Catching Up

Esar, 11th day of the Nara, year of the 21st Water Lion

Fieri

Note Reference Index: A0001-FE1-A0004

“Are you absolutely certain, Frederick?” Dashiel asked the poor man.

“Yes, young sir. Went with the big man on the Travellers’ Road.” Frederick replied. He definitely knew better the level of affirmation curious gnomes have. There he was at the stream, cleaning soot off some vials, ampoules, and various glassware when he was jumped upon by Dashiel. Startled, he jumped a foot high in the air.

“Let me confirm your story once more. Two nights ago a bunch of well-armed thugs burned houses down in this town to look for somebody, and they killed at whim, including Rianna the barmaid. Some lone figure slain them all and fled the scene, and the girl I was travelling with was hiding in the stables. Am I right so far?” the gnome asked. Frederick nodded enthusiastically, while picking up shards of broken glass.

“Yesterday a man on a black horse came to town, and organized the mass burial with the townspeople?” Dashiel said with one stubby finger pointed to the general direction of the cemetery. Frederick nodded again.

“This man, who was a customer of your fine establishment..or rather what was your establishment, then rode off with my travelling companion towards Nadaran?” Dashiel continued, with one eyebrow raised.

“Yes, sir. They left mid-morning. Said that he will find some ‘much needed answers’.” The old man explained to the scholar gnome.

Dashiel jotted some quick notes into the small leatherbound journal he always carried. He stowed the graphite stick and the journal away, and hefted his giant pack onto his shoulders.

“Very well then, Fred. Best I catch up to them.” The gnome said. He picked up his walking stick and jogged towards the Travellers’ Road.

“So our paths have indeed crossed.” Dashiel thought to himself. Excitement bloomed and he felt the invigorating rush that he always loved. He is one another adventure!

Dreams.

Pequat, 10th day of the Nara, year of the 21st Water Lion
Fieri
Note Reference Index: A0001-FE1-A0003

“Seven vials, Frederick. I cannot go running out now, can I?” Frederick knew he was not to cross the gnome with who spouted quick orders and straight to the point requests. Sure, he never skipped on the pleasantries like most customers do, but this one seemed too efficient and orderly. The gnome had come to him from time to time for supplies and always knew what to buy and in what quantities. When he did come, he would work Frederick to the maximum of his capabilities as a shopkeeper.

“Give me two more of those and we're done.” commandeered the short fellow. “Done indeed”, thought Frederick, who had never seen someone buying as many things at once. He had gone through most of the store, choosing an assortment of gadget and weaponry. The reagent drawers had mostly been emptied out and the containers once filled with various potions had been stripped off completely. If one were to enter the store right now, they would have thought poor old Frederick got robbed.

Alas, it was just Dashiel, the scholar gnome, who always purchased as many things as he had required on his long journeys. He would always use the many screws, pins, and pieces of wood he bought to tinker and work on new inventions and he would find ways to mix new potions with the parts from various animals and reagents. Somehow, Dashiel had always found being thrifty to be of no concern, and would often splurge for more supplies everytime he got to another shop.

Once the last vials have been stuffed into the gnome’s giant pack, it marked the end of the shopping spree. “Thank you, Fred.” he says, while flashing a smile to the now exhausted Frederick. “I am one satisfied customer.” Frederick received a bag with a lump sum of gold, and a huge sense of accomplishment. This would feed him and his family for a long time!

Dashiel too felt happy as he left the shop. He felt wonderful, getting all the things ready for his next adventure. Buying new items always made him feel warm and fuzzy, and made him forget about all his problems. Certainly, he needed to find some calm after the previous night.



* * *


From the starlight comes to thee,
Into woodlands young and free,
Together with the sorrowed knight,
Face the face of evil might.

The words of a short poem echoed into the head of the tired little gnome. He had heard those words before in his dreams and they never ceased haunting his every sleeping moment. But this night was different, and the dream brought upon more meaning than ever before. The dream now showed him clear, what the next path was to be.

Let her meet the goblin!

Dashiel woke up with a cold sweat, like he did every Pequat.


