Eethyl Benzoin

Eethyl Benzoin (a.k.a. "Hey gnome or E" - Flicker, "The gnome" - Captain Lombard,)

Eethyl is constantly exploring or tinkering with something magical. Wild swings of over the top friendliness and the rare brooding quietness may cause some clerics to say he is not quite stable. He is always willing to give what he has or of himself when there is need or danger though.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Thin and gangly Eethyl stands several inches taller than your average Rock Gnome.

Body Features

"He tastes everything, but does he eat? I mean look at that little guy!"

Facial Features

Kind eyes and a normally well-kept beard tend to balance out Ethyl's gnomish ears that he can be a little self-conscience of. His crooked smile and a lifted eyebrow are most often caught by those he cares about.

Identifying Characteristics

smudged cheeks or nose.

Physical quirks

His head doesn't face one direction for long as he is constantly walking away from whomever he converses with mid-sentence to poke or prod at something interesting.

Apparel & Accessories

Eethyl is typically dressed in a work apron and cabby hat.

Mental characteristics

Education

He really had a hard time sitting through a lecture. "Can I get the cliff notes please? I'll memorize them I don't need the details those should be obvious."

Employment

"Well he finished one...Why didn't he show up for work today and start another?"

Accomplishments & Achievements

Coolest lantern ever. "Hang on hold this. I need to go mix another oil."

Failures & Embarrassments

Flunked out of the order of the radiant ashes. Won't bring it up and thinks it a foolish thing to point out. "Can't you see I learned more just practicing myself?"

Mental Trauma

Feywild experience and return. Loss incurred during the ordeal.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

Free thinking. Inquiry and curiosity are the pillars of progress (Chaotic). Exploring new things or meeting new spirits and understanding their relation to the weave and unseen dimensions is the best use of ones time. Life is just boring otherwise.

Likes & Dislikes

Why would we waste time with small talk when we could be discovering something new?

Vices & Personality flaws

Eethyl can be oblivious to etiquette and social expectations. He is often lost in thought and wanders away at times mid-sentence or while someone is responding to him already having moved on in his own head. He is aware of this issue and makes a concerted effort to be kind and attentive for those he cares about if he remembers that he is supposed to be doing that or notices he hurt their feelings.

Hygiene

Keeps his hands surprisingly clean despite constantly poking through things with his tools. The hat saves time having to fix your hair. Facial hair you just have to deal with every few days. Staying clean shaven takes too much time away from work.

Constantly finding wonder in the magical or mundane, Eethyl exudes passion without a purpose most of the time. He often seeks to help people see the bigger picture in a world filled with chaos, magic, and hurt.

View Character Profile

Alignment

Chaotic Neutral

Honorary & Occupational Titles

"Little Shit" - Damaia "The Gnome" - The Captain

Age

149 +

Birthplace

The burrow below the south face of that outlook above the north wood.

Children

Gender

Male

Eyes

Hazel

Hair

Brown

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Tanned

Height

3'8"

Weight

44 lbs.

Quotes & Catchphrases

"All we need now is a catalyst" "Here try this"

Related Plots

Axeholm

Related Reports

Known Languages

Common, Gnomish, Primordial

New Life

Eethyl placed a hand on the side of the cast iron feeling its warmth as his mind raced. He looked inside again at the small sludge along the bottom. He wasn't sure it was enough. He pushed the unseen servant that had assisted them aside and made for the alchemy table. AerNen's bare steps could be heard right behind him as the small humanoid followed him. "We need a base for the broth. The Ochre Jelly we were using for the beer will work I think. It should work like carrier oil" the gnome said more to himself than his assistant. Eethyl pulled the top off of the copper alembic still off pulled an oversized demijohn over. The ooze inside the large glass vessel shifted inside at being disturbed. AerNen levitated up with a couple "steps" to the table and stood on the work bench helping the gnome maneuver the large glass vessel onto its side. As soon as they had it on its side the Ochre Jelly inside moved toward the neck of the container. Before it could make its escape though the two tilted it up on end over the edge of the cucurbit bottom. The yellowish ooze hung for a moment from the glass neck before it touched the bottom of the copper vessel and recoiled at the sizzling contact. With two shakes the two figures had freed its hold on the glass and it hit the basin. It trembled and jumped as an egg hitting a hot pan at the heat of the metal basin. The gnome quickly fit the head of the still back on and applied the clamp to reseal the lute seam. "Alright...we want to start it off on the right foot as much as possible. Lets see..." The gnome climbed up to the top cupboard on a stool and opened it to reveal two neat rows of wax skulls, pulling two down and handing them to his pale assistant. "Best butter on the sword coast. These will do perfectly." AreNen walked the two wax skulls over to the cauldron and glanced back at the gnome for direction before shrugging to himself and tossing the whole skulls in the cauldron before pulling at his oversized ears to wipe his hands as he made his way back toward his master. "We will start with those rabbits I had cleaned for our new friends, then get the grains from Qelline's, the licorice root, cowslip tubers, and we can put in some of the mushrooms. You work on that and I'll gather the items from the depository." AerNen gave a nod and made for the staircase as Eethyl, satisfied, made for the door that kept the more unusual ingredients he had managed to acquire sense his freedom. He had been hoping for an opportunity like this. Opening the door he waved a hand and spoke a word of Gnim to light the space revealing rows of jars with peculiar contents. He pulled the small cart in, its metal wheels protesting, and began to load jars and tins from the shelves. "Let's see here..."

Powdered eye from that poor creature beneath Tresendar Manor as well as the small vile of dragon bile and bone broth .

Pickled harpy vocal cords and dried seaweed from the coast.

Blue salt we got from that trade on the Obsidian Tide as well as the ink sack from that tentacle creature.

Last of the salve from the druids tin.

Venom Flicker collected from those spiders at the dwarven hold.

Troll blood vials.

Ankheg larvae

Leather roll of oils. "Several of you will work well".

Spices from the Dwarvish Deg roll. "and some flavor"

Powdered precious stones from the soul coin experiments.

Baked pumpkin seeds from the Manse. "hmmmm that reminds me."

"Griffen come here." the gnome called out for the unseen servant. "Take this cart to the cauldron then help AerNen." the gnome commanded as he made his way to the tool bench, selecting a pair of pruners. The gnome looked grim as he made his way to the stairs. He needed to prune the fledgling Golthias tree anyway. "Can't let that get out of control or we are going to have a problem..." Eethyl muttered to himself. "If there is one thing I learned from Faerie, it's to make sure you tend to things regularly." As he worked his mind cataloged the events of the day and over the group from Faerun. They did seem to be an odd bunch. It was great to meet a Tortle finally. They seemed like accomplished adventurers. As he set a couple of the squirming limbs of the shrub aside his mind wrestled with itself. If they were going back to Faerun it may be a much shorter trip than traveling clear through Isan Meidan's cold north and back through the spine of the world again. It would mean company and better yet he would be able to glean from the trouble a group like this would doubtless find. The gnome sighed as he made his way back to the cauldron where AerNen and Griffen were stiffing the cauldron with large paddles and tossed the clippings into the pot with a sigh. "Well... I guess I better get ready for some trouble. You two make sure this stays warm. AerNen, make sure you add 15 ml of that oil ever few hours." The small humanoid nodded without a word and watched as Eethyl made for his bureau.

Reach for the stars

"Reach for the stars and you'll hit the sky Ethyl" his mothers voice still range in his head as if she had said it yesterday. Thalivar must have had similar encouragement in his life. What was he trying to do here? That wasn't a summoning circle that would be used to open a portal to the Abyss or the Nine Hells. That's good at least. The gnome flipped through the book in his hands taking in the nonsensical symbols within. It didn't seem to be illusionary magic unless it was covered over after the initial enchantment. The number or books for that were too many though. It wasn't any script he was familiar with either. He glanced again at the glass structures, quickly noting their position, size, number and so forth in case the information was found useful. He dropped the book and looked back toward the empty cages. Something had been brought here or summoned and held here... but what one was it? And they did appear to be broken OUT of rather than set free. That would practically take the strength of a giant. Even if their muscle to mass ratio was closer to that of a gnome instead of the comparably weaker human kind... Even then that gnome would have to have so much muscle mass... There simply wasn't enough space within to get enough of a fulcrum that the force required wasn't... other worldly... Maybe they were granted magical strength through divine channel to be set free? The gnome looked at the sky above and back at the glass formations. This was not right. It reminded him of stories Morai-Aislin had told of aberrations from other worlds of unknown power. Perhaps the steel was bent from sheer mental power as that of the star walking Githzari people? Not likely... but then again this tower didn't seem likely... and there was strange magic about. Had they simply stumbled into the domain or temple of one of the trickster gods? There was nothing to venerate or point to them if that was the case. It wouldn't be doing well at promoting the worship or fear of any of them if that was the case. No... this was simply some one using the art to summon or contact or manipulate something from the outer planes... or perhaps even from beyond those? The gnome shuddered. He caught himself and looked at the others to see if they noticed. They hadn't. He didn't want them to abandon searching the place out of fear. This couldn't be left un answered in the town anyway. Even Amarille demonstrated being shaken. No... he would need to maintain his semblance of control and confidence. If the place was under the effect of some power still... could any of that be taken? learned from? mastered? Maybe if the language in the books could yield itself to a comprehend languages spell... no certainly not. It was truly non-sensical work. Maybe the glyphs were some sypher for assisting with the master remembering their work? Like a memory imprint based on known material? He glanced back at the lower floors... no... there was too much. The mental capacity of whatever it was... was beyond that of even most divine beings he was sure. That or it truly was non-sensical? The sheer volume? Crazy and obsessive? hmmmmm... He looks back at the skeleton and the cages. Not too much there to recover. The things downstairs seemed most likely to be of use. The statues... that was odd... One would fit next to the bed. The gnome glances toward Halaena for a moment, observing her unconscious handling of the pommel of Talon. Oh well. In time maybe he would be able to handle tasks of this size. His mind drifted back to the swamp. That one at least he could do. Perhaps they would really have some time distracted and he would at least accomplish something. Well for now though the gnome thought, shaking his senses and refocusing at the area they were in. What was the goal? What could he accomplish before his group or the boars ass downstairs had him removed from the tower?

Broken Glass

It must be true then that they exist in the underdark caves. These few would not likely last well enough if their presence was discovered. As he lifted a boot, caked in clay, water slowly crept into the print and pulled the disturbed fines into a spiraling cloudy mix. These rot trolls they hunted...prevented from suffering the decay of the mere...perhaps that was why the glass trails were so thin? Agvith described then harvesting panes of it...but it was hardly thick enough here... barely showing as crystal dust spread over the mud tracks. The snails suffered the same perhaps? Not likely... but he wouldn't know without getting ahold of one. He gloured ahead at his companions as his thoughts continued to wander ahead. What about the lizardfolk? They were so ingenious as a species. How much did they understand? They lacked the curiosity to explore the possibilities though. Grandfather told of deserts of destruction spread by ancient evil. Maybe there was a lesson there if you could study the magic and compare it to the mere? Not likely. Not even Candlekeep itself would hold those secrets he supposed. Problems seemed too big to solve sometimes. Looked back up at the group ahead...he felt small. A distraction on the battlefield. The gnome pulled up the sleeve of his shirt, dark veins showed beneath the tan skin. Digging his nails into his palm and squeezing exposed the veins further... a moment later the pain he had been trying to ignore pierced his arm and into his chest. Depths of the abyss, he knew that was a mistake. He needed more though. Eethyl slowed his pace slightly and quietly muttered a few words of magic. The power in his viens pulled into his hand, spreading through the channels beneath his flesh and appearing to crack the skin as shattered glass with necrotic magic. He bit the tip of his tounge to push the pain back. Maybe that would work... overload the trolls blood and accelerate the decay it held back causing a collapse? Worth a try. The gnome sighed. He couldn't keep his thoughts in order. Sorting through his conflicted thoughts was like making his way through the thickest part of the mere fog. "I don't need to touch you to tell you that you are allowing the enemies boot in the hearths jam. Let it go Eethyl." The words echoed through his mind clewr as if spoken next to him. He couldn't see her ahead but he nodded toward where he knew she flew. "Thank you, I didn't realize I was allowing another foothold." He looked back at his hand and tugged the shirt down a little more as the black veins continued to retract from his hand up his arm. Worth a try...

