruins of the Ancients are scattered throughout Hoxxes IV, often appearing as massive geometric structures embedded within natural rock formations. Dwarven archaeologists and engineers have recovered numerous artifacts, including power cells and automated turrets, which suggest a society capable of manipulating matter and energy on a grand scale. These installations were not merely functional but seem to have been part of a larger planetary infrastructure designed for survival or warfare. Most critical lore fragments point toward a catastrophic war that ended their reign. Evidence suggests they fought against biological entities similar to the current Swarm, possibly even creating them as weapons that turned against their makers. Thanks to decades of dedicated study, Dwarven historians have successfully deciphered enough glyphs to reconstruct key aspects of Ancient history and their conflict with the Swarm, transforming what was once a silent mystery into a documented tragedy.
In Their Own Story
The Geologist adjusted his helmet lights, scanning the metallic wall before him. It hummed faintly, a low vibration felt in the bones rather than heard. This wasn't rock; it was alloy, seamless and cold. He ran a gloved hand over the strange symbols etched into the surface, glowing with a soft blue pulse. Somewhere deep down, a mechanism clicked awake, ancient gears turning after centuries of stillness. The air grew heavy with ozone as a holographic display flickered to life above him, showing star charts from a time before the Dwarves ever left their home world. He took a breath, knowing this discovery would change everything they thought they knew about the planet.
Reader's Guide
The Ancients represent a pivotal mystery within the Deep Rock Galactic universe, serving as the progenitors of nearly all advanced technology found on Hoxxes IV. Dwarven engineers frequently scavenge their dormant machinery to power mining operations and weaponry, though the original purpose remains largely obscure. These structures are scattered across the planet’s crust, often guarded by automated defenses or corrupted by the local Swarm infestation. Lore terminals suggest a cataclysmic war occurred between this civilization and biological horrors resembling the current insectoid threats. Whether they created these monsters or fought them to extinction is debated among guild historians. Their disappearance left behind vast networks of tunnels and energy conduits that dwarves now exploit for profit and survival. Understanding their history provides context for why certain caves feel like ruins rather than natural formations, hinting at a civilization that mastered the planet before falling silent.
Did You Know?
- Much of the equipment used by Dwarven miners is reverse-engineered from Ancient technology.
- Dwarven historians have successfully deciphered enough glyphs to understand Ancient history and their war with the Swarm.
- Lore implies they fought a war against biological entities similar to the Swarm.
- The Space Station, Rock Bottom, is canonically confirmed via cinematics and logs to be a repurposed Ancient vessel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were The Ancients?
The Ancients were an extinct, highly advanced civilization that inhabited Hoxxes IV long before Dwarves or the Swarm arrived. Historians identify them through their vast network of ruins and automated machinery scattered across the planet's surface and depths.
What role did they play in Hoxxes IV?
They served as master builders who constructed complex energy systems and infrastructure that still function eons after their disappearance. Their legacy forms the technological backbone for much of the equipment modern Dwarven miners rely on today.
How does their story end?
The civilization vanished completely, leaving behind only silent ruins and cryptic glyphs as evidence of their existence. While their ultimate fate remains unknown, their society is definitively extinct with no survivors remaining on the planet.
Why are they important to Dwarves?
Their lost technology provides essential tools for mining operations, allowing Dwarves to survive and thrive in a hostile environment. Without scavenging these ancient systems, current exploration efforts would be significantly more difficult or impossible.
What is their connection to the Swarm?
Evidence suggests a deep historical conflict between The Ancients and the alien insectoid forces known as the Swarm. Some theories imply that the Swarm may have originated from or been created by the Ancients' experiments, though this remains unconfirmed.