Two Little Gnomes

Once upon a time there were two little gnomes. One gnome was smart and hard working, while the other was lazy and constantly looking for the easy way through life. The little gnomes were hungry, so the smart and kind gnome thought long and hard and eventually he invented the fishing rod, he laughed with joy as the Clockwork King showered him with a bounty of fish to sooth his aching stomach. But the lazy gnome wanted his food now. Instead of building his own fishing rod, he went to the house of evil wizard and asked him for food. The wizard laughed, "yes I can give you food, read out this incantation and you will have all the food you could ever ask for!" Excitedly the lazy gnome took the incantation and read it aloud, an entire banquet suddenly appeared from nothing, and with joy the lazy gnome dug in! But the food tasted like sand paper and only made his hunger worse. He went to the wizard crying for his stomach hurt so bad from the magical food, but all the evil wizard did was laugh. Later, it was getting cold and wet, so the two little gnomes decided they needed a warm place to sleep. The smart and kind gnome thought long and hard, and began to work on building a shelter out of sticks and leaves, working carefully to ensure his little home would keep him warm and safe. But the lazy gnome didn't want to work that hard, so he went to the house of the evil wizard. "It is cold and wet!" he said to the evil wizard. The Wizard laughed and handed him an incantation, "here, if you are cold and wet, read this incantation and you'll be warm in no time." Excitedly the lazy gnome took the incantation and ran back to the clearing and read the incantation. Suddenly a great bonfire appeared before him filling the air with light and warmth. The lazy gnome extended his hands towards the fire to warm them, but the fire suddenly jumped, lighting him on fire as well. He screamed and screamed, trying to put out the flames, but he could not. Hearing his cries, the good gnome came out of his tent of wood and leaves, only for the fire to jump to him and burn away all his hard work as well. The evil Wizard laughed and laughed at the pain he had caused, not even noticing as the fire spread to him and his home as well. "Remember little gnomes," Said the Clockwork King, lord of all that is good and true, "Nothing good ever comes from magic, for it is the easy solution to all life's problems. Rather than use magic, use your brain and invent things to make your life simpler. Magic only ever hurts those who try to use it and those around them as well."

In Literature

This tale is a common story told within the borders of the Clockwork Empire to the children of the state. It is used as a cautionary tale to warn against the use or the pursuit of magic. It is believed that this short tale was written by the High Cleric sometime around 40 FA.

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