Kitchens

Eethyl ran his hands along the edge of the cutting block counter top admiring the girth of the aged hardwood. It could use a new coat of the three part rosin gloss Walt used to make for the furniture in the burrow. He would have to set harvesting back up outside the walls to the west and collect for a while. The furnace rivalled that of the burrow. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the approximate storage and counter space. It was disproportionate to the comfortable living space on the other side, far more than even a wealthy residence of this size would need. Perhaps a living was made from this room that provided for the costs of the household? The furnishings told of some success if that was the case. He sighed and breathed in the smells of garlic, onion shoots, and spices; remembering Nina dicing efficiently at the counter. The grinding rumble of a stone cap being removed reverberated from within his core and through his bones. Memory threatened to climb from within, beautiful but also threatening to pull the mind down with it. Shaking his head he opened his eyes again and set the piece right again. "It's nice Sila. Even if for such a short time." Threats outside the broken walls of this place threatened to wash these vestiges of freedom into sea of swords that opened as a toothy maw to the east. And while it felt like the burrow...it remained empty. He cringed, listening carefully to the voices of the others as they explored the bedrooms through the halls. They were fine folk...but he missed the feeling of being surrounded by cathodic spirits that hummed in harmony without word or pretense. The pearl was pulled from a pocket and he ran his fingers over the smoothness. "Well, lets get you back again my friend." the gnome mumbled. "We better get some more mandrake planted and the half buckets as well. Time to work Gwaur. I'll be back shortly with tools." "grawllpftftummmgmm" the creature replied as it curled up next to the fireplace and lay down to wait. Eethyl placed the necklace under a hand towel on the counter and with a puff of mist was gone again.

Cauldron

Eethyl sat on a post looking over the fields behind the cottage and imagined home. The fields reminded him of the sprawling pastures north of the burrow just after the spring rain radiated out over the land and painted the bright greens and pastels of new life. It was his favorite time of year there. The Mogwai’s play had them running circles in groups with incredible speed around the small mounds. The bright colors of their blossoms that sprouted from their antlers streamed together like a living painting of flower fields next to the river. He smiled to himself when he thought of bringing some of them home and allowing them to multiply there. Surely someone there would stamp them out of existence or exploit them without the magic of the Feywild to prevent such a tragedy. He sighed and hopped up. Nell would return soon and have reason for her ire to be directed at him if he wasn’t busy about his work. Walking back to the cottage and taking to the back steps he pulled out a couple samples of greenery Amal had given him and examined them one last time, carefully taking in the details of the seed stalks, petals, and the feel of the dried roots. He tucked the folded cloth with the samples back in his pocket and looked at the cottage's cluttered interior again. She must have another hiding spot somewhere he was sure. It was here in the house, he was sure. He was missing something…but they would find it. The brew burbled and cast a chuckle echoing around the room. He knew it wished it bothered him but he had long grown accustomed to it. “Did you bring me any mheeeeeeat?” It asked before a concave gap formed in the mixture in the shape of a tiny humanoid closely resembling the gnome it addressed. “No but I’m sure Nell will have something for you.” The gnome replied as he set a basket next to the cauldron. He took out some of the longer reeds and fed them in around the edges of the warm black metal and the tops of them hissed as they lowered into the heat. The hissing changed to a satisfied sigh as the perpetual stew absorbed them into itself and gurgled impatiently for more. Eethyl made his way over to the cupboard and pulled out several cobs of corn that glimmered somewhat in the hearth light and unceremoniously chucked them in. He pulled a small clay flask of oil from his sack and used a cloth to rub in spots of oil on the outside of the cauldron. Part of the stew threatened to boil over the side, trying to get a glimpse of what the gnome was doing. He stood back up and grabbed a couple more thin logs for the fire and acted as if he was just tending the fire and the stew settled back in place again with a disappointed hiss. “Simmer down you.” the gnome scolded. “Nell will be back soon and may have demands of you and I both. I suggest you be ready this time and not let her down again” he said as he sprinkled a bit of herbs from a clay pot on the shelf above. “Speaking of, I recommend you give back the ladle so sh…” A large wooden laden was spit with force at the gnomes head, though he managed to spot the movement and lean to the side just in time to prevent being hit in the face. The large stirring ladle clattered to the cottage floor and Eethyl acted perturbed for the creatures benefit and retrieved it with a huff and hung it back on the nail above the cauldron. The creature cast the eerie sound of laughter around the cottage again thinking its games were bothering him. “Try that with Nell and see how long that fire is kept hot, I dare you” The gnome warned it. He wiped his hands on his apron and looked around the work area again. Perhaps he would reorganize the components again and find something...

The rattle of bones

Eethyl removed his pack and greeted his friend with a warm embrace. “How many now?” his anxious tone inquired past a creased brow. The old gnome pursed his lips and met Eethyls desperate gaze. “Only eight so far. Mostly the little ones and two elders.” “And my kin n’ D-...” He started before the older gnome held up a hand to slow him. “It has not reached their household yet.” He shook his head slowly. “But we must get you to my kitchen and get you to work.” Eethyl bent and removed a package from his pack as he set to follow the elder. Catching up to him he continued his inquiry. “Do we know what brought it?” The elder looked at the younger gnome from the corner of his eyes. “We don’t know for sure. We had a visitor from the south a tenday ago though. The burrow critters didn’t take to him.” Eethyl laughed softly. “That’s not surprising. They only take to a few of ours here as it is.” The elder nodded and responded slowly, his words carrying more weight as he spoke, “Aye…tis true. But I spoke with a couple of them, and they said the stranger smelled of death.” He let the word settle for a moment for contemplation before he kept on. “Three days later the first fell ill. The stranger stayed and even offered to help. He aided in the recovery of the first, a young one named Elodie. He gave her tea and set up a shrine to his god and soon she showed signs of recovery. She recovered fully eventually. As others soon fell sick, well, some asked him to pray for theirs. He did so and taught them to burn incense for his god and pray to him. He eventually left though. Lourdes took a turn for the worse and passed the night after the stranger left four days later.” Eethyl listened intently, his fingers turning the package over in his hands absently as his friend spoke. “He set up a shrine to a god that wasn’t recognized by the elders?” disbelief tinted his words. “Aye, they didn’t stop him as it was just for him at first. After Elodie lived people flocked to it, including some of the elders as their kin had fallen ill.” The elder nodded. “I’m not on the council now or I would protest. My time is done.” The elder gnome said before stifling a raspy cough. Eethyl inspected him as they walked and resisted the urge to ask to check his lungs. “Who is this deity the traveler worshiped?” The elder motioned him down a hall and gently dismissed a middle-aged couple who were praying to an altar in an alcove. He stepped to the side and motioned Eethyl forward to see for himself. Before the old gnome was a piece of black silk draped out to the left and right, candles burned low in front, and incense in a small brazier to the side was smoldering. Prominently in the middle of the silk triangle was the skull of what looked to be a human, its harshness softened with a braided crown of gold silk with a tuft at the front. Eethyl squinted in disbelief and his breath caught in his throat. “But…I thought Myrkul was dead... the bone castle torn down after the Time of Troubles? Most of his temples have been converted... I have seen with my own eyes. How?...” Eethyl looked back toward his companion who nodded. “Yes, the realm of the Bone Lord was torn asunder and reshaped under a new one, a more just ruler from what I know. This one though…” The old gnome gestured at the alter “He still feeds off the fear of death and has returned to strength as more offer to him. It has been since I was a child that he thrived in name, but he is known again among the humans especially.” Eethyl glared at the shrine but made no move to it as he thought about how to solve the issue. The old gnome gently touched his arm bringing him back to the problem at hand. “Come Eethyl. We will tend to the kitchen first and see what we can do to deal with the reason they seek the favor of one such as this. Perhaps after the fear is removed someone may remove this and they will be less inclined to replace it.” Eethyls eyes came back to meet his and he hesitated a moment as his thoughts raced, eventually nodding he allowed himself to be guided back down the hall toward the elders' burrow and kitchen.

Off the spine

Eethy strained looking out over a forest of mountain peaks before him. It didn’t look any different really. The peaks extended in both directions and extended as far as the eye could see. He shielded his eyes from a gust of snow the wind whipped up from the peak he peered over. Reaching up, he lowered his goggles back down against his ice frosted mustache and pressed them back into place. He looked toward his guide and she pointed to their left. In his head he heard her voice clear as day, “That peak there. We will follow this ridgeline to it. There is a cliff at the end. You can jump from there and drop several hundred feet to the next ridgeline.” Two hours later he was finally at the top of the ledge and nodded to her. He took a breath and worked his lips for a moment to make sure he would be able to speak the arcane words necessary. His lips cracked and the cold air stung his throat as he did. The fall wasn’t bad though the wind carried him a little during the descent. He finally touched the snow but instead of landing softly he sank twice his height and found himself buried and hardly able to move. He muttered in frustration silently to himself and began casting and melting and shaping the snow around himself to get back out. When he finally got out he saw empathy but also amusement as she laughed, presumably out loud though he couldn’t hear it over the wind. “You could have warned me” he thought with a touch of begrudging humor. She stuck out one bare foot and gestured at the light blue runed limb in innocence, “It was firm beneath my feet when I tried it.” came the reply in his mind. “Next time land on your stomach maybe?” she offered. Eethyl shook his head and smiled inwardly, glad she could bring some humor to the mercelis trip. Six days later he stood looking out over the first earth he had seen without snow or frost in months. There was a small crater lake below that fed out the far side and likely cascaded down the mountain in a series of waterfalls through the forests below. He felt his shoulders relax a moment and he let himself sit for a bit just to take in the sight. He sensed her settle next to him and saw the small footprints in the snow as she walked to the end of the rock and took in the sight herself. “There is a settlement of humanoids that should be within a day's journey past here. I could see it from above when it was clear yesterday.” came her crisp thoughts. He nodded. The firelight from the hearth cast past the man who dished out stew to folk dressed in firs and thick leathers who sat around the lodge on shaped timbers. Two young men sat cross legged, one playing two small drums and the other a small stringed instrument. The droning voice of the elder that sang quietly in a deep voice slowed and he gestured for the boys to stop as the evening watch came in escorting a short thick bundle of winter clothing still covered in permafrost and wearing pequilure eyewear. “Karn herand groth haleed saraid?” The elder asked the guards. Eethyl lifted his goggles above his eyes and blinked in the light of the torches and fire. One of his escorts gestured toward the mountain and gave a response Eethyl couldn’t understand. The elder nodded and dismissed them into the night. The room sat silently watching the odd traveler as they didn’t see many this far north and certainly not any coming off the spine. The elder stepped forward and nodded acknowledgment to the gnome. “You come off the spine without a weapon or company? Is this true?” his thick accent came through in a clear common tongue. Eethyl realized he hadn’t heard common spoken in years and suddenly felt the foreigner he appeared to these people. He cleared his throat and wet his cracked lips though it did little to help. “I do come without blade or bow father. Bal pardon me, I do not believe there is a tavern that appens to rent rooms. I do ope to find someone willing to trade rations hand perhaps point me toward the nearest chity or sare a map.” His common was more rusty than he expected as he heard his own voice. A couple of the villagers murmured and exchanged glances hearing him speak and a couple of the men openly scrutinized his clothing though they did not interrupt. The elder looked at him, noting he carried no pack or provisions to be seen. “Where do you come from then traveler?” the old man asked. “Near the sword coast mountains, though I have been gone for many years. I have items to chrade for your ospitality if you will extend it la? If not, Pi I’ill be on my way.” It unnerved him to have to ask for something he would have taken for granted all these many years, even of a wild beast. He felt for a moment like he wanted to flee back up the mountain to what he had grown accustomed to. He stood still though and attempted to push his frozen cheeks up in a smile. The old man nodded after a moment of consideration and gestured to a place on a log and gestured to one of the villagers to place a dry fir for him near the spot. “Come then, we will accept you as a guest. You may warm yourself and we will speak of trade then.” Sila reassured him silently, “He is amiable and an honorable man at heart. I believe you can trust him. His curiosity is sparked by your offer of trade.” Eethyl nodded politely to a few that watched as he crossed the open space and made to take off his coat and sit after his host had settled comfortably. “This is the galley then. Here you will be expected to work with two breaks per day at third bell and sixth, that is unless you haven’t finished the dishes.” The tiefling said. “I’ll throw your ass overboard if you don’t pull your weight. More than your weight actually” her doubtful tone was harsh. Eethyl believed her. “I weel work ard I hguarantee you and always ave the food ready.” he replied. She looked at him funny and he kicked himself for not paying more heed to his accent. “All right then you little shit, get in there and get to work and prove it.” He nodded and set about checking where the cooking utensils were stored and what kind of provisions they had to work with. "Fucking gnome for a cook, what next?" the tiefling muttered as she left him. “I’ll be glad to leave this city of sails” Sila’s thoughts came clear past the clatter of steps on the deck above. “The place smells worse than the lower bogs of the bahadleen realm.” Eethyl laughed softly to himself but didn’t respond. “I’m going to check the ship out and see if we should expect any trouble.” “I’ll be about my work here yes yes” he replied in mind as he rummaged through the cupboards. "It's just a couple days journey by boat. We will be in Neverwinter by the end of tenday." It seemed like that was two years ago he thought as he looked at his calloused hands. He looked up at the bay and smiled. Finally. Nine months after leaving the city of sails he was finally back within reach of home. He should have just come on foot but no use thinking on that. Soon he would finally be able to see his kin again.

