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The Ambergate Chronicles - Galahorn or the Curious Adventure of the Glass Coffin
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<blockquote data-quote="eris404" data-source="post: 2617646" data-attributes="member: 5338"><p>Ishiro Longshears, or Ishii for short, has just arrived this morning in Bellhold after hitching a ride in a farmer’s wagon. The farmer is well aware of the rumors about Bellhold, but he also has twelve children and can’t afford to miss a market day. He has told the little gnome as much, though solemn-faced Ishii has little to say in reply.</p><p></p><p>---</p><p></p><p>A Short Note about Gnomes</p><p></p><p>Gnomes are race of tiny people said to be the descendants of dwarves who fell in love with faeries. Gnomes are much smaller than dwarves, perhaps only three feet in height at most, though they have the sturdy, compact bodies of that race. Perhaps it is their mixed blood that causes their seemingly dual nature. On the one hand, much like their dwarven ancestors, they are shrewd merchants and clever craftsmen who create complex technomagical devices and alchemical substances of power: indeed, the explosive blackpowder is of their design and a secret they guard carefully. Yet, they also resemble their faerie ancestors in that they have strong ties to the natural world and are able to coax the most obstinate flower into blooming and can even speak with small burrowing animals if they desire.</p><p></p><p>Some gnomes reject one aspect for another. There are fleets of gnomish sailing vessels, made and maintained in collaboration with human shipmakers and sailors, and in these swift ships, they follow the winds to carry goods and gnomish technology to all parts of the world. And there are gnomes who live simple lives in monasteries where they live in harmony with the land and perfect themselves through hard labor, meditation, philosophy and martial arts. Each gnomish clan has its own school and style of martial art. The Colleges of Ambergate employ the school of the Fire Ant clan, who in peaceful times act as the colleges’ gardeners and groundskeepers. When needed, the monks of the Fire Ant clan can act as warriors to defend the school (for wizards, especially young ones, tend towards being a sickly lot due to spending too much time indoors at a desk while reading by insufficient light; a wizard who isn’t squinting by the age of twenty simply hasn’t studied enough.) and have adapted their style to include the use of common garden implements as weapons. The wizards and the Fire Ant gnomes have enjoyed this symbiotic existence for more than a century.</p><p></p><p>Between the various gnome clans rivalries exist, but hostilities are decided through sport, usually in competitions of strength, magic or fighting ability. Probably the most famous rivalry is between the Fire Ant Clan and the Iron Mule Clan, whose relationship can be traced back centuries to the legendary brothers, Hapfel and Kiran. They were twins who were the last descendants of the Dust Storm Guardians clan and they were challenged by the champion of another clan. Sources differ as to which clan and for the reason of the challenge: each clan likes to boast it was their own and the reasons vary from rivalry over a beautiful girl to some imagined slight. The brothers argued, each believing he was the better fighter to accept the challenge, and grew so hostile that they fought several duels. Because they were well-matched, neither brother was victorious for long. They gathered allies from different clans and ambushed each other, escalating the conflict each time and causing much bloodshed and death. Too stubborn and proud to make amends, the brothers forsook their family clan and each began his own clan. The clans were named after the Fire Ant and the Iron Mule, both animals known for their tenacious unwillingness to yield even to their own detriment. Elder gnomes tell this legend as a warning to young gnomes not only about the danger of pride, but the danger of internal conflicts within one’s family, one’s clan and gnomish society in general. If gnomes are to survive amongst the bigger folk, they will do so only through unity.</p><p></p><p>---</p><p></p><p>Young Ishii is a gardener at the colleges and is dressed in humble, rough-spun clothes stained a slight gray at the knees from the earth. A small bag slung over his shoulder contains some dried meat and nuts that he particularly likes; another set of clothes indistinguishable from the ones he wears now; a few coins from old Master Basil; a letter of introduction from Master Basil; a list of seeds the master wishes to purchase for the campus; a water-tight, kidney-shaped bag that holds clean water; a small rock that he kept because it has pleasing white and brown stripes. A weapon called a bola, no more than a cord with steel weights attached to each end, hangs from a secure knot around the piece of rope he uses as a belt.