* * *


Now strolling down the quiet streets of Fieri, Dashiel thought back to the dreams that he had experienced. The gnome could never fathom why his dreams could not have come with more details. The fates do love a challenge, he bemused. Maybe it was one of their petty little games with him, or maybe a punishment of sorts. All he knew is that he was to follow these dreams. They had no rational backing, but many things in life do not. Besides, what harm could they do?

But all the dreams had given him this time was one measly new statement. “Let her meet the goblin?” he asked himself. “Well, she does deserve to know the truth about her lineage, about her father and about her powers. Who better than the Kraeven to explain?” he thought further. Many more questions filled his head about this odd turn of events. As he walked toward the abandoned house in the outskirts of Fieri, he wondered why the fates had chosen to assign him three charges this time. One was troublesome enough.

Nevertheless, he quickened his pace, hoping that by the time he reached the house, Morohtar and Kraeven had not already driven the girl to insanity with their revelations.

Another.

Tujo, 9th day of the Nara, year of the 21st Water Lion
Fieri
Note Reference Index: A0001-FE1-A0002

The travel from Levianna to Fieri took Dashiel and his female acquaintance a day and a half on foot. Dashiel opted for the Queva Highroads, a path which was the quickest and safest route, which went through nothing but the hills and fields to get them to their destination. The good news was that wary of the pair of eyes that were following them since the grove had stopped following them once they got to open areas of the highroad. The gnome contemplated, “Not the last of them, is it?”

While walking westbound, Dashiel made observations and notes about Shierra and wrote these in parchments. She paid the gnome’s quirky behaviour no mind. As they talked, the conversations allowed the two to understand each other better. She was a young half-elf with ambitions of becoming a good mage to prove herself to her elven tribe, and he was a weird little gnome, who had travels around Thorreon to gather more knowledge. No longer strangers, these two begun to form some trust in each other. Shierra sensed that Dashiel had no ill intention and he thought her to be quite an interesting travel mate.

The whole trip did not take long. The girl insisted on moving along quickly, even after numerous offers from Dashiel to take longer stops to rest. She was probably excited to get to Fieri as soon as possible, he hypothesized. The two reached Fieri just before the second night of travels, passing by the tired, apathetic guards that were on duty.

Straight away after going through the gates, they headed to a small tavern cum inn, which was located in the middle of the town. They entered the cozy little building and sat down to enjoy some rest and a meal, things which had been neglected while on the Queva Highroads. The tavern was loud and busy, but Shierra managed anyway to fall asleep, putting her head on the table. “Poor girl must be really tired”, thought Dashiel.

Dashiel proceeded to look around the place. Dusty old furs hung across the ceiling, and the red and black brick walls which looked like they were once very exquisite pieces of masonry, were now faded and dull. Still, it was pretty bustling and was even hosting a large crowd of people enjoying themselves. However old and dilapidated this tavern was, it probably served most of the populace in Fieri. Barmaids and musicians were the focus of the locals, starving of entertainment

“Rianna!” called Dashiel to one particular barmaid tending to the unruly swarm of dwarven archers. The girl quickly responded with a scream which blared through the whole tavern. “Uncle Dashiel!” she answered while penetrating the wall of men that surrounded her earlier. When she reached beside him, they both gave each other a warm embrace, which was difficult due to her being much bigger than the small creature. Once they let go, the barmaid sat down at the table and they began talking.

“It’s been ages!” she proclaimed to the gnome.
“Where have you been Uncle Dash?” she asked inquisitively.
“Oh. Just around Thorreon, dear child. My friend and I have just traveled from Levianna” replied the gnome.

They continued on for a few more minutes where they talked about topics like the weather and the current state of Fieri. Laughing and smiling together, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and it looked to be just a barmaid having a chat with an old family friend. Ordinary, until the conversation suddenly turned to a different tone.

Dashiel began to soften his voice and ask, “Is he here yet?”
The girl nodded silently and said, “Yes.”
“Good.” he replied “make sure we all get to eat well and rest well tonight.”