Core

“Firo, the land will compel you even if he doesn’t ask.” Sila addressed the small hairy humanoid as if it were a stubborn child. “Eh no ask en pussobly eturn to dun ocks eforn he will ush to go.” He cast an innocent smile and twisted to ignore her, sending his dreads into a twirl as he sought to ignore the smaller creature that was interrupting his “You won’t ignore me either Firo, remember it was my arrow that put you to sleep long enough for him to work it free from your hoof.” She knew she had him when he stopped. “I do request your assistance with your own tools the same in providing him the warmth he needs to travel to the Frozen Lands of Winter.” He turned back slowly, considering the ground and shaking the curtain of hair. He did reach for a pair of shiny oversized scissors from his side though. He held them before his face and the curtain that had fallen before his face parted itself of it's own accord so he could regard the shining tool. A single dread separated from the rest. He spoke more to the hair of his own head than the sprite above him. “Aye eh ont stay aforn mach onger eneeay I uess.” Sila hovered a moment in the air waiting for him to finish wrestling with himself. Her brow popped up in satisfaction with the sound of the scissors cutting through the dread. She did envy the control these creatures possessed for creation. She considered all she could accomplish with such power as the dread turned to a beautiful metal braid and withered as a snake in his hand. She tilted her head to him, acknowledging his work, when he met her gave with one eye through parted hair. The curtain of hair fell again and covered his features. “Anrite, ets een dune hen” He said as he turned and placed his fingers in a donut shape. His fingers slowly opened into a larger circle and a hole in the igneous top of the mound peeled back to the molten core below. He lowered the metal braid toward it. The strand of braided metal shot out small tendrils and clawed at the opening to the heat below, the end of it plunging with a ravenous hunger into the core. It emerged a moment later wrestling with a smaller glowing form, constricting it and wrestling to hold it still. The other end of the braid unwound its form and opened as if a maw before it clamped over the specimen. As it twisted and swallowed the glowing lump could be seen moving down its length. The Korrid circled the end of his middle finger with his thumb for a moment and the braid wove itself around and over itself encircling the protruding lump. It formed into a beautiful knotted ball of braided metal. Firo closed his hand into a fist and a moment later it stilled and frozen in place, a metal ball the size of the gnome's fist. Yes, that would do, she thought. “Nu ends ta ake omorrow eneeay” The Korrid said as if he didn’t mind and cast the metal ball at the sprite. She managed to catch it but struggled with the weight. “Thank you. Your reciprocity is satisfied. May you stay clear of the old one's avarice” she said, though he was choosing to ignore her and was already back pushing yet another stone twice his size upright into the stone circle he was assembling. She turned and took off for Ethyl’s burrow. This would indeed do she thought as she felt the heat permeating her body. …. The gnome grasped the knotted ball close, feeling its heat, conflict still playing across his features as his glance darted around the cavern. “Bal I don’t know if I want to leave. I’m not sure I can see Dormin or me grankin.” he said through the worry. Sila kept hoisting vials and placing them in the leather roll she had splayed out before her. She didn’t even bother to look up at him. “You do. Now finish packing. Chione assured me the Prince of Frost won’t return for at least a half moon. We don’t have time to waste if we are to see the winter witch.” Ethyl nodded and slowly wandered off to look for where the tressum had taken his other boot. She would be glad to leave this place. Toril would at least be a cooler climate she was sure if the young white made its home there. She admitted it made her nervous as well. No matter. At least they would be done with the foolishness of the border land and its heat. She wouldn’t even mind the sun provided she didn’t have to stay in it indefinitely, she told herself.

Blame

“In short, your methods are crude, your ingredients suspect, and I question the source of your recipes.” Corvalor, the distinguished guest speaker from Baldur's Gate, a half elf in his late years, decreed. It wasn’t unexpected but the words still stung like a fire ant. “Sir, I assure you they have worked before. I have never had someone helping me before. I must have not been clear enough” Ethyl said as he gestured to Wilmanric beside him. Wilmanric shifted smoothly away from the gnome a step and shook his head denying any fault, though the gesture was lost on his shorter cohort. “I assure you, I attempted to follow your instructions as well as I could. It seems like you work with unfinished recipes and you experiment on your subjects as you go to determine the effectiveness.” His study partner said to separate himself from any blame, and placing Ethyl square in the path of the teacher as a Cow before a Bullet having just sprung forth from below the ground. Ethyl turned on his partner with a bluster of words. “Wilmanric, I explained to you that you have to take into account the purity of the sample, not to mention the age and ensure that the ratio is in accordance. Not to mention you aren’t accounting for the influence of the elemental spirits within the area that you pull the base samples for. You can’t think that a dragon who defuses its essence into the land isn’t going to have a lasting effect. Let alone the magic in the land before that. It’s just going to compound the problem like I said it would. You…uhg” his hands were thrown up in exasperation as Wilmanric looked on as if withdrawn or indifferent. Color blossomed, filling the gnome's cheeks, his face turning into a frown as he measured his partner's face. Corvalor spoke from the desk again, “Eethyl, if you can’t take responsibility for your own craft then you will disgrace the name of the order. We can not have that. You must learn to adhere to the approved practices only. Research and experimentation are not permitted within the first rank. I will be voting with others on the board, from whom I have already heard grave concerns about your ideas on what is acceptable.” Ethyl turned to face the half-elf. Corvalors elven heritage was showing through his set jaw line and aloof gaze. Ethyl sighs and shakes his head. Turning to Wilmanric “Even in your elder years you humans have barely lived long enough to have learned true wisdom.” He gestures at Corvalor, “You at least have spent enough time to rea…“ The half-elf cuts in “more time than you and more experience. You have no place to speak to me, young gnome.” The gnome's mouth opens as frustration pulses across his face. He arrests the retort about to escape his throat and meets the man's gaze. He turns to Wilmanric and his face relaxes slightly into disappointment. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out better between us.” Ethyl says with a bow of his head. He spits the last words out at Corvalor “The board has no reason to vote. I resign my candidacy. I will collect my positions and vacate the lab immediately.” After which he turns sharply on a heel and leaves the study. … Ethyl touches the pearl in his pocket, comforted by its cool touch. “I’m sorry Ethyl. Can I help?” her voice comes in his mind. “No, I'm sorry. I will figure another way. I’m not good at working with humans. It hardly seems worth the effort sometimes” his voice heavy with exhaustion and defeat. “That’s what I used to say about gnomes…” her soft response comes. A small laugh escapes him. “Thank you for being patient with me.” He places the last leather tool roll into his bag and hoists it onto his shoulder, looking around the sleeping quarters and work space a last time. A couple moments later the latch for the door falls back into place and the room is left dark and silent.

Powders

He couldn’t hear any other voice besides hers and the teachers’. That was different, most were introduced to the teacher by an elder. Maybe she is older? They weren’t long, as the instructor knew not to leave his gnomish pupils squirming on their stools without oversight for long. When they came around the corner finally the attention of the students was that of a litter of fresh pups who had just spotted a butterfly. She stood straight but she also didn’t match anyone's gaze either as the teacher introduced her in the common language. “Alright, this is Antonina. She will be joining us for the language and arcane lessons to round out her education she has already received. She will also serve as my assistant with scores.” “Where was that?” Roondar asked before much more could be given. He didn’t look pleased. “She comes to us as one of the refugees from the Elven and Human lands of Cormyr.” The instructor twisted back toward her politely asking, “And you do go by Antonina or Nina then?” “The humans called me as Nina then sir.” She nodded politely as a human would as she spoke and the fountain of hair that washed back behind her swayed some. Her accent certainly wasn’t that of the Zhentarim merchants. She must have seventy summers at least, but that would explain her being here if she didn’t have a regular education. Her clothing was foriegn for certain. The instructor nodded toward his own small writing desk against the wall and she nodded and pulled a small bag from her back and laid it over the chair back and turned the chair halfway toward the class and instructor. Ethyl could see several of the class seemed uncomfortable with this and physically twisted with unease as the last of the leaves on the fall trees. From where he sat he could just see under the flap of the bag and could make out a couple books. She was going to be studious then he assumed. … Several ten day passed and Nina had settled right in. She picked up Gnim faster than most of the class, only perhaps Roondar, Daphibys, and Ethyl able to best her still. She was picking it up quickly though and he was sure she would match them soon. She did indeed assist the instructor with tasks and always took the small desk or folded neatly on the steps of the small dias taking notes on the dias floor as she listened to the instructor or speakers. She never stayed to interact with the students much. She didn’t stay with them among the family burrows or communal lodge. Instead she had her own small room, paid for also by her benefactor he discovered, among those small cottage fronts on the northwest rise in the village. Ethyl was going his rounds through the groves for gallnuts and making his way back toward the north pond for eggs when he noticed her at her window, surely at her table working on something. She caught his eye as she watched him slow from his jog toward the pond her cottage looked over. He smiled politely, unsure how well she could see from the distance. She just looked back down though, continuing whatever task it was she worked on. She didn’t seem to come out besides for lessons or duty. Oh that would bother him, to stay all penned up as one of the elders on their own? He shook the unpleasant thought off. She didn’t seem to mind. Maybe because she had spent too much time among the humans and didn’t know how to socialize with Gnomes well he figured. … “Ethyl right?” Ninas' voice came, as one dealing with a traveler, polite and welcoming but business like . He was sure she knew his name but he nodded the same. “You make your own ink I hear. Do you have any abundance or do you use it all up? If not, perhaps I would offer a trade or a few coin?” He nodded, “sure. I have more. I would be happy to trade for some of the fine parchments I have seen you make.” Her smile warmed her face and she pulled out a roll of parchments from her bag, obviously anticipating this as a possible request, and held the bundle out for him. “Oh, thank you!” He was shocked at how thick the bundle of parchments was and how fine their texture was. “Uh...I apologize, I didn’t bring more with me but I can offer you my own well now if you would like and bring you more on the sun rise?” She didn’t respond but her smile radiated further out and she flicked her dark chocolate eyes toward him, meeting his gaze again after she corked the well and placed it in one of the front pockets of her bag. “Another request then?” He felt obligated now, only being able to give her a half full inkwell and in her debt now. “Yeah, sure, what else can I help with?” She gestured at the small box on his desk. “Your colored charcoals?” “You are an artist then?” He was impressed and a touch intimidated by the request. His stomach lurched back as she sat down and pulled up closer than he would have liked. “Not particularly, though I would like to work at it more and have a couple of canvases hung that I find pleasing though they aren’t much.” She seemed hesitant to crack the subject open with him but she nodded shoring up her decision. “Your grandfather mentioned he thought you might be able to assist me with making something similar for myself.” “Sure, I can make you some if you are thinking of taking up drawing. They aren’t really good for canva” she touched his hand to stop him. “No no I don’t want them for art. I mean…The ladies where I was raised would use them…” and she waved a hand before her face as if pulling a cover off. “You know, to be found more pleasing. I would like some like my Mae, who raised me, used. She would use pins to pull her hair up tight and then use powders, like our folk do, on her cheeks but then also a dry ink for her features and a thin balm on her lips.” He nodded as he tried to picture the powders and inks he had seen humans use on her or any other gnome. The imagine escaped him. “uh…I’m sure grandfather could do something like that or would know better than me.” Her hand crept further up and pressed the top of his with a bit more pressure. “He said you would have an easier time finding the right items and maybe more imagination for the task than he had energy for.” “I guess. Uhm…yes I can see what I can do. Maybe in a few days then?” She pulled her hand back and gave a solid nod as she grabbed two platinum coins from her bag and placed them before him. “Ni- apricate a- Ethyl.” she said in her budding Gnim accent, before she turned and made for the common room for supper. “yes, drin- dronn.” he acknowledged, as his gaze was hooked by the sight of the odd coins. He hadn’t seen these before. He lifted them and felt their weight. These were not like the common merchant coin of the Sword Coast, but rather the larger coins of Cormyr with their cupped edge and pressed face. He picked one up, studying it. Surely they didn’t use a hammer like they did for the merchant guild coins? They were so uniform as he pushed them next to each other. “These for some powders?” he questions quietly to himself. … Ethyl lifted the top of his chest and carefully sorted through his collection of leather rolls and boxes. He eased one out, a small delicate wooden one undid the tiny latch to inspect the chambers. Six spaces…each big enough for a charcoal shading brush. That may well do, he thought. He pluncked up a second one, round with a press on top that had a good fitment and held powdered egg shell he had been collecting. He would have to find a new container for that. He grabbed leather wrapped portions of beeswax and gum powder and stuffed them along with the containers in a small bag. “What else?” he asked the fall breeze that carried in the door he had left ajar. He pressed his eyes and tried to picture her face. Something for her cheeks of course but then for her eyes? Grandfather spoke of the thick molasses colored face paints those from the southern peninsula wore on their eyes and lips. He frowned at the image. How odd on a gnome. She already didn’t fit in exactly. An unusual request to single herself out further. He could almost picture it if just used sparingly. The image played lightly across her features in his mind and he opened his eyes again, glancing at the soft petals and violet blossoms of the climbing vine that reached and draped from its small pot on the window sill. “Yes, that may work. I wonder if she has a polished mirror?” he muttered as he shut the door as he left.

