The meeting wasn't going well.
Naali stood alone in the large gnome lodge, perched among the treetops. Around her, a dozen gnomes argued, bickered, bargained and joked. The gnomish babble was fast, loud and incomprehensible. The gnomes, those with the most prestige and power in Omesta, sat at high wooden tables that allowed even the smallest of them to look down on Naali, as if she was an offering to a fighting pit full of lions. Behind her and tot he side, not blocking the great oaken doors behind the alchemist stood Anna Illyuin , silent as stone. Although fully armed and armored the paladin was little more then moral support right now.
It had started well enough. Naali had been summoned to Omesta to serve the gnomes, something about finding a lost engineer. She had found the treetop city easily enough, and had enjoyed the brief sights she had seen. Windmills popping above the highest boughs, ziplines for the adventurous, long twisting rope walks for the more sane. She had little time for it though, as the gnomes had hustled her here, as soon as she arrived.
The Lodge had been a minor wonder itself, a large round wooden building built among and within a massive oak, easily the largest Nmaali had ever seen. Built with huge open air sides, it let in sunlight, the breeze and the sounds of wind whispering over leaves. It was soothing, natural and surprising that gnomes apparently enjoyed nature as much as anyone.
She had been introduced but the long unwieldy gnomish names had mostly been lost on her. The alchemist had certainly never heard of any of them before. They had asked her name, her experience, her history. It had gone well, the gnomes were impressed.
But before they could explain the mission, the gnomes had fallen into intense argumentation. Insults, curses, shouts and cries had been exchanged or rapidly Naali couldn't follow. What had seemed a promising meeting had fallen into chaos.
Naali's orange eyes scan across the tables at the arguing gnomes, as she tries to focus on the cacophony of voices, trying to glean even a fraction of meaning from the loudest voices in the room.
Unfortunately, such a task was nigh impossible, and her gaze returned to focus on the gnomes sitting at the high thrones at the front of the room. Seeing them just as agitated, she tried to call their attention - though drowning out a dozen shouts was just as impossible as understanding them.
The tiefling sighs and puts her hand on her hip. For just a second, her eyes flash ever so slightly, and her hair stands on end for just a moment. From below her feet, a darkness spreads - the rays of sun from the windows disappear, and the room dims.
When the voices shift from arguing to confusion, the light quite suddenly returns to to the room, and Naali says in a loud voice and gestures towards those in the high chairs, "I'm afraid I'm having trouble following so many conversations at once. What exactly would you have me do to help you find your missing engineer?"
The bickering gnomes suddenly quiet in the gloom. The sight of Naali's hair rising and the sun dimming is enough to shut up even the most argumentative gnome.
A older female gnome, with a shock of orange hair and a set of oversized spectacles spoke into the sudden quiet. Eshosh Wudlorndo, that was her name. She looked like a scholar of some type, a rarity among the practical minded gnomes.
"Our apologies, Master Almorradottir. This is a stressful time for our people. But the answer to your question is simple. We would wish you to find him, and perhaps save him if he is in danger."
A younger, stockier gnome with a blue beard breaks in, "What if the Elves do not wish him to be found? Cekupo did not say he wanted us to find him if he goes missing. What if this is required for his task?"
Eshosh glares at the younger gnome, who appears undaunted, "It has been months. Do you intend to do nothing?"
The other gnome barks back, "Do you have the slightest idea where he is, or what he was doing?"
Eshosh shakes her head, orange hair flipping but answers, "No, but I do know someone who does. They were involved, somehow, int he same scheme as Cekupo Quist. They are now hiding out in Cicatrix."
Cicatrix, a blasted wasteland full of camouflaged oozes and other horrid creatures is a remnant of a battle between the elves and Treerazor long ago. It is a dangerous, forgotten land shunned by elves and demons alike.
Naali looks surprised at the mention of Cicatrix. "What in the world would make someone hide in that god-forsaken place? Is someone already trying to track them down?"
She dials her surprise back a bit, and continues, "What I'm saying is - if they have found a reason to hide in Cicatrix of all places, they must really not want to be found for some reason. Who exactly are they?" And why do they know what your engineer is up to, when you don't even know? she wonders.