The girl nodded to acknowledge Dashiel’s orders. She understood his requests very well, and required no further explanation. She proceeded to leave the table and bring back a bowl of beef stew for the gnome and the half-elf before leaving to talk with her customers. The smell of the food woke Shierra and they began to eat the first meal they’ve had since their last stop on the Queva Highroad. Speaking in an unusually quiet manner, Dashiel informs Shierra of her lodgings in the second storey of the tavern. She wishes the gnome goodnight and walks toward her room.

Dashiel, also deciding to retire for the night, suddenly spots a lone male figure talking to Rianna. He had forgotten that since the last time he came to Fieri, Rianna was still a young little girl, helping out in her father’s inn. She was now all grown up, consorting with the strange men, probably having her fun. Curious to see who she has picked as her latest companion, Dashiel took a look at the face of the well built figure behind her. But when Dashiel looked into the eyes of the Rianna’s new friend, he immediately froze.

Weak in the knees from shock, Dashiel grabbed onto the table to avoid from falling down. “Oh no!” he cried out “Not another one!”

Guidance.

Bellio, 7th day of the Nara, year of the 21st Water Lion
Levianna’s Grove
Note Reference Index: A0001-A01-A0001

The day seemed as though it would go on forever. During Nara, the days are longer and the nights are shorter, allowing more time to move around before the need to find shelter from the dangers of the dark; an advantage for normal travellers, but posed no difference for nightwalkers—or those that can see in low light like Dashiel. Besides, he was accustomed to having a good grasp of his surroundings, and understanding the things he encounters to navigate through the unknown.

“In this sort of weather, Levianna’s Grove would thrive”, noted the small sized creature. “The sun elves are probably ecstatic with their harvest festival”, he remarked further. These thoughts about the customs and traditions of other creatures were normal for Dashiel. He had familiarized himself with many different cultures, always linking what he saw to what he knew. The travelling gnome had always loved to take long breaks to observe and think, though at the moment, there was no time for gallivanting around. That could wait.

He was on a mission to travel north as soon as possible to further his research. Such is the sacrifice of a scholar, for it seemed that wisdom never confined itself to one static place. Dashiel knew that he needed to move as soon as the signs were clear—and the tumbling of a clumsy stranger over his head had brought them quite plainly.

“Damn it child! Watch where you’re going,” said the angered gnome, now on the mud-spattered floor of the grove. He picked himself up and examined his assailant closer. She had a sharp twist at the edge of her ears and had eyes with a sharp and silvery glaze. But other than that, she was human-like in all of her other features. “A half-elf girl in her adolescent years”, the gnome decided. She was tall, like most half-elves are, and had a cocoa shaded complexion indicative of a wood-elven ancestry. “This one?” wondered the stocky traveller on this new arrival.

Now off the ground as well, the lass looked remorseful but seemed unsurprised. It was probably indicative of a natural behaviour that she seems familiar with. She apologised and introduced herself as “Shierra, from the Levianna Clan, on a—pilgrimage of sorts”, being careful at disclosing her secret elven tribe rituals. Elves were very proud of their culture and are reluctant to share them with ‘lesser beings’. “Not that I wouldn’t know about them already”, thought Dashiel.

The half-elf went on about how she was lost and was not paying attention to what she was doing. Dashiel just nodded and acknowledged with every statement she made with a ‘hrmm’ or an ‘ah’. It was quite obvious that she was also inexperienced with her surroundings as she was on the wrong path from where travellers usually followed.

The gnome knew that this moment was pivotal. She was the one he was supposed to meet as a companion to the journey up north. He introduced himself, now in a more calmly and composed manner, careful in sounding helpful and inviting, “I am Dashiel, a scholar gnome. I am headed for the tavern in the town of Fieri.” She quickly squealed, noting the coincidence on location. A location that the gnome knew that was where she was headed. “I’ll be happy to provide guidance”, he said, conscious that it meant much more than she ever expected, “I’ll bring you to Fieri.”

Shierra had a satisfied look on her face, as though she had a good feeling about the start of her journey. And with that, they moved west, toward the direction of the nearby town, with the gnome aware that a set of eyes were observing them from behind.