Into the Abyss

There is a scattering of bare feet on loose gravel and a yell. The bottom of my stomach drops out even though I wasn’t the one that leapt off the ledge. A few long seconds and there is a sickening slap as flesh hits far below. Oh, I can feel the sting. I wonder if he landed flat or pointed down like a spike. I can’t bear myself to look. I can hear the laughter though. “Come on jump. Don’t be a coward. You might make it!” There is mocking laughter from beyond. Their mocking fuels my embarrassment. Blast them to the lower planes! “I’m not a coward,” I call out. “Then jump or we call you a liar!” I back from the edge, fear making it hard to breathe. Curses, why were we out here? We could have been safe at home or in the wood! “Coward!” Comes the call again. I grit my teeth, the right side connecting hard and grinding in frustration. I press further again on my jaw and set my resolve. Just don’t think about it you fool. Do it. If you can make it over the edge then you wont have any choice but to deal with it. Just don’t stop at the edge and end up plastered against the rocks. I feel my body start forward without my agreement. Momentum picks up and there is no turning back it seems. If I slow now I will tumble over and likely meet my end on the rocks. I feel legs push off, second guessing myself immediately, and my body lunges out in space. The wind pushes past my ears to remind me that I just left the safety of solid ground. Then there is nothing…No weight…Just a sick feeling of dread..and THERE is the weight! My stomach jumps into my chest as gravity takes effect and I feel myself pulled back toward the world. Oh I’m going to be sick. As I feel myself drop my adrenaline is pumping and my brain snaps back into gear with a jerk overshadowing the fear. I remember to pull my flailing limbs in tight and panic for a moment as I find my own nose rather than reach for a purchase that doesn’t exist. I feel my body hit and there is just a breathtaking cold. As my feet enter the water, body close behind, there is a cavity created. The water rushes in to fill the void and slams against my ear drums causing them to ring. Between the shock of the cold and the slam of the water my adrenaline filled mind sends off bells of alarm. Will I have enough air? Will I be able to get back? The momentum carries my body far further down and faster than expected and my thin form arches. My feet come up in front of me above my head and for a moment I don’t know what way to push or pull. What way is safety? How did I end up upside down? It takes a moment for the kinetic energy to settle and there is relative stillness. Another moment to figure out what way is up. I push my legs out and reach with my left arm up and grasp for the bit of green light above that must be the surface. After a couple strokes I gain confidence that I will indeed reach the surface again. My head comes up out of the water and I hear the laughing of my brothers. I feel myself grin a little and the urge to release tension through a laugh but I hold it in. Wow it’s cold. “There you go Ethyl.” “About time!” “You good there lad?” I search for and find grand da on the raft twenty feet out. He is closer than the shore. “Yep” is all I get out as I struggle to kick enough to stay up. I make my way through the water toward him. He smiles and keeps his eyes locked on mine to assure me I’m good and mutters a command word. I see out of my peripheral vision my brothers start to lift out of the water, hands on the rope and feet on the plank of the hoisting sling. “Come again Ethyl. You shouldn’t be scared now.” my eldest brother calls out. “I’m ok. I might soon.” I call back, trying to keep water out of my mouth. It seems like my teeth already threaten to chatter. I climb up on the raft and lay back, enjoying the warmth of the sun immediately on my skin, a contrast from the water. “Good good. While you shouldn’t do it because your brothers pressure you, you should still push yourself to experience new things” grand da says. “Do you want to go again?” I shrug. “Maybe” He chuckles. “When you are ready. Don’t get too comfortable.” I nod and finally take a few deep breaths and enjoy the calm for a moment. - The gnome shudders peering out over Thundertree. "Reminds me of the ocean Sef. You can't see them, but you know there are things out there watching you...feeling for you. That sense of anticipation before you see something is more to bear than facing down the monstrosity when it finally reveals its self."

Acceptable

“No you foolish gnome, don’t you see? The moment you step foot back on Toril time will catch up with you. Think again about what I taught you yesterday about the river.” The gnome looked at the small blue figure with doubt, wondering if this was yet another trick. She placed her fists on her hips and glared at him. “You have been here too long not to have figured more out.” “I am trying. I am barely understanding this whole debt thing and how the land could possibly hold anyone to such. You said it wasn’t alive or conscious…this just doesn’t make any sense. Can’t I just release you?” he asked in growing frustration gesturing at her. She was silent and crossed her arms and waited for him to accept the realities she was explaining. She felt a touch of something warm her cheeks at his dismissal of her debt but that would not do. She brushed it aside. No, normally she would have just wrapped the debt back on him but something prevented her. He wasn’t like the humans she had encountered. Perhaps because he was genuinely concerned for her above himself that caused the magic to prevent her escape from it and tempered her normal independence? She took a breath and let it out through her nose. “Sit down you fool. You will trample the moss if you keep pacing.” The gnome did so and folded his hands over his head with his head in his lap.. “How did you make it out of the Feydark anyway? You should have been a quick meal for the Fomorian.” The gnome looked up and a faint smile flickered over his face briefly. He flicked his hand and mumbled some of the old arcane language and suddenly he was indistinguishable from the other stones around him. Her eyes squinted as she sought to peer through the illusion…she was unable. The illusion dropped and he met her surprised gaze. “I haven’t met someone from your world that could deceive me with an illusion.” The gnome shrugged his response “Glittergold blessed us with creativity and we can better picture and hold what we want to create than most races.” She nodded briefly. “They should have found you by smell though?” The gnome nodded and produced a bit of grease from a tin and held it out for her. She shouldn’t accept his secrets she knew, it would further hold her in the debt magic. But she took it anyway and peered at it. He must have cut the gills of the larger ones to collect the dust and mix it in. She nodded approval and handed it back. He leaned back and rested his head against the trunk. With a flutter of her wings she lighted on his knee. He didn’t jump or start. This was an odd one. He just looked down at her. “Alright, can you recount again the exact phrasing she used when she offered you the necklace?” He nodded. She walked up a couple steps toward him, feeling his aura carefully for any sign of deceit or anger. “Alright then. Lets go over it again and see if we may make a counter offer that would prevent you being stuck for the rest of your life or lose it. … … She glanced at the lantern again. “And you said the oil you mixed with Morai helped you find the crossing points?” “I was trying to make another batch that would allow me to see spirits. I didn’t realize they floated between both planes. Morai didn’t really explain it though I guess she warned me.” Ethyl picked another pear carefully, cutting it in two and removing the seeds as she had instructed and pocketing them after planting one nearby. He took a bite and enjoyed the sweetness. He cut a thin sliver for her and she took it in her hand, freezing it and eating it with a crunch like a carrot. “Ok,” she said after a mouthful “We have enough to work with. She thinks you are entirely dependent on her. We can work with this. Come…we will make some vellum and draw up a counter offer then.” She drew her bow and took to the air. A few feet up and away and he didn’t follow. She turned back and looked at him. She didn’t need to get close enough to feel his aura to know what was going on. He wasn’t scared but he was embarrassed. “You don’t know how to defend yourself or hunt really do you?” He splayed his hands out and smiled. Shoot that was growing on her. The land would not let her go from this one for a while…The other sprites would give her a time of it if they found out. Better to help him and escape that embarrassment anyway. “I’m willing to try.” Ethyl said. She gave a nod. “Alright, fetch your rope and hammer. We will start with something small.” and she twisted in the air and allowed the heat to carry her further into the wood ahead of him looking for signs of almiraj or perhaps those ferrets. She would love to deal with them. Yes, they would start with the ferrets. She looked back at her gnome, hurrying to keep up and smiled slightly. She would teach him. He would surely do better than that arrogant wizard had.

Tinker

Ethyl looked up at the northern outer wall as he passed through the outlying farms. The parapet was nearly finished. The details list always took longer than the controllers expected. It would surely be another couple months. No more than that though. It was a magnificent sight. Surely a place of strength even the Orcs would hesitate to besiege. The parties that struck out from here to keep peace would have a far reach. His kind would be safer as a result.. If only they would build fortifications like this further inland. The humans seemed so drawn to the sea and waterways. ... “I see you made it back in one piece lad” Terrin said with a smile as Ethyl entered the workshop. “Bartholl and Klevin are working on the guard shack for the next two ten days. It’s still early in the day. They will be glad for your help. Collect your tools from the chests and get to it.” the gnome told him as he gestured to the tools along the wall. Ethyl looked at him with a bit of confusion and opened his chest to find several new tinker tools including a fine pair of snips and a new ball peen hammer. He picked it up and appreciated the craftsmanship and couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you Terrin” Ethyl got his belongings settled and added the new tools to his new apron and tool rolls. He felt satisfied and like he had a sense of purpose as he tied the apron strings behind his waist. No more than thirty minutes later Ethyl was working alongside Klevin setting pins in the new hinges of the guard doors. Mid day and Terrin checked in on the group. “We need the guide for the inner portcullis chain set. Let's try and get that hung today please. “We will do such.” Bartholl replied for the three as they ate. ... A couple hours later Klevin was peering through the stonework guide and handing a pin through to Ethyl. “Just set that one and we are all set. Besides, it's almost time for supper.” Ethyl took the pin and set it in place, driving it into place with a satisfactory ping. “All good?” came Klevins voice. “All set, we can test it” he called back. A few moments later there was a satisfying clinking as the portcullis began to operate. Ethyl smiled at himself and set his tools away. When Ethyl got down from the ladder and made for the door to the walk way he found it barred. He frowned at himself, glancing at the two portcullis, both firmly lowered into place. He went to the south one and looked for one of the cousins but neither was in sight. He smiled lopsidedly and called out “Very funny guys. You got me. Welcome back yeah yeah.” but there was no replay. Ethyl smiled and shook his head and took up a seat against a wall to wait for someone to pass or the guys to grow bored with the prank. “Just like my brothers.” ... The morning found the gnome sleeping in the corner, huddled from the morning chill. He stirred as voices drew near and quickly righted himself, straightening his apron and cap. Ethyl realized it was the custodian and his escort doing their inspection rounds as the first question came sharply, “You there gnome, what are you doing in the guard house?” the sergeant asked. He refrained from smiling in embarrassment and saluted instead staring straight ahead at attention. “Testing sir, chain is rigged and running gate is secure sir”. The sergeant huffed and called out “guards, get someone to open the gate and bring this one to the barracks for questioning” After a moment of looking and murmuring among themselves, one of the remaining guards elicited snickers from his fellows commenting “Gone and got himself stuck all night looks like”. The custodian, a man in his sixties, stepped forward. One of his eyebrows threatened to lift and a smile played behind his older eyes. The sergeant stepped forward as the portcullis began to lift, ”I apologize Lord Crommor. We will see that he is dealt with”. The older man lifted a hand slightly to ward off the sergeant. “Your name and what house are you from?” came the question as he stared down at Ethyl. “Ethyl, The house of Dulri.” The response seemed to please the Lord and he nodded. “Very well Ethyl Dulri. While I appreciate your dedication to ensuring the quality of Castle Waterdeep and her gates, this is the day of rest for the tradesmen. You will retire your tools and find rest, that you may be fit for task during second bell tomorrow.” The older man showed a hint of mirth and gave a slow wink as he stared at the gnome. Ethyl kept himself professional as he responded “Yes Lord. Thank you Lord” and he lowered his salute and walked past the glowering sergeant. ... Back at the barracks the smell of coffee and breakfast hit him and made his stomach grumble. “Ah Ethyl, you finally finished eh? Working like a Kobold huh?” Bartholl chidded. “Very funny you guys.” Ethyl responded with a smile and a shake of his head. “Lord Crommor and his escort were doing inspections and found me. I’m sure you weren’t aware the gate was scheduled for inspection this morning?” Klevin piped in with moch horror on his face “Oh, Ethyl, you didn’t get yourself locked in there did you? Oh the embarrassment!” This sent the cousins into fits of laughter. Terrin approached Ethyl with a plate of food and a cup of coffee, holding back any laughter behind a smile. “Here Ethyl. Get some food.” Ethyl accepted the plate and glanced over at the cousins with a grin and a shake of his head. “Thanks Terrin” His uncle nodded "Maybe you should make dinner tonight?" he added with a wink.