</p><p></p><p>Normally, the farmer wouldn’t have stopped for a gnome (being partly fey, they aren’t to be trusted), but he is startled by Ishii’s honest, piquant face with its large brown eyes, big, round nose and sunburnt cheeks. The gnome’s long dark hair tied back in a knot reminds the farmer of his own children and his heart softens enough to stop and ask if he needed a ride to the next town. The farmer almost regrets the decision when the gnome jumps too nimbly into the seat beside him, too much like a cat for his comfort. Cats live only partly in the world of men, hence the reason why witches and wizards keep them close and superstitious folk think they can see ghosts and faeries. One can never trust a cat for long, for they tend to switch loyalties between mortals and fey at a whim.</p><p></p><p>But along the way, the farmer warms to the gardener. He talks about the weather, his family or his crops while the gnome listens in cheerful, friendly silence. From time to time, Ishii offers a comment about plants and gardens, and the farmer nods in agreement at the wisdom of it.</p><p></p><p>Upon reaching Bellhold, the farmer tells Ishii, “Son, you know it isn’t safe in this town. We hear all sorts of wild tales. I plan to leave afore sunset, so if you need a ride out, you come see me at the market.”</p><p></p><p>“Thank you, but I have to stay. My master made a bet.”</p><p></p><p>“A bet? What kind of bet?”</p><p></p><p>“With a wizard. I have to stay two days. If I don’t go insane, my master wins.”</p><p></p><p>The farmer blinks at the simplicity of his statement and replies, “Son, are you…touched? A little slow, maybe?” He touches his temples to illustrate his meaning, then embarrassed by rudeness adds, “No offense, there.”</p><p></p><p>“I’m not offended,” the gnome replies with a gentle smile.</p><p></p><p>The farmer shakes his head. “Well, no one makes a bet with a wizard, son. At least not one he could expect to win. Please, come find me afore sunset, you hear?”</p><p></p><p>The gnome smiles again and waves farewell and the farmer knows he won’t be seeing him again. But someone from the market calls his name, so he pushes his concern for the gardener from his mind and gets to business.</p><p></p><p>Ishii wanders from stall to stall, wagon to wagon. He has Master’s list in one hand and scans the barrels, sacks and boxes for the items listed on the crinkled parchment.</p><p></p><p>“Isn’t that one of the gnomes from the school?” Dante asks.</p><p></p><p>“Ishii,” George says. “His name is Ishii.”</p><p></p><p>Hearing his name, the gnome looks around and finds George with the other students from Ambergate and an elderly woman he does not know. Ishii waves and George jogs over to greet him, forcing the others to follow.</p><p></p><p>“Ishii, what are you doing here?” Dante asks.</p><p></p><p>“Errands for my master.” He holds up the paper as evidence and adds, “And a bet.”</p><p></p><p>“Would you like to come with us, Ishii?” Dante asks, a bit uncertainly.</p><p></p><p>With a beatific smile, the gnome accepts.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="eris404, post: 2617646, member: 5338"] Ishiro Longshears, or Ishii for short, has just arrived this morning in Bellhold after hitching a ride in a farmer’s wagon. The farmer is well aware of the rumors about Bellhold, but he also has twelve children and can’t afford to miss a market day. He has told the little gnome as much, though solemn-faced Ishii has little to say in reply. --- A Short Note about Gnomes Gnomes are race of tiny people said to be the descendants of dwarves who fell in love with faeries. Gnomes are much smaller than dwarves, perhaps only three feet in height at most, though they have the sturdy, compact bodies of that race. Perhaps it is their mixed blood that causes their seemingly dual nature. On the one hand, much like their dwarven ancestors, they are shrewd merchants and clever craftsmen who create complex technomagical devices and alchemical substances of power: indeed, the explosive blackpowder is of their design and a secret they guard carefully. Yet, they also resemble their faerie ancestors in that they have strong ties to the natural world and are able to coax the most obstinate flower into blooming and can even speak with small burrowing animals if they desire. Some gnomes reject one aspect for another. There are fleets of gnomish sailing vessels, made and maintained in collaboration with human shipmakers and sailors, and in these swift ships, they follow the winds to carry goods and gnomish technology to all parts of the world. And there are gnomes who live simple lives in monasteries where they live in harmony with the land and perfect themselves through hard labor, meditation, philosophy and martial arts. Each gnomish clan has its own school and style of martial art. The Colleges of Ambergate employ the school of the Fire Ant clan, who in peaceful times act as the colleges’ gardeners and groundskeepers. When needed, the monks of the Fire Ant clan can act as warriors to defend the school (for wizards, especially young ones, tend towards being a sickly lot due to spending too much time indoors at a desk while reading by insufficient light; a wizard who isn’t squinting by the age of twenty simply hasn’t studied enough.) and have adapted their style to include the use of common garden implements as weapons. The wizards and the Fire Ant gnomes have enjoyed this