Eshosh shrugs,"I do not know. It was difficult enough to find the name and even general location for our lead." The little gnome waves to another, a red-haired gnome of indefinite gender or age. It had the slow, easy calm and control of a natural leader though and when it spoke the others were silenced. Naali noted it had not been part of the free for all earlier.
"Aerlaedih Dagistios" is the only phrase, a name obviously.
Then Naali sees the gnomes eyes move, to something behind her. She can hear Anna Illyuin shifting, her armor a metallic scraping sounds among the more natural sounds of wind and wood of the lodge.
Turning, the tiefling sees a tall and proud elf standing int he doorway, framed by the bright outside light. It is a man, Naali sees after a moment, looking young and strong, wearing simple brown robes, with a bow on his back.
'You must not." He says, his voice smooth and strong. "You must not interfere."
Perhaps this is the 'elves who wish him not to be found' that was mentioned earlier.
"And a hello to you as well," Naali replies as she adjusts her gaze up to the tall elf. "Unless Kyonin politics extend to missing gnomes, I don't see what we're interfering in, but feel free to illuminate the situation."
The male elf eyes Naali coldly, then turns tot h e gnomes, 'This is folly. I did not know you have went so far as to hire outsiders."
Eshosh, voice unbowed says, "We want to find our friend and colleague, and you cannot stop us. Not unless you give us some answers. What was Cekupo Quist up to? Where is he? Why has his letters stopped?"
The elf shakes his head and answers quietly, 'I cannot answer that."
The gnomes start to shout abuse at the elf, a breach of the usual friendly relations between the two races in Omesta. For the briefest moment Naali thinks violence might break out. Anna moves every so slightly, to block any attempt to get at Naali. But then the moment passes and the elf bows, defeated.
He looks straight at Naali however, his eyes a deep brown, like that of rich forest earth. 'Do not accept this mission. It will lead to despair and destruction. For you and others." he raises his voice, "But let it not be said the Elves are unkind. I do give you this warning though, proceed at your own risk." And with a curl of brown robe, the elf is gone, in long smooth strides.
For a second the gnomes are silent then the blue-haired younger gnome says to Naali, 'Will you do it? We can pay you handsomely, in gold and goods."
Naali throws a glance towards Anna to gauge her reaction to the whole situation, and the mystery elf's outburst.
"So you want us to trek into a dangerous wasteland in search of a mysterious individual, all while only having a name to go off, and once we get there we would still need to find your missing man?" Naali makes a show of thinking and pacing a bit."Why, the planning alone for traveling through Cicatrix... Not to mention making an enemy out of the elves..."
Anna shrugs, minutely. It isn't much but Naali is used to reading the paladin. She was game for the adventure and was perfectly willing to do it. Rescuing people also appealed to her.
The gnome look at each other in silence then the gnome who had given her the name spoke again, "What do you think it fair?"
Eshosh looks embarrassed but another gnome, with black hair and a shrewd looking face takes over. His voice is thin and dry, but apparently experienced in bargaining.
'1,000 gold coins today, double that upon return. Also today, you may have the pick of magical items in storage. In addition, we will give you access to our archives and libraries upon success."
The black-haired gnome doesn't smile, his face reveals nothing.
Naali keeps a straight face through the first two offers, though her eyes widen ever so slightly at the offer of unrestricted access to their archives.
Her search for her father had been slow going after losing her only lead, and an Omestan library was a treasure trove too big to resist.
But Naali knew better than to leap at the opportunity - it had already been offered. Now they needed a way to ensure the two would survive the trip.
"For the simple search you initially informed me of, yes that would be fine, but as we were both just informed, 'despair and destruction' warrants a bit of hazard pay. 1,500 base, and we will need a wagon, horses, and supplies. I imagine you have some things that would help greatly in Cicatrix. We do both want this mission to be a success."
The black haired gnome actually seems to smile, but it vanishes before Naali can be sure.
"1,250, and we get to pick the wagon, horse and supplies." The offer comes back rapid fire, and all the gnomes follow his words back to Naali, as if they were watching a sport match, seeing if she would return the ball or accept it.