Wind down

Stepping into the space he felt the weight shift and he barely managed to catch himself before the piece clattered to the floor and against the wall. Pulling his forearms out of the straps he un buckles the belt from his waist and moves to inspect the piece and make sure it didn’t suffer any further damage. With a sigh he moves to the workbench and begins unloading items from his apron. After a few minutes he sighs and takes a seat on the bench. He reaches out for the lid of the bird call box and turns it slightly, examining it distractedly. “I don’t know what to do with them Sila.” He absently places a hand on the pouch by his side. “And not even Gwaur for company.” He mumbles to himself. He hopes back up and heads for the pantry to fetch from supplies and refill several containers from his pouch. Stopping by a small cage he gathers a few eggs from below the small game birds and carefully wraps them and places them in his pouch as well. “Well…” He heads back to the work bench and lifts the largest burlap sack and pulls it to the side of the room where a few half barrels converted to planters lay and he lifts the plant into one. “You will need watering…I did think of that though. I wonder if that’s why you did so well? Perhaps when they lost one of their own that’s where they bought them? Likely more energy in theirs than most others with the power flowing through them.” He heads toward a shelf with numerous jars and pulls down a large one and busies himself with a bag of dirt and trowel. “Oh, and cant forget you guys” he says, glancing at a smaller bag. He plants several seeds in individual cups and transplants a smaller plant before he looks around thinking for a minute. “I think we leave you with the others and I’ll take that one upstairs I guess he says.” After arranging things Once finished he cleans up and takes a small tin and scrapes the contents onto a small heating dish and adjusts it’s height over the small flame. Looking satisfied he sighs and steps back into the manse with a puff of mist. He spends a few minutes poking through the library one last time, pocketing a few candle sticks and pulling another door handle off before he is satisfied. After a bit he heads back out toward the group. Stopping by an appropriate divot in the ground he sets a small fire alight and places several items in it from his pouch and sets them ablaze. He nods to himself after a few minutes and puts out the remains of the flame with dirt and then pulls out a blanket from his apron and heads toward the huts Flicker had fashioned, careful not to wake those resting.

Grandfather

“Eethyl what happened to you?” The old gnome asked. “I was trying to help in the herb garden. The badger came back though.” The young one responds, holding a somewhat bloody rag against an elbow clutched close to his chest. “Here let me see it.” The older gnome lifted his arm by the elbow examining the wound. “Yeah he got you pretty good.” The older gnome reaches into a pouch and pulls out an oil and uncorks it, pouring a small amount over the wound and causing Eethyl to flinch in pain. He glances at the smaller gnome's reaction as he uses a piece of moss to spread the oil and wipe at the dirt in the cuts. “Feeling sorry for yourself there?” “Grand-da it hurts.” Eethyl responds defensively. “How do you expect me to act with the pain?” The old gnome nods and smiles. “I didn’t ask if it hurt. I asked if you were feeling sorry for yourself?” Eethyl takes a minute to think about it, his brow creasing down and frustration showing on his face. “They were supposed to help build the fence for the herb garden” He finally responds, glancing across the burrow to his older brothers as they shed their aprons and washed for supper. “Don’t worry about them boy. You worry about yourself. Are you not grateful for today? Have you somehow been buried from Glittergold’s sight?” He pulls a bandage from a cupboard as he speaks and begins lining up the arm for a wrap. Eethyl sighs deep, realizing he is wrong but at a loss for words on a response. He holds the end of the bandage in place as his grandfather begins to wrap it. “Eethyl, you need to remember. Pain of all kinds in this world that is rife with evil and broken people…It’s all temporary and ultimately inconsequential. If you can’t figure out your capacity and the strength he has placed in you then you will be controlled by that pain.” The young gnome looks up at him with some confusion and searches his grandfather's face. “It’s just a bite grand-da.” “Obviously, I’m using the opportunity to speak to you about something connected and more important.” The old gnome says with patience and he finishes the wrap. Eethyl turns his head sideways and nods slowly but he lets the arm fall to his side before straightening his shoulders. He takes in a deep breath and lets it go. “There you go. Much better. Now… Are you ready for the rest of the evening?” Eethyl nods once and a slight smile returns to his face. Rastor notices the smile as he walks by the two and looks quizzically toward his younger brother and the bandage, nodding as he walks by. “Grand-da we are ready for you when you are ready.” he says as he passes and heads for the main room. The old gnome clasps Eethyls shoulder for a moment and smiles. “Remember. You are responsible for your own life. You will have pain. Learn to give that up and keep the plan in sight and give up any of these distractions and your adventure will end in success apart from any set back. You will come out with a finally cut gemstone that he will be proud of.” Eethyl glances toward his arm and then his brothers as they move through the space and his expression flickers but he maintains the smile and meets his grandfather's eyes again before nodding. “Alright. Let’s go hear how they did and be a blessing to them even though you and I would rather be out there.” He says nodding toward the door and smiling as he turns the younger gnome toward the gathering room and moving that way himself.

Heart Sight

[After walking to the farm] Eethyl closed the barn door and thuds his forehead against it, flattening the brim of his hat down over his closed eyes. He fumbles with the necklace after a few minutes and, walking to the back of the barn, hangs it on a nail before disappearing. Stepping into the space he sits heavily on the stool at the workbenches and stares blankly at the bowl filled with clay in front of him. Sila’s voice comes from the pouch eventually, “Did you need me to put you to sleep with an arrow? You really haven’t been sleeping enough. You need to value sleep, remember?” The gnome simply answers the question with “no” quietly and grabs a small bladed tool from his bag. He grimaces and lets out a gasp as he cuts quickly into his palm and squeezes his hand over the bowl. A thin stream falls staining the clay and pooling some around the edges. “That’s enough” Sila says after a minute. Eethyl lets it continue a second more glancing toward his belt and then grabs a rag and wraps the wound. He gets up and walks over to a series of small raised planter beds along the edge of the space and picks up a bowl with recently harvested roots. Walking back to the bowl on the bench, he places wax blocks in his ears and he spends time shredding the root into the bowl. When finished he mixes the contents and spends a few minutes placing the finishing touches on a small sculpted figure nearby. Sila’s voice finally comes again. “You need to relinquish some of your anger and self pity there Ethyl”. He stops and shakes his head before responding “I’m fine”. A tiny laugh rings from the bag, “You know I can see what you and the rest of them feel better than they do. Don’t argue with me. You might be smarter than I but you are often foolish too.” He rubs his temples and deflates some. “She is frustrating. For being such short-lived people you figure these humans would be able to remember the last two ten day at least.” “You say you believe one thing and I see in your heart you still hold at least a half dozen offenses as if evidence saved for a trial.” She responds patiently but sternly. “I also see your appreciation for her…Though that Sef grows on you I see…Oh?...Keth you would harbor against also though?” The gnome scoffs, “The lad is fine. He just misunderstands magic and I’m fairly certain he thinks less of my methods like the order and everyone else. It’s fine. I don’t need his approval.” he says as he waves as if brushing it off. “But you feel loss there? Understandable. Separate that foolishness from Wilmanric and the rest then and let it go.” to which he gives a groan and a curt humming acknowledgement. “And the girl? You just spoke to her about not requiring payment yet you require her politeness where her offense stems simply from her youth and hurt it seems?” Eethyl gives a sigh and pulls his hands down over his face as if tired. “Sila, I really appreciate but also hate that you can see what’s inside people. It’s like working with someone that has a mirror constantly to your inner issues.” A brief hmmf of acknowledgement comes from the pearl. “Anything else you need to tell me then Sila?” he asks with a pause. “No. Just practice what you say you believe and actually require nothing in return.” The gnome nods and pats the bag at his belt as if to say thank you. “I will try. I know I’m wrong and that is frustrating. She is trying. Don’t ask me to work it out withWilmanric though. I don’t care to sort out the issue.” He gets up and returns to the desk and looks at the figure again, with its misshapen face. “Well Gwaur, I guess you are a reflection of me after all. Alright. Here we go.” He picks up a set of goggle frames from the table and places them and the small figure in a furnace. Retrieving a crucible he sets it in the receiving end of the furnace and sets the goggle frames in, watching them begin to melt some before he shuts the furnace door. Hours later Gwaur and Eethyl emerge from the door of the barn and after a brief wave are off to the manor wood. A while after speaking with Keth the gnome is found on his knees in the wood in front of a bucket nailed to a tree with hands covered in sap. "Goodness Sila, even after making the decision it's still frustrating. At least he was easier to talk to." Eethyl says, wishing she could respond at the moment. Gwaur licks at chews awkwardly at the rosin that is collected nearby. “Stop that. I’ll make you something soon enough. I don’t have time to spend in the kitchen now.” Gwaur scampers away a few steps, still chewing and gumming a piece between what barely passes for molars as he looks back at the gnome. Eethyl exhales as he lifts himself up. “Come on. We still have work to do.” And the two wander further into the wood as the light sets, Gwaur sniffing through the bushes and wandering ahead of the gnome some. Eethyl had been listening to the morning chatter of the group as Gwaur found them and they set off the following morning as he finished placing several flasks and vials in small wooden stands. “That’s about it.” he says to noone in particular. Brebels’ snicker comes for a moment. “You realize that won't be enough to save you from a green right? You saw the depictions in the burrow. Your group is certainly not cut of the same cloth. Half of you will die before even being able to strike the beast.” “That’s enough out of you Brebel. I’m going to have to bind you if you don’t contain yourself.” The pouch remained quiet to the gnome's relief. “Alright. New day. Lots to be thankful for. I get to be with people. Here we go. Off to see Falcon.” The gnome puts on a big smile and breaths twice before the mist hits.

