Gnomes were expert diggers and equally comfortable under and above ground. Two mounds of earth flanked the entrance to Gnome along the main road. Small wooden doors in sturdy frames were set into the mounds of dirt. Thick green moss covered the mounds and little chimneys protruded from the tops of the mounds. When the phi gamms neared the entrance to town, Gnomes came through the doors in the earthen works. The Gnome on the right walked with the spring of youth in his step whilst the old bloke that came through the left door assisted his gait with a blackthorn cudgel. The older Gnome sported a long gray beard and went by the name Longbeard. Gnomes received a given and family name at birth and added other monikers as their lives played out. As a result, Gnomes had very long names by the time they reached Longbeard’s age. Longbeard had nineteen components to his moniker. Burgomaster Storming Norman had 24.
Longbeard said, “Mayard Klarje, a sight for sore eyes!”
Rhiann mutter under his breath, “Uh-oh! Trouble!”
However, Mayard’s doppelganger said, “Longbeard Nineteen Names… how have you been?” Per plan p-Mayard did most of the talking.
The Gnome answered, “To be honest, bored a bit. The Burgomaster demands we watch this road but nothing ever happens. Highwaymen aren’t going to risk running afoul of us and Thynna’s security forces. They are more interested in couriers and miners returning from the mountains laden with raw ore and untraceable stones. I’d rather pursue the perpetrators to their lairs. Groups of kobolds have infested the foothills, and the fearsome foursome, the highwaymen Waylon, Willie, Johnny, and Kris openly brag of their thievery.”
The Shapechanger said, “You’d best stay out of the foothills, Longbeard. Dangerous!”
Longbeard replied, “They’d be the ones in danger. Norman has doubled the guards on caravans to the mountains. That leaves fewer of us to do this ****. Don’t suppose you’d have a bit of that nectar from the Hanging Gardens on you? I’ve gotten a dry throat from this guard duty.”
benjamintowe 