Behind her Anna nods at the mention of a wagon. While it may be of minimal usefulness in the Cicatrix swamp, it would be useful before then.
"1,500, and you can choose the wagon, horse, and supplies. I think you'll find few locals are willing to drop all of their projects and plans to go on this trip - that is why you deemed it necessary to hire me, is it not?"
The bargaining gnome opens his mouth Eshosh cuts in quickly, 'Very well. This is indeed a great service to us and our kind. We value it and you will be rewarded. We shall have this ready for you at dawn tomorrow."
The black-haired gnome pouts, as if sad he missed out on more arguing but everyone else is pleased the deal has gone through. Without any announcement or declaration, many of the gnomes start to leave, passing by Naali carefully.
Anna comes up, stepping lightly. "That could have gone worse." She says, her voice carefully neutral.
Naali gives a slight bow to the council, and steps to the side to allow the gnomes by.
Naali nods in agreement with Anna, and walks out of the building through the treetop town. "That unexpected guest puts a new spin on this story, though. Something is going on between Omesta and - at the very least - that man. If it's something bigger, you would know better than I why a single gnome is so important to Kyonin."
She sighs, "I doubt either group will share much, but we can at least find out who he was."
When they exit the building, she looks around to see if there was a doorman or guard who may have seen the elven man pass through.
Anna frowns, "The gnomes and elves have always got along well enough, considering our usual prickliness." Anna has always been frank about her own race's failings, just as she was frank about most things.
The gnomes don't go in for guards or warriors but they do find a janitor/engineer working on the windmills for the Lodge. He nods and says, "That was Fanfur, he lives on the Floor." The Floor is the local name for the ground, below the city of Omesta proper. A few elves live there now, trading with the treetop gnomes. 'Usually a nice enough fellow, wonder why his back was up." The gnome grins, 'Was listening through the window during the meeting. You are brave, going into the Cicatrix. heard it is downright scary!"
As they talk a female gnome walks over and bows, announcing, "Allow me to escort you to the stores, master teifling. I have been instructed to allow you to take some magical items. Please, follow me." Her voice is formal and a bit stilted. She doesn't smile and her bow is stiff.
"He lives on the Floor? So he's just a trader then, or...?"
...
As the gnomish woman arrives, Naali smiles to the engineer. "Well, looks like my time in Omesta is coming to a close. Thanks for the information - If I make it back from Cicatrix, I'll be sure to bring you something for the trouble."
The engineer gnome shrugs, 'Don't know, really. He vists now and then, seems more of a wood guide then a trader but who can tell with elves." he dips a nod to Anna. 'No offense ma'am. Nice folks, but they hold the cards close to their chests, begging pardon." And he is gone, climbing up a very un-safe looking ladder. High up he calls back, "Just worry about bringing yourself back."
The female gnome coughs loudly, almost glaring at Naali.
"Of course, of course, I'm coming." Naali replies, following the gnome to the stores.
The female gnome leads Naali through the city. Apparently not one for adventure, she avoids the ziplines and baskets, sticking to the safer ropewalks. She moves quickly though, dodging the usual chaos of barrels, ropes, gears and turning cranks that make up the city.
In a lower part of the city, she comes to a long low building built tot he side of a massive elm, looking like a barnacle. Squatting down the gnome starts unlocking a huge complicated looking mechanism. She needs at least three different keys that Naali notices before it opens.
Inside is a room full of jumbled crates, boxes, and shelves packed iwth items. At the front of the room are six flimsy tables. On top are a few items and the female gnome says, primly, 'You make choose two of the six.
Naali glances past her and sees the items.
There is....
A Cloak Of Human Guise
A Bottle of True Color Dye
A Set of Spectacles Of Understanding
A Eversmoking Bottle
A Concealing Pocket
A Set of Perilous Gloves
Naali picks through the items - putting on the gloves and wiggling her fingers, putting on the cape with a flourish and running her hands through her now horn-less hair.
The Eversmoking Bottle is opened and spews a column of smoke into her face, and through coughs the gnome and Anna can hear her say, "Neat!"
Finally she settles on the bottle, and the small cloth pocket.