Preparations in Phandalin

Eethyl lifts the first chest with a "umph" and steps forward. Qelline Alderleaf Steps places a second chest on top of the first and the gnome nearly drops both. Glancing behind himself he quickly steps back and leans against a sawhorse. His voice straining, he says “Alright, The sacks too hurry.” As the halfling grabs the two large sacks and lifts them up she comments. “Well you keep doing stuff like this and they will keep calling you a mule Eethyl.” he grunts as he balances the chests against his body and she adds the weight of the grain sacks. “That’s not funny.” The halfling gives a barely audible chuckle. “Alright, I’ll be back for the rest soon. Thank you.” And with a puff of mist the gnome is gone and a necklace drops to the ground. The halfling picks it up and places it on a hook on the barn wall. “See you soon. Thank you again for the business” Eethyl sets the chests down with a thud and stumbles against them sending the bags and contents of the top chest sprawling over the shop floor. “Well shoot. Formulaire d'aide ici.” The gnome says with a gesture. As the arcane words finish he motions and the chest rights itself and items begin to move into the chest through the air and pack nicely in. “Well that’s handy” A small female voice rings out. “Finally finished sorting and reproducing your notes did you?” The gnome speaks into the air toward the voice next to him “You know I don’t need you on me too.” Her voice comes back. “I’m just saying it’s good to see you finally completing SOMETHING” The gnome sighs. “Yes yes I will work on your ritual soon also. Make sure he finishes putting that away please. Thank you Sila.” The gnome moves toward the three benches laid out in a U shape and starts picking up some tools to return to work on the plates laid out. “I should be able to finish this by tomorrow I hope also” he comments. Her voice comes back, again besides him. “Bebrel has another message from the Amal by the way.” The gnome looks up quickly with a furrowed brow. “Oh? I assume he didn’t give it to you.” He sets the drill he is holding back down and heads upstairs and over to the nightstand. He picks up a flat oval stone and holds it up regarding the bid reflection in its face for a moment. He walks in front of the bed and sits down cross legged on the Manticore skin rug and places the shard in front of him. Little is heard for a while as he focuses his breathing and closes his eyes. There is silence in the space for a time. After an hour or so the face of the shard glimmers, reflecting a light not currently in the room. A small shrill and raspy voice finally rings out. “Gnooooome you stepped in it now” and there is a laugh. The gnome responds with a “mmmhmmm I’m aware we have issues and they have caused further problems.” The small voice interrupts him, taunting him. “I have seen others play with god’s and greater powers beeefooore. It didn’t end well for theeeeeem and wont for you either. I can ask to make a deal for you?” The voice asks, sounding hungry. The gnome gives a slight shake of his head, eyes still closed. “You know I wont Bebrel” the quick retort comes “I was told you have said that before” there is another laugh. Eethyl responds “Goodness, and people say I'm irritating. I was just telling Sila to be patient with you. Anyway, what is it he wants?” the small voice sounds irritated “Yes yes, he said to warn you that you need to put it back or destroy it or the knowledge of it will become more widespread and the warrior-kind may come into the knowledge of how to do such with their own reds.” The gnome sighs. “And he said I am to stay here and keep an eye from here out and make sure you don’t screw it up.” The gnomes head cocks to the side slightly “Ah, he has released you to me then? He must know I can’t summon you yet, as the Padisha has taxed my stores yet again and I hadn’t mastered propagating it yet. I can’t do anything until I find more or she allows” The shrill voice, seeming to grumble but filled also with mocking sarcasm, comes again. “Yes I know your vaaaaaast limitations.” The gnome's eyes open briefly, just long enough to give a roll before he retorts in a firmer voice. “Alright, Let him know I will do my best and understand the severity. Now be quiet please. I have things to do if this group will survive the coming conflicts.” The stone jumps slightly as the voice within it gives a a final rebellious snort of contempt. The gnome stands and picks the stone up. Before returning it to the nightstand he regards it again and seems to think better. He slips the smooth stone into one of the pouches at his hip and sets back downstairs. “Thank you Sila.” He says toward the same pouch. “Alright, We better get this stuff fit. Just need to slip the adjustment straps on and finish the handles. Oh shoot! And I need to finish my shopping list. Goodness” Coming back up to the table he sits down again. Sila’s voice comes again. “The lute would have been nice” The gnome, finally focused on his work responds kindly. “True, I thought about it. But they would question it, and as you pointed out, we really don’t have the time for such pleasantries. Besides, you are just as bad at taking time off as I am.” In agreement she sounds back matter-of-fact like adding... “Yes yes let's get it done then. Make sure you line the edges and make it look just good enough that the silly girl will be enticed to use it.” He nods “It’s a shame we don’t have something similar from the legendary purple worms. We could have made a serviceable set for Keth.” And he sets a bit back on a corner and starts twisting again.

Dragon Hunting?

Sila, I really want to go dragon hunting with them. Examining that organ behind the heart that absorbs and stores their strength and power would be incredible. Did I tell you about that? Grandfather explained it to me. It's how the dragons can launch into flight even though they lack the muscle mass with their wings to get aloft like the two legged Wyverns do. Those dragons wouldn't even be able to fly without it. It also powers their breath weapons, magic, and bodies. I really do wonder if Wilmanric got his hands on one after I told him about it and that's how he managed to make those devices. Anyway, there is this organ behind the heart that powers it all. I'm sure it could be so much more useful than absorbing energy for a simple spell effect. I honestly don't know how he contained the air though. It's hard to admit when you are jealous or bitter or similar you know? Imagine though... The body of such a beast that actually IS part of it's spirit possibly? Unlike most of us where the spirit is just contained within these shells. I can't figure out why people freak out over the physical body. I mean...those silly sarcophagus didn't contain their spirit certainly. Even if their spirits were there before...wisps...oof not worth think about those and what they were feeding on...Without a swamp nearby where you would normally find....wait a minute...of COURSE...The green was killed there. OH my goodness Sila! They were feeding on it's residual energy I'm sure! Like the stories of the ones that die of old age sometimes forming into the land itself! They must have a similar effect when they meet a violent end? I wonder if there was enough energy for the wisps to produce a boggart ever? Oh that would have been creepy. If it was smart it could have taken on my form and gotten one of them alone and and...hmmm yeah that would have been bad. I really should figure out how to help the spirit release from the body. I mean I know you couldn't do that with a dragon of course. But with necromancers wandering around...How would I do that? I would have to break the connection to the threads they bead on. What would do that? Negative energy plain would have to be the mechanism. So just like snapping two threads for a dimensional pocket maybe? Pull the necrotic negative energy on the body and then a positive energy on the spirit? Conjuration charge then? I bet that would work. I need to try that. Heh...Not like she is going to grant the energy for that. She is much less forthcoming than promised. Humph. More water she says. I swear. She thinks I can just produce it out of this air or something. I swear. This isn't the same as her realm. Did I tell you I did start a study of my own? I really need to spend some time putting it all together. I hope it turns out well and it doesn't just end up another project I would hear about for not finishing. Oh there we go...Only part of a troll not given to their evil deity huh? Goodness, the arteries on this are much larger than those of other hearts. I wonder if the chest could regenerate if you remove this? Best not to find out. I'll have to burn it now that I have this. I can't believe people thought eating one of these was a good idea. Longevity as likely as giving gramps his potency back I swear. Where do people come up with these hair brained ideas? Well this was not as interesting as I thought. That's a disappointment. A dragon though...like I said....and they mean it. They really are going to give it a go. I don't think just with the white either. How in the world are we going to manage a dragon? Don't they know how smart these things are? What a feat it is to take one down? What do we have to work with? I mean...Wolf is pretty good with that cross bow...I'm not sure if he is good enough when it is in the air and not distracted in combat though. Too bad we don't have like boots of flying or something. Keth would be able to handle a young one that way. He under estimates himself so bad. Heck the two new ladies may give him a run for his money. I'm really not that much use unless I start accepting her power more though Sila. I can't do that. I would end up driven to actions I regret like certain other wizards I know...gosh darn see I just can't let that go. Why is it Sila that she doesn't even bother me as much as Wilmanric? Is it because I expect more from a human? pftftft please...I mean...I hope for more from them don't I? I think so. oh stop it. She is just young. If you start talking back they are going to notice when you get me upset. I don't need that. I may as well spend time with Bebrel or Qrup... Be nice...That's not true... Well not Qrup at least. He isn't that bad. No he isn't....how do you put up with me but not him? Oh don't even start! We were talking about going after dragons remember? We really should work on that. Yeah I know I'm right so there. Normally you are just as bad as the others I swear. Just relax. I'll get this to you soon.

Crowning Glory

*Eethyl stands next to a thick wooden workbench with one hand on it and his smile fades some. He crosses the space and grabs the wrought iron handle on his desk top and rolls the cover up. He plucks a leather bound journal from one of the desks' many shelves and pulls it down to thumb through the pages for a moment before resting on a sketch of an elderly gnome woman and smiles, exhaling through his nose. The gnome sits down as if weighted down onto the chair in front of the desk and runs his fingers over the image and closes his eyes again remembering.* == *The gnome pulls out a small pearl gazing at it.* “Sila I need to be let in please” *He sucks in a breath and there is a soft pop in his ears before he is standing in the space again. He turns and looks out through the blue glass.* “There you are dear” *The gnomish woman before him is elderly and in a rocking chair. She holds something out before her and smiles at it as she speaks. Eethyl walks to the glass and lifts a hand against it next to her face. He traces her features as he listens to the conversation she has with a younger gnome next to her.* “Oh dear, you don’t have much longer do you?” He says as he traces the wrinkles around her eyes, thin gray hair, and down the side of her face” *Eethyl pulls up a chair and sits heavily up on it staring up with a sad smile as he listens for the next 20 minutes to a story she tells. The view eventually turns toward the younger gnome who smiles at what she now holds. After a few words she thanks the older gnome and kisses her on the cheek. He continues watching for a time further as the view moves toward the younger one's neck line and then turns to face out. There she is again. After a bit she is helped to lay back and propped up. Looking at an hourglass on the desk he realizes time is short and stands back up and kisses his hand, placing it on the glass a final time.* “Ok Sila, Back to the outer court I guess.” == *Eventually he opens his eyes and traces his hand one last time over the sketch.* “Blessed always by the time spent in the light you reflected. As a ruby, but more precious.” *He coughs for a second to clear emotion from his throat, obviously not wanting it there. “Well dear, maybe perhaps eventually again. Always a joy. There are other joys in life... thankfully. You did well to demonstrate for me a proper center.” *He closes the book before looking back around the space and mumbles to himself… “goodness… their crowning glory but just a reflection of what’s inside. How do you help them with that?” *He makes toward a corner of the space and removes a cloth cover from a wooden frame of some sort.* “That may do? I wish I had watched you more dear” *and he sits down before it, reaching for a box of colored threads.*

Just Looking

[From before] Well by Glittergold’s goodness…Look at all these books! I could just live here. Let's see let's see… ’Sailing Songs from Trade Crews’ If the quartermaster won’t give the tot/ Throw him off the boat and drink all you’ve got/ We’ll drink all we want and never flee/ Because we’re here for life at the sea… I mean I like songs and all but no… ’Yzal’* Oh very nice binding. Is that real gold cord? util sylvuneir rilnar un sha… What in the world, That’s Elvish or something… Interesting. Nope. ’Why the Simarta Lute is the best’ OH! Is this whole section about music? Maybe her library is organized? Lets see…. ’Music and Song’, ‘Stories and Fiction’ ew what a waste of time, these are nice…lets see… ‘Faith & Religion’ well she has a lot of them…maybe if there was a summary book. Maybe if that Clyffe guys made one of his notebooks…wow she really does have volumes in all sorts of languages though…I wonder if she reads them all… ooof! - that is a very life like book end...Oh I think it was alive and just petrified…oh my…ok…I should hurry, she will be back, don’t want to waste her time, lets see lets see lets see…Oh these looks interesting ‘Academic and Political’ academic titles huh? Lets see, how do I ... ’First Grammatical Treatise’ ‘The Blue Plague’ ‘Economics in the Barter Age’ ‘The Life of Taus Ralz’ ‘An End To All Kings’ ‘Wild Magic: A Study’* oh wow now that is interesting…Plain looking…What's he trying to…oh you want to control wild magic? You fool! Don’t you know how the weave works? What a waste of time… ‘Cookbooks & Food’ Oh now we are talking! Something useful finally! ‘Cooking with Berries’ ‘Frugal Famine Food’ ‘Food to Cook in the Forge’ ‘Krufton blyth Conar’ Oh it’s Dwarven. Nope. They need that last one translated. Lets see…she has them sub grouped by language…ok…wow lots of Dwarven and Elven cook books…That makes sense I guess. I wish someone would make a book on cooking for different races. I mean goodness it took a while to figure out cooking for Tieflings. I’m not even sure where to start if I had to cook for her… ‘Food Taster’s Guide To Spotting Poison’ yikes ‘Butcher’ oh that looks like a possibility. Blood stains. Alright well they knew what they were doing…Lets see what else we have though…OH MY HERE WE GO! ‘Reference Guides’ ‘Elves: Marital Customs’ huh ‘How to Create a Sewer System’ oh that would be interesting ‘Maur’s Price Guide’ ‘The Farmer’s Almanac’ ‘Birds and Watching’ ‘Dreams and Their Meanings’ Please like that would be categorical even. Need to write a study on that. ‘Criminals’ What th…OH MY that is cold to the touch. Let’s just push that back in and leave it. ‘Decoding Theives’ Cant’ ‘Clouds and Their Rain’ Well this is interesting. I wonder if they figured out the transduction nature of liquids? Let's see… When the gray grows darker, the cloud brings with it great rain, the type that can ruin crops and flood the landscape. The is the time to seek shelt... Well that is useless. OH look ‘Instruction manuals’! Oh I better put this one ba “Eethyl.” Her voice hits like a wave, nearly knocking me over. I look over with wide eyes to see she is back in the room and not just at the arched pearl doorway but already in the center near the seating, lounging on a chaise with her flowing garments slowly waving in the water. “Yes Padishah, I was just loooooo” I lose my words as I feel my body pulled as through a riptide and suddenly I’m seated in front of her on the floor flat on my behind. My stomach turns once with the sudden pull of magic my body wasn’t expecting. Oh, being sick in front of her would be a bad idea I think. Hold that in. “Now gnome we can come to an understanding. However, if you waste my time with excess prattle as before” and she makes a small gesture as if to flick a bug off her and I feel the water in my lungs suddenly cease to provide breath and a moment of panic sets in. I nod frantically, then shake my head no as my eyes grow, and nod frantically again, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to give a response if I wanted to. She seems to take her time before curling her finger back in and the relief of being able to breath in the water around us suddenly returns. “I’m going to place you on a ship…” … I look at the cover of the volume in my hands again as I find myself on the floor of the flacon. The cover looked far more interesting with inlaid glass in the shape of clouds than I knew the contents reflected. “Well blast. Not the volume I would have chosen first” I take a deep breath rising to my feet and look out through the glass. There is a ship loading, black hull dipping in the waves that roll in toward a poorly made dock. “Well, I guess we cook with what we have” I shrug my shoulders and look around. “Now how do I get out of here?”