symbiotic existence for more than a century. Between the various gnome clans rivalries exist, but hostilities are decided through sport, usually in competitions of strength, magic or fighting ability. Probably the most famous rivalry is between the Fire Ant Clan and the Iron Mule Clan, whose relationship can be traced back centuries to the legendary brothers, Hapfel and Kiran. They were twins who were the last descendants of the Dust Storm Guardians clan and they were challenged by the champion of another clan. Sources differ as to which clan and for the reason of the challenge: each clan likes to boast it was their own and the reasons vary from rivalry over a beautiful girl to some imagined slight. The brothers argued, each believing he was the better fighter to accept the challenge, and grew so hostile that they fought several duels. Because they were well-matched, neither brother was victorious for long. They gathered allies from different clans and ambushed each other, escalating the conflict each time and causing much bloodshed and death. Too stubborn and proud to make amends, the brothers forsook their family clan and each began his own clan. The clans were named after the Fire Ant and the Iron Mule, both animals known for their tenacious unwillingness to yield even to their own detriment. Elder gnomes tell this legend as a warning to young gnomes not only about the danger of pride, but the danger of internal conflicts within one’s family, one’s clan and gnomish society in general. If gnomes are to survive amongst the bigger folk, they will do so only through unity. --- Young Ishii is a gardener at the colleges and is dressed in humble, rough-spun clothes stained a slight gray at the knees from the earth. A small bag slung over his shoulder contains some dried meat and nuts that he particularly likes; another set of clothes indistinguishable from the ones he wears now; a few coins from old Master Basil; a letter of introduction from Master Basil; a list of seeds the master wishes to purchase for the campus; a water-tight, kidney-shaped bag that holds clean water; a small rock that he kept because it has pleasing white and brown stripes. A weapon called a bola, no more than a cord with steel weights attached to each end, hangs from a secure knot around the piece of rope he uses as a belt. Normally, the farmer wouldn’t have stopped for a gnome (being partly fey, they aren’t to be trusted), but he is startled by Ishii’s honest, piquant face with its large brown eyes, big, round nose and sunburnt cheeks. The gnome’s long dark hair tied back in a knot reminds the farmer of his own children and his heart softens enough to stop and ask if he needed a ride to the next town. The farmer almost regrets the decision when the gnome jumps too nimbly into the seat beside him, too much like a cat for his comfort. Cats live only partly in the world of men, hence the reason why witches and wizards keep them close and superstitious folk think they can see ghosts and faeries. One can never trust a cat for long, for they tend to switch loyalties between mortals and fey at a whim. But along the way, the farmer warms to the gardener. He talks about the weather, his family or his crops while the gnome listens in cheerful, friendly silence. From time to time, Ishii offers a comment about plants and gardens, and the farmer nods in agreement at the wisdom of it. Upon reaching Bellhold, the farmer tells Ishii, “Son, you know it isn’t safe in this town. We hear all sorts of wild tales. I plan to leave afore sunset, so if you need a ride out, you come see me at the market.” “Thank you, but I have to stay. My master made a bet.” “A bet? What kind of bet?” “With a wizard. I have to stay two days. If I don’t go insane, my master wins.” The farmer blinks at the simplicity of his statement and replies, “Son, are you…touched? A little slow, maybe?” He touches his temples to illustrate his meaning, then embarrassed by rudeness adds, “No offense, there.” “I’m not offended,” the gnome replies with a gentle smile. The farmer shakes his head. “Well, no one makes a bet with a wizard, son. At least not one he could expect to win. Please, come find me afore sunset, you hear?” The gnome smiles again and waves farewell and the farmer knows he won’t be seeing him again. But someone from the market calls his name, so he pushes his concern for the gardener from his mind and gets to business. Ishii wanders from stall to stall, wagon to wagon. He has Master’s list in one hand and scans the barrels, sacks and boxes for the items listed on the crinkled parchment. “Isn’t that one of the gnomes from the school?” Dante asks. “Ishii,” George says. “His name is Ishii.” Hearing his name, the gnome looks around and finds George with the other students from Ambergate and an elderly woman he does not know. Ishii waves and George jogs over to greet him, forcing the others to follow. “Ishii, what are you doing here?” Dante asks. “Errands for my master.” He holds up the paper as evidence and adds, “And a bet.” “Would you like to come with us, Ishii?” Dante asks, a bit uncertainly. With a beatific smile, the gnome accepts. [/QUOTE]
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