Anna smiles, expecting Naali's reactions. Putting an array of magical items in front of the alchemist was like putting a kid in a candy shop. The gnome however, grumbles and glares, as if Naali was an overly loud patron at a strict library.
"Very well, you have made your selection. Now, please leave, I have to get the collection back in order. These are not toys." She sniffs, dismissing them.
Naali looks around at the haphazardly stacked crates and boxes, and squints at the rickety tables. Back in order?
"Ah, yes. We need to pack our things anyway. Good, uh, good luck with the organizing."
As the duo leaves the building, Naali stuffs the bottle equally haphazardly into her own backpack, and the cloth pocket into... a pocket - at least until she finds a moment to affix it permanently.
"Well, I suppose now we wait until the wagon and supplies are put together." She points a thumb behind her conspiratorially, "I don't suppose those zip-lines could handle a knight in her shiny armor, hmm?"
Anna merely raises one elegant eyebrow at the rickety slapdash construction. 'I'll pass." She says shortly, even as one gnome rockets off the zipline, hits the ground, running and pounds up the wooden walk way.
"So, the Cicatrix, and only as stage one." Anna says, not sounding very enthused at the idea. "Do you have any plans for how to find one elf in that wasteland? One who may not want to be found?"
"Well, we'll need a map, first of all. I figure anyone wanting to stay in Cicatrix for a long time would be looking for a structure - somewhere they can hole up. I don't think anybody would just camp out in the middle of the wilderness if they can help it."
"But this 'Aerlaedih Dagistios' person must have some other motive - if you just needed to hide, you could just keep traveling away from Kyonin. Maybe they're also researching the area, or some notable place in Cicatrix."
"If we can't find somewhere like that - well we just got our hands on the best smoke signal we'll ever find. Find a tower or somewhere high where we can defend ourselves, and anybody in the region will be able to see that. And anyone we do find will probably have some answers."
"Or be someone who wants to get rid of any interlopers." Anna offers, optimistic as ever. 'Cicatrix is not known to be full of helpful neighbors. I do know there are a number of smugglers and others who use the swamp to cross into Kyonin without notice of the border guards. Perhaps some of them may hold answers."
They find the small 'inn' that they are staying in, A simple room, two beds, and a roof is about all it provides. It isn't a snub, just the gnomes rarely have visitors. They were lucky to even have correctly sized beds to sleep in.
Anna adds, looking at the afternoon sky, "I hope they give us a good horse."
"Good to know, maybe we'll be able to make a deal for some information. But on the other hand, advertising our presence to everyone in the region might not be the best idea."
Naali leans on the railing, eyes following Anna's gaze up through the treetops.
"I hope this whole thing doesn't take too long. Those archives are my next best lead right now."
Anna shrugs, "Time is a relative thing. What is short in Kyonin may not be so in other lands." They head inside, to a nice meal of turkey and mashed potatoes, apparently a local gnomeish eccentricity. There was even a side of some strange red berry smashed up and turned into a sauce. Anna pronounced it 'revolting' but the gnomes enjoyed it.
The night passes without event, Naali lulled to sleep by wind over the tree branches. The next day dawns clear and bright, with a stiff breeze out of the south. It brings the smell of fresh earth and growing things, a good smell.
Anna is already up, standing at the same rail, as if she hadn't slept at all.
"What's wrong? You've been acting strange all through yesterday."
Anna looks directly at Naali, her blue eyes brighter then the sky above. It is a intimidating look to some, although it holds no fear for the alchemist.
"Thwarting the will of the elves is a dangerous activity in Kyonin. I wish we knew more before we went off on this 'adventure." She sighs, 'Our cause is just but we may be treading into deeper swamps then we suspect.."
As she finishes speaking a small male gnome comes up, young, with a unshaven face but a head of multi-colored hair. he is greasy with grime and sweat but grins at them. 'Are you the folks headed to the Cicitrix?"
Without waiting, he pulls out a dirty letter, "Could you deliver a letter to Isahade? It is a town right outside the swamp, you'll be passing right through it."
"You're right, we're not sure what's going on. It doesn't seem like the gnomes do either - only the elves." Her eyes focused on distant nothing, as she mulled over a thought.