Carefully laid plans.

I see a wagon pulled off the side of the road. Just two figures seemed to accompany it. A human by the looks of the one tending the fire. Just beyond I can see the familiar form of Tiefling horns laying back for the night. I make my way forward slowly over several minutes and take up a position near the wagon waiting. After an hour or so the man gets up and walks a short distance off to relieve himself. I creep forward and empty a pinch of finely ground herb into the cup near the fire, hoping it won't be noticed in the dim light. Creeping back toward the wagon I grab a rope from the cart and quickly make my way back up the road. A few minutes later I’m almost finished with the incantation and I feel a smile rise as I spot the man returning to the fire and picking up the cup to drink from. I crouch down and pull my sling and three bullets from my apron. With a few words the stones turn cold, covered in frost in my hand. I can see this play perfectly. Take out the man, take out Damaia. Follow her directions to the letter…well maybe… She at least settled for knocking them unconscious instead of severely wounding them… ok what am I supposed to do here? Knock them out…rob them of 100% of their belongings... Leave Damaia to return to the obsidian tide naked and with the message she gave me… Wiping my palms as I wait, I see the man finally crumple to the ground and let out a sigh of relief. The Tiefling, startled by the sound, bolts up and looks around before quickly scrambling forward and attempting to awaken the form. Seeing he wont wake, the Tiefling quickly tosses a bucket of dirt on the f ire, dousing most of the light from it, I see her reach for a nearby weapon and peer out into the dark. I let the small steel ball covered in frost leave the sling and hear it whistling out of the dark. It strikes her in the forehead somewhere. She crumples flat on her face… Oh it feels like my heart skipped a beat…Did I just kill Damaia? Impossible…she is so tough…but a single bullet? This should have been harder… I feel my stomach turn with dread and I watch for a few minutes. Neither of them move at all… I finally unlock my knee caps and creep forward to the campsite… The man is wearing the gauntlets Damaia found? And Damaia? I just forward and turn her over. This isn’t her! I mean…It’s her clothes...It is a Tiefling…The sick feeling in my stomach grows deeper…Did they kill her? I look around at the surrounding hills. No one is near. What is going on? She said to…no she didn’t… she said the first mate. Damaia was the second mate…Not that I was going to correct her…Perhaps she didn’t make a mistake? Was she toying with me then? I feel heat hit my cheeks as relief quickly gives way to anger. She just wanted to see if I would actually go forward with attacking my friend? Why? Is she sadistic? Or just evaluating what I will do? What is going on? Why is this worth her time? I reach in my apron and rip a sack out as hard as I can, attempting to expel some of the adrenaline that is causing me to shake… What does she really want? I don’t normally feel this lost. She did that on purpose…making me think she had asked me to hurt my friend… I look back at the man… He must have hurt her? How else would they have her possessions? The man's eyes flutter open and I find myself staring right into them in shock. One heavy gauntlet comes around, catching me square in the cheek knocking me over. Oh this is bad. Her stupid test is going to get me killed. The man rolls over and makes for his feet. I feel the adrenaline kick back in and I rush up the road to where I left my pack. I can hear him close behind me. Taking a careful arc around the snare spell I dive for the hammer in my bag hearing the heady sound of footsteps right behind me. As I manage to take hold of the small weapon I turn to face man. Suddenly there is the sound of rope tightening and the man is strung up before me, bound tight by the magic. He squirms and twists in frustration and anger spewing threats. I can’t understand it through the blood pounding in my head. This guy likely killed Damaia and is going to kill me. Curses why am I here alone? I swing with all my might and the form goes limp. I wait a minute and he doesn't move. All I hear is my heart beating in my chest. I release the spell and his form crumples hard to the ground. I can see his sash now…he is a fire mate… A short time later I have all the belongings in a bag and I feel myself seething in anger. I also feel worried. She knew something happened to Damaia. Maybe she was ok? I’m glad she isn’t mad at the captain as far as I know… But I do not like this manipulation at all… I take a deep breath to calm myself. I look down at the naked form of the man and the woman near him stripped to her under garments. What did you two fools do? I kick the man's thigh out of anger and toss the small scroll case at him. I twinge of conviction hits. I grab the scroll and unravel it, covering his shame at least. Why did you get us into this you fool? Stay calm Eethyl. I try to relax my brow for a moment…my cheek bones…and breathe deep again…It's ok…She might be fine. “I’m ready” I muster in my clearest voice. I feel the shift and the mist on my cheeks and open my eyes. She is still here! She waited? “Padishah” I say, bowing my head and laying the sack before her where she sits on a floating pool of water. I hear amusement in her laugh and look up to see her lifting the bag and emptying the contents in front of her. She twirls her finger once, lifting a single piece of jewelry from the pile. Something else is going on here…I feel tightness return to my stomach. It’s ok. It’s ok. perspective…I feel like I’m losing control here though. Her light laugh continues and I feel the confusion show on my face. She stands from the pool of water she lounges on, nearly filling the 20’ tall vessel, and with a brief sweep of her foot the pile of belongings puff into mist. I try to find words but also hold back the anger that is still boiling and preventing me from trusting my own voice. She leans over some and with a single hand I feel myself lifted into the air. “Oh, you little thing. You will prove useful after all.” she says with a final soft laugh "you better" and she draws me into a very wet embrace that leaves me facing the trinket. In a puff of mist she is gone and I feel myself falling…

Lost Company

The pins points of light in the night sky wink out one by one until the night is black. Still there is motion. It feels as if I'm being carried about in a stream that tumbles and turns around tight bends, bouncing off the back of a dark mass. As the creature gets further away I can see it is Nicco, the ferrit of my youth. He lopes along with back arched high as he runs chasing the rope that is being pulled just out of reach. A smile comes to my face without beckon. I'm happy to see him again after such a long time. I reach down to pet the little guy as he stops in the moss of the lush forest floor. His warm fur runs through my fingers as he drinks from a still small pool. Caressing his back I notice the mushrooms planted along the edges of the pool. Their planting looks almost intentional. "Nicco, what have you found here?" as I reach forward to pluck one. A reflection in the water stops me cold, it's stare emotionless. I look up to see dark hair framing a blue skinned female of some sort. Her face is alien with flat features, non descript, apart from the jewelry that hangs from her ear attached by a small chain to another piercing through her nose. From her neck is a simple necklace of dark pearls that shine with a deep luster that matches her deep green eyes. There is no emotion there. She just stares. I set forward again with my arm, careful to keep from disturbing her and obtain the mushroom I sough. Just as I clutch a mushroom stalk, far faster than I can avoid, out of the water an arm reaches and pulls my arm in one sharp tug down into the pool. I summersault into the water and am left drifting in a spin with legs toward the surface. Is there a surface? Worry sets in as I'm not sure where to turn and the pull of gravity is strangely absent. There ahead is a sphere of coral though and on it's surface a pearl colored citadel. Around it I can see air, desperately needed to quench the burning that begins in my lungs, and I make for it. Just as I manage to pull into the air pocket and take a single breath I feel a rush of water and pull near my ankles as if a whirlpool forms around them. I'm pulled back into the water and upside down again. A massive being holds me, arms dangling helplessly, in front of their face. She must be twenty feet tall, with light blue skin and perfect milky pearl earrings the size of my fist. She cocks her head to the side and studies me with narrowed eyes. "Little one, how have you come into the house of the Padisha past the guard?" A thin smile presses past her lips. "How indeed have you managed such a feat?" she echoes as she plucks the mushroom cap from my hand to examine it. She swirls a finger and I'm upright in a chair before her with a feast set before. It looks lovely and she waits for me to partake with a disarming smile. But past her I see on the wall the rows of flasks, bottles, and vials with all manner of content. Her smile takes on a different light that makes me feel uncomfortable. "You have more talent than stealing from the witch I see. Come then. I will show you what you seek... And we will see if perhaps you will serve me alongside her in exchange..." Eethyl awakes with a start from his slumber during the third watch. Before even the waking birds begin their morning calls. He peers across the smoldering embers that hardly trail a flame anymore and wipes a couple drops of sweat from his brow, offering a weak smile to the eyes that meet his. "My apologies. Just a night terror. You can rest. I'll start my watch a touch early this morning." The gnome shakes his bunched cloths loose again and folds his blanket neatly, returning it to his pack. "I'm sure we will have a good hike today. The logging camp can't be far now." After they finally nod off he pulls out a leather roll of tools and heads over to the bodies of the ashe zombies... ... after rambling on the trail later that day... Well, They aren't much for chatting today are they? I guess in some ways I feel as lost as they. Not having a foundation stunts ones growth though and goodness they need some growth. Why is it that the ones who deal with trauma end up being the adventurers I run into so often? Are they running from it? Driven to reconcile it? I'm not am I? I think not...What then? I guess I'm more physically lost in purpose with clipped connection allowing this freedom to roam? *holding a small sprig of freshly clipped herb in contemplation* Well what do we do then? Try and provide them that foundation? Goodness. Humans. Like the flowers of the field they grow and wither so quickly. Honestly I think I will find dealing with that more exhausting as I get older. Hopefully patience continues to reproduce or I'm going to end a cantankerous hermit in the eyes of most villagers. Alright...well...How do we bless these sprouts with good soil and fresh water today? *He stands up and looks back at the group humming to himself* Wolfaen and Flicker aren't too hard. What about Keth though. That kid is a vault I swear. I'm sure his answer to the misses "how was your day dear" will be "fine" in his later years if he doesn't resolve some of whatever plagues him. He has the interest in the arcane...frankly son, you just aren't that bright though... But you do have talent and determination... And what about Sef? I wish she was here. Just the morning alone was refreshing even if she was wrestling. *Eethyl pulls out a small pearl from his pocket and rolls it between his fingers* "You miss... may need to help me out soon. I need to figure out how she pulled that elemental energy out if I'm going to get your body out of there instead of just your spirit though." *He pockets the pearl again and looks once more toward the three figures traveling before giving a sigh of contentment and turning back toward the undergrowth ahead of them.

He gave up more than he knew?

I worked on the mage from the ravine today. I'm really disappointed by my findings. This was a person that grew and mutated into this thing over time. He must have been cursed or carried a cursed item? This was by far one of the strongest curses or magical effects on a person I have heard of or witnessed. I wish Morai was here. She would be able to tell me more. The equilibrium must have been punctuated...with the socket and lack of supporting structure as well as the nose / cheek bones. The amount of power constantly working within this body...it must have been a curse from a greater power of some sort. With bone structure in a human changing at the rate it does this person must have suffered for a long time before coming to this form. Most of all the creature seemed to be missing its true self entirely. I have never witnessed that before. How do you or what magic could possibly pull those two parts apart? I thought that was impossible. And what must that torment be? To have your body injured is one thing. But to have your inner self ripped apart or one part pulled out of the body? This creature wasn't even a full being I'm sure. It is like the husk of one. I'm not sure even the demons themselves would find interest in the remains of this soul. And what became of the two halves? Keep perspective. This is not normal. I imagine this person must have made a pact with Asmodeus himself or was a creation of a being or magic that lacked the power to create? Either way. Keep focused. This one wasn't for me to save or guide. These five need attention more than this poor fellow. Still lots of good to do. Oh my. So much to do. Light source for Wolf. Harvest sap / rosin and set up processing. - Turp,Glu,Tar, Finish lab set up. Help Sila with form? Begin mixing journal? Or figure out metal infusion? I really don't want to. They are strong enough aren't they? Comfort Damaia without pitting us against these three. Get Keth to talk. Reinforce the front door? Figure out how Morai sets up the distilling. Learn Pottery. Glass blow appr ---- I hate lists. These just make you feel like there is never enough time. Just pay attention to one thing at a time. Ignore the brain confetti. OH I could use the bone powder for preservation! That would be foggy do I care? no I don't think so. Should I keep the two parts whole or process now maybe pulp the bulk of the source and preserve the eye but howOH I could set it in no glass would be hot but maybe like a shell from the rosin? That might work like formed amber? Didn't I already consider theseI just need to start trying by the Abyss. Maybe that's how they make the crystal balls? That would be cobut wait were would it get its power? or like a lens it focuses from the one loo Darnit forget about how for now. I need to get moving or it will be lost. Rosin and processing first. They will want to leave soon if I can just get it to the lab I can get this doneOH I left my coffee I can get that before I hit the wood and maybe find something for Sila....

Time to go

Time really is an interesting thing. You would think it is powerful enough that it warrants its own diety. I mean...what kind of power created time? Does it take more energy to create time than mass? How do you control it? Through the weave? Is there someone or something that has a higher level of control over it like Mystra over magic? So if height and width are constraints...is time also? Has the keeper achieved more being here than outside of here? Still within time...who is outside of time? Goodness. Is it possible for me to comprehend living outside the observable experiences? What do we do with time while we have it? Relax??? BORING! Why do people have such an entitlement with "free time" or entertainment during "me time"? When you get to zero me time you certainly find out you have a lot more than you realized. What would I do with the time that the keeper has had? Oh imagine! How much more so not being constrained by it? Yeah still can't imagine. So would this place be considered an afterlife? Being as time is as much a factor as height and width... do we expect to be within the constraints of time in the afterlife? Most certainly for the planes of the dieties... Glittergold, will you set me inside or outside of time? This is such an odd place. Really, how did it end up below Phandalin or is it just a crossing? How great to be able to have such a sanctuary to study. Speaking of... let's see... I need to get or make a book case for down here. Libraries are so rare in Toril, it's unfortunate. Not sure when I will get the time to read but eventually. I'm too tired for this. Maybe I should have slept more last night. How are they? Still running? Yep. Maybe I can get a quick nap in? Wish I had something more to do with this extra time on my hands. Haha. Oh well. Mother said I needed to value sleep more. I really should try and be fresh for this.

Celebrating the day

Well this turned out ok. The keep here would be a nice place given some work. And a proper old shrine to Moradin. You could raise a whole family here I dare say. I run my hands down the stone work wall "Oh my dear, I'm sorry I wasn't there to get more done. You always warned me that I wouldn't finish the place and we would constantly live in a half cut burrow." I smile looking over at the pile of caved in rock. If we had more than the one we would have gotten it done as a family. Dormin had enough help. He has managed for the girls and Erbar. I look at the tart in my other hand and smile slightly closing my eyes It's not a bad practice the humans keep. Even if they insist on doing it every year. "Moradin, you have the might needed. Please pour into Dormin and grant him the strength needed to protect my grandkin" After a long sigh I'll take one more look around the defensible position and lay my bed roll next to the Ballista. I'll prop my backpack in the corner as my pillow and lay back, not worried about getting comfortable. I'll set the tart down next to me and smile. "Happy birthday my boy. I'm proud of you." I listen for a moment to the echo of conversation still going around the dinner table as it travels through the chamber. They are a good bunch. Plenty enough family for now. Thank you for the opportunity to serve them Glittergold. Help us be a boon to the families here in Phandalin. Thank you for aiding us here. May you and Moradin help this place become a place of service again. I smile some thinking about the hall full and functioning within the greater community. "She will do well. Given time she will blossom in her ability to grow and tend more than flowers and find the hearth she is looking for there." What about the others? Do they know what they want? Have they taken the time to think that through? I sigh heavily Such short lives passing like a vapor before they realize what they have. They think they want what...wealth...power...attention...revenge? I listen again at the voices that travel through the keep for a moment and smile before leaning back to get to bed early Oh Nina. I'm thankful for the time we had. I wish I could have been there for his earlier celebrations with you. I hope to see you again if I perish with this lot. Glittergold facet me there with them please. I close my eyes and go through relaxing my limbs and wandering mind

"Safe" Places

Dwarven Fortress. Very nice work. They always do fine work. So asymmetrical and well designed for defense. Heck I think the villagers themselves could defend against a young dragon in this place for a time. They really do need some food reserves though. Perhaps we should have them help transfer all the reserves the red cloaks had amassed here so they can hold out a while? If they rationed them out they could last a while. I'm sure the dwarves must have had a source of water down here? OK, So those would be awkward. More so than a barrel even. I don't see an easy way around that. If I could just lift it for a moment... Sigh....Oh well. OK, well I have alchemy fire in m.....shoot...It bears the name of alchemy. Dangit. Maybe if I tell them I bought it? I mean I did have to buy some of the material for it after all... Speaking of witch what should we do with that Cambium? Medicinal? Dry it and turn it into flower? I'm not much of a baker. Maybe for a dumpling stew... OK well we got this first gate open. And they are stuck again. OK, off to the other side. Goodness I really wanted to get that loose and see if I could lift it. I need one of those fabled belts of giant strength then I could get so much more back and forth. I didn't anticipate this issue. Oh well. Off to Flicker. Goodness she is jumpy. And quick with her magic. Is that a good idea? They are going slow and maybe frustrated with the gates and pressing on to the next distraction? Yep there we go. NOPE....shoot. already turned back. Really jumpy....Oh well. Just hurry and get the door open...YEP that hurts. Oh and these guys are cold with necrotic magic. Shoot I knew there would be something down here. Armor armor I need armor. Wait no that would be an issue with some of the more classical arcana gestures I .... Combat... Focus. I should focus. Oh...I should just be throwing these not using a sling... I should focus and help with these dwarves. They don't seem like a huge threat though. I mean figurNO hang on finish up still two left. Those are some huge billows. Goodness you could hit some pretty high temperatures with those. I bet I could finally hea....well shoot. What else could I do with those? Maybe if we pile coals with tar and pitch and funneled the it through a longer cylinder we could get what...20'? Maybe if we could aim that... shoot its the same problem with portability. Oh hello Stirge. WOW ok he does have a fair amount of casting potential. Need flicker to teach him about light refraction. Goggles seem to server him well though. I wonder if I took his motivaNah it's a good thing. It really is so pervasive. I mean everyone here is a caster I think. Even Damaia is tapping into the primordial energy around here. I'm not sure if she will focus it ever much but she certainly is a good catalyst. Oh ew. Maybe there is somethNevermind. Oh wow this room is fantastic. This is going to take a while to searUUUhhhhh that didn't sound friendly. Time for fighting. What a waste. There are like a dozen chests back there. Oh there we go Keth. Oh and she triggered right off that didn't she. Wow. This group is great look at this. Nice tight formation. Ver effective. Just as long as we don't catch a dragon breath or fireball or something we should be good.

Distracted from the goal?

Wilmanric showed up today. I'm not sure I liked what I saw. All flash and show. And fairly inconsiderate with that one he used for a demonstration. Not much of a warm welcome either. I mean he offered a discount and that would be nice but even that seemed like part of his show. Besides, I wouldn't take it. You pay your friends what they are worth to show support. I'm glad we parted ways. I don't want to be like that. Humans have their qualities. But goodness they have their faults too. Maybe I'm more like them than I think? Am I here to help people really or simply here for my own gain? Grandfather spoke about the cycle people go through. Especially those who struggle with a vice. I feel like I went down that scale in an hour today. I know he is right though. I have fallen a couple steps over the last several days and I just didn't recognize it. Sigh... Need to be honest with myself here. Forgetting Priorities, Anxiety, Speeding Up, Ticked Off, Exhausted, Relapse. Yeah I'm on Exhausted. That's not good. not healthy. Even if I hide most of it from them. sigh. OK what did he say about getting back above the scale? Propper perspective and priorities prevent piss poor performance. What's the issue and perspective I need? They don't trust alchemy. That is causing a lot of Anxiety. That's selfish of me. They are moody and insecure and I have been focused on my own experiments. I want to be a servant like Mum'nPa. Am I doing that though? Not entirely maybe? OK, how do I get back to where I want to be and get my perspective back on track. Serving others brings that joy. I wish she had let me help. I'm not sure if she was telling the truth or not. I do like Keth. Distractible though. He may get tripped up. I hope he can exercise the self control necessary to achieve what he wants from his studies. I should set a better example there. We are going to get to this place at night? Wolfaen handles himself well in combat but not if he can't see. Is that the best place for my work? Damaia...Sigh I knew I was ignoring that. OK what do I do here? Fortune...Oh goodness I'm not sure I have the talents for that. Glittergold help me. I really don't like this. Is it ok to grieve? Am I wrong to be frustrated with this? sigh... A real leader is a servant. OK. If it's not done with cheerfulness then I may as well have a dwarven spirit. They know how to serve but lack the warmth of home. Oh I miss that. That's ok. We'll bring it here. Deep breath Eethyl. Here we go. A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance. Here we go. Turn away from that selfishness and serve the needs of this poor mixed up lot. Here we go. Cut it off and push forward. Maybe it isn't wrong but it is right now. I don't know where we go next but that's ok. But it will bring more light than the last tenday did. Here... We... Go... That's the goal. There's the confidence. OK, yeah this is the right way. Merry heart merry heart merry heart. I need to list the things I'm grateful for like Mum always made me do. Oh my word I'm getting older yet still so much to learn. Lets go.

Oh grasshoppers. Progress from chaos though!

It grows a lot faster with warmer wet temperatures. It much prefers flat wide areas. I'm fairly certain that thing is malevolent. Really need to figure out why Morie's trick for seeing its spirit doesn't work. Best butter ever by Glitter Gold's beard! Well I'm broke now. But you can live off this stuff. And it keeps well! The wax shell is brilliant! And the mold. That was awesome. I need to pick up pottery. How could I use that? uuummmm I could mold the Jell..no that won't work...unless I freeze it first. I wonder if it would survive? maybe something else...a soft metal? what would I do with that? I need something that would benefit from a good shape...OH!!! I wanted to pick up glass blowing! I could make a mold and produce them so much faster! I need to find someone to teach me glass blowing soon. Wow they did a good job at that alter. I could spend some time there but that place gives me the creeps. oh Damaia should get into town soon. I'll have to stop searching for them for now and go wait for her. Oh well. And I don't have any more coin for a stay. hmmmm Oh look some cowslip! At least dinner is covered. Speaking of roots I need to get some more licorice root soon. OH MY WORD WHAT A NIGHT THIS IS! I don't know why these people look at me like I'm the crazy one. They obviously are suffering from trauma. Ok, Be gentle Ethyl. Be patient. Oh my word really...Oh no...that one is smart...oh and this guy is going to make it easy. Why is it that bright soft ones always hide it? Oh yeah I'm going to like her. Oh there the leader is...Needs some confidence though. I'll have to see how to motivate him later. Ooof dysfunctional and inefficient. Sigh. What is it with adventurers? Being unstable must be a prerequisite. Ok now what in the Abyss is her problem? Come on girl you are stronger than this. You need to find your legs. Your guard is down...ok little better. Is it that time of month? Oh my word just give her some alcohol and food and reassure her. This is why I didn't want to be a priest. Sigh. It's ok. She is always reliable when it matters. Maybe she is upset leaving him? Man that would be lame. Oh now I feel like an ass. Give her a hug later you ass. NOW we are talking! Check out all the stuff in here! What is that cooking? Oh goodness you idiot you are letting way too much of it escape in the steam. These guys are a joke! OH DON'T HIT THE TABLES! Oh he is good this couldOH HELL THAT HURTS FICK FRACK FRUCK GRASSHOPPERS. Uhg get me out of here. Yep there we Oh dang he is a good shot didn't expect that. they handled those two YEP there you go use the stick! Goodness if only I was nine feet tall and built like that! Got what he asked for. Oh she likes to be crafty yep I knew I would like her. Oh hell he is gone. What a coward and a fool he was... No girl...oh my. Bless her heart. Oh goodness. Why are we in a hurry? There's still stuff cooking back there! OH man that is amazing. Look at that layer of dust. Oh that is un natural. I really do want to bottle some. Oh wow that is an ACTIVE transcendental manifestation of a geometrically apposed dimensional creature! I wonder if it is just the projection or the actual being? Oh Morai you needed to teach me more! I'm ready dagnabbit. I wonder if her paper would work on it. I just need to try some. I wonder if she would give me some? How would I process that then? Oh my I could hunt others then and maybe figure out how to hold one rather than just imprinting it's residue! I wonder if it is a hallucinogenic? No? Where is this creature? Why is she afraid of it if it just wants to trade? A weapons room. Oh you guys this isn't loot. Oh my we need a compass still it seems. It's not your job It's not your job you will just get in trouble just guide them they show promise it will be fine. Goodness I still feel weak I think I may need to sit down. Am I dehydrated maybe? I wonder what the granular size of these particulates are. Maybe Flicker was inhaling some? I need a light source. No I need to lay down. Oh I could use some coffee that would help. I haven't had any all day. No wonder.

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"The Party"

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