"I know you bear to love of politics, but that might be where this is headed. Hopefully we can find out missing gnome and get out as bit players in whatever story is being told, rather than the main characters."
She snaps out of her introspection as a small voices asks about mail.
"Perhaps - to who, and what sort of letter? I am not much in the business of delivering mystery mail."
Anna agrees, "Main characters get into too much trouble. I'd rather be a nice safe side character who says their piece and gets off the stage."
"Oh, nothing secret like that, miss." He says, blushing a bit, 'She is my girlfriend. I came here to apprentice but she is a healer there. I just wanted to send her a letter, let her know I am doing ok."
The gnome hands Naali a silver coin, "I can pay you for the trouble."
"A courier service would be more reliable - but I can carry your letter if need be."
The gnome shakes his head, "Isahade is too small for any of that, I should know, I was born there. besides, I don't have enough for a full courier. Please, miss? I just want her to know I'm doing fine and will be home soon."
Naali and Anna are lead to the Floor, the moss covered ground beneath Omesta. It is a very shady area, with the sun blocked by the city above. Naali does notice ti is clean and well-kept, apparently the gnomes are very good about not throwing garbage over the side.
A few moss-coverd ruins lay around the trees and as Naali watches she realizes there was, once many centuries ago, a city here on the ground. Much of it has been reclaimed by the forest, through tree and soil, but here and there domes and towers still peek out, and stone walls leaning crazily.
A few gnomes stand around a horse and a wagon, which is tarped and filled with supplies. The horse looks healthy enough but nothing impressive, the gnome don't have many horses. The wagon is very well made though and full of cunningly made secret compartments.
Eshosh is there and ceremoniously hands Naali the reins. 'We wish the gods watch you and keep you." The other gnomes nod and looks uneasy here on the ground.
A well-kept road runs south, the one they shall follow.
"Well, then I will see your letter to Isahade."
Seeing the gnome's reluctance on the ground, Naali is careful to not upset the moss and city ruins as she packs her things into the wagon and checks what supplies they have.
After loading everything up, Naali clambers into the seat of the wagon, nods to the gnomes, and shifts over so Anna can sit up front. With a light snap of the reins, their journey begins.
"Well the horse is alright, but the wagon is something. Guess we could have guessed that based on who was giving it to us."
As Naali drives the wagon out, she can see Fanfur, the elf who disproved of her mission, standing on a mossy stone. His brown cloak covers him, but his eyes gleam under the hood, peering at them.
Anna stares back, her own eyes just as bright. After a moment he jumps down, and vanishes among the stones and trunks. Sighing the paladin turns to Naali. "There will be trouble ahead."
"Do you think they would be blatant enough to be the trouble themselves, and not just hope for us to meet our doom on our own?"
Regardless of the seeming skepticism, Naali shifts her alchemists bag to her side, and the waft of her alchemical ingredients begins the follow the cart, shifting from sweet to bitter seemingly at random.
Naali hands the reins to Anna, and begins mixing up a few of the vials and tinctures she has, resulting in small clouds of colored smoke, and a few glowing reactions. After a few shakes, she hands a blueish concoction to Anna before taking the reins back and adopting a serious expression as she scans the edges of the forest.
Anna takes the vial, peers at it, then puts it away carefully. She scans the woods as well before answering, "You mean fill us full of arrows on some isolated road?" The paladin says and shakes her head.
"Unless things are much worse then I thought, Kyonin is a land of law. They will not attack us, at least not directly. Unheard of." She says, her tone firm but he face not nearly so resolute. 'That said, there are other ways to block our mission, if they are crafty."
But the next two days are simple traveling with no signs of anyone else. The woods of Kyonin are thick and growing in the springtime, filling the air full of smells of new leaves and running sap. It is invigorating just to smell the air. The trees are thick, ancient, gnarled, many covered with moss and mushrooms.
The road is clear and dry, easy traveling and the horse is better then it appears. Each night they make a simple camp at the side of the road, not wishing to plunge into the murky woods. The road is empty of other travelers as Naali and Anna avoid towns and cities, and following the less traveled paths.
'Firewood is easy enough to find." Anna remarks, taking a few dead limbs to burn. Naali knew the elf preferred using deadfall for fires whenever the paladin could.
It was on that second night that the usual routine was broken. It was a warm night, full of the chirping of insects, the calls of owls and the distant flutter of bats, wheeling overhead. The stars are bright, like flecks of shattered gems caught in an endless net of blackness.
Then, among the massive tree trunks Naali catches glimpses of lights. They look like lightly tinted lanterns, bobbing among the trees. It is too dark to make out anyone carrying them at first, then she catches glimpses of gnomes among the trees, low to the ground. They are traveling a line, parallel to the road.
Behind them, a deeper shadow follows, stalking them silently.
"Anna, look," Naali says, pointing into the trees. "Something is following them."
She looks around their own camp and wagon to check that they themselves don't have an unwelcome guest, before raising fingers to her lips and whistling loudly into the night towards the marching gnomes.
At Naali's sound the lights pause then split, obviously the group breaking up. They run into the deep woods, away from Naali's whistle. The dark shape lopes after them, moving faster now.
Anna stares after them, her eyes keen in the dark. "I can't tell what it is. It could be dangerous for them. The forest is not evil, but it houses many powerful creatures..."
Naali grunts in disappointment at the distant gnomes making everything worse for themselves as she jumps off the wagon and rushes towards their horse and starts unhooking it from the wagon.
"Help me untie him, we're not going to catch up with them on foot if you're in that armor. Plus, we won't have to worry about our supplies running off."
It is work of the moment to unhitch the horse, after the last few days of practice. Both can fit, although the horse is unused to being ridden. Quickly, Naali and Anna plunge into the dark night under the tree branches. They move fast, much faster then the scattered lights. They can't seem to find the shadowy figure though, and Anna seems confused. The darkness doesn't bother eyes much....then the gnome lights vanish. Naali and Anna are left alone among the giant standing trees.
Then, back toward the road and wagon they hear laughter and giggling. Glimpsed through the trees, Naali sees a few dim lights hanging around the wagon.
Naali slides off the horse to lighten its load, and leads it by the reins back towards the wagon. "I believe some forest spirits have played a joke on us. At least they can't take the wagon."
Naali peers through, her eyes cutting through the darkness with ease. Starlight (or less) is plenty for the alchemist. She spots two small figures standing in the wagon bed. Small humanoids with pointed ears, green eyes, and wicked grins. One carries a brown bottle in hand, the other a heavy walking stick.
They are leprechauns and not bothering to disguise themselves as they root around in the wagon bed.
Naali frowns for a moment - leprechauns weren't the worst thing to have caught them unawares, but they weren't quite the friendly, though prank loving, fey she had been hoping for. A warning passed down from her mother from whenever she was in the forest gathering herbs - a faerie dragon would trick you to make themselves laugh, a leprechaun would trick you to steal everything you have.
She leads the horse towards the wagon, and helps Anna down.
"Afraid you'll not find much of interest unless you want to have dinner with us."
The jaunty looking leprechaun carrying the walking stick spots Naali and bows low, still standing in the wagon.
'Why, that is exactly why we came to your wagon. Pim, here," he waves a hand to the leprechaun with the bottle, who has a small red goatee,"came across a fine bottle of elven wine. We were willing to share it with you, in exchange for some of that meat and bread you have?" The little fey grins widely, showing red cheeks and glittering eyes. 'And we can tell you some jokes to pass the time!"
Pim starts to jump and caper about the wagon, kicking up his heels in an intricate dance as the other claps and stamps his foot in time.
The dacning wasn't bad, but wasn't great. Anna seems unimpressed looking at the supplies. It all seemed to be there.
The first leprechaun walks up to Naali and bows again, "Forgive me, my name is Nim." His bow, a bit drunken fails and he falls into Naali.
He stands, up dusting himself off, and grins again. 'What do you say?"
"Well nice to meet you Pim, Nim. An elven wine, hm? I suppose that just... fell off the back of a wagon? What good fortune!"
Naali checks her pockets - she had been tricked once tonight, and putting on a show of excessive politeness wouldn't change the stories she had heard.