It was past dawn when a great noise woke us. Magicking clothes on as we ran outside, we found the outpost being pulled apart by shouting gnomes. The other riders had not returned. Scarlet Rain and his rider were trying in vain to stop the mob. A quick look showed that this was barely two hundred gnomes and the rest of the city looked empty. Alice quickly told us that this was a single temple who's cleric had denounced the riders and called for their removal from Gowgornok. The cleric also denounced the council as "worthless" and told his congregation to take matters into their own hands. They decided, "No outpost, no riders". Unsure, we, together, could freeze so many, I felt my riding set grow hot.
"Brimagor is with us," I told my sisters, "He strengthens us."
As one, we shouted, "FRIEZE!"
In the blink of an eye, the mob stopped in mid-action. A few fell over as they had been on one leg or were jumping. Scarlet and Erik looked at the frozen gnomes is shock. We circled around to check on them and explain. Behind the frozen gnomes, the rest of the city came running from their temple, churches, and other gathering places. The council and this group's cleric arrived from opposite sides.
"My children!" the cleric shouted, "What have you done to my children?"
He looked at the council and started in on them, "This is all your fault! You gave these monsters permission to live here and pollute our great city. My own son wants to be a rider! Tell your tall pets to release my congregation so we can demolish this awful building and remove this poison from our city!" he demanded.
The council was dumbstruck. They could not believe their ears. We seven, however, had heard this spouted before. Anna, in gnomish, told him we were not pets, the dragons were not monsters, the building would blend in nicely with the rest of the city, and they would stay frozen until they decided not to tear down the outpost. Upon hearing that option, a few dozen unfroze and walked away, pledging to leave the temple if he stayed as its chief cleric. A few more unfroze when they saw we meant what she had said. The cleric continued to demand the expulsion of the riders and us or the city elect Gengans who would. The rest of the city muttered and whispered to each other. A few more unfroze. Then, the question was put to the cleric.
"How do you propose to keep Gowgornok and the Rod safe?"
All eyes went to him, waiting on his answer. He sputtered for a few moments before telling them his idea.
"The Miner's Rod is a dwarf relic. It should go back to them to guard. We have held it for three generations. It is time for them to step up and be responsible for their own property. We have suffered enough due to that thing."
In the silence following his words, one third of the frozen gnomes unfroze and vowed to leave his temple and his "stupidity" behind. The council informed everyone of yesterday's declaration. The cleric was appalled and took up his demands for a new council.
From somewhere, a clod of dirt hit the cleric following a shout of "Shut up!". He looked like a spoiled child who had just received his first spanking. Several more unfroze. The council, calmly, explained that, they were certain, a combined force of gnomes and dragon riders, with us at the ready, could defeat Nurz and his ogres. Erik reported that there was less than five hundred ogres in Nurz's camp. Knowing this increased the number siding with the council and decreased the muttering and frozen gnomes.
The cleric began preaching the "wisdom of Knolwerg" to abstain from violence until all other options have failed and to cease violence when another way was opened. The city full of gnomes exchanged puzzled looks. Even the former members of his temple did not understand.
Quite a few shouted, "Who is Knolwerg?"
The cleric was shocked. Apparently, he believed everyone knew this person. From his robes, he produced his "holy book" and showed the cover to those around him. Some laughed while others got angry. He finally showed it to us. The council grew very angry.
"Is this what you have based your Sourmoratane upon? Are these the lessons you have been teaching?" one scolded him.
The cleric went pale. Several more gnomes were unfrozen.
As the council educated him and the city on who and what Knolwerg was, the riders returned. We got them filled in quickly. The gnome riders joined in the teaching.
One rider asked, "Did you not think it odd that no other cleric taught those lessons or quoted those passages? In there, is the 'naghle' mentioned even once? Anywhere?"
"No, but it says 'the chosen race'. That is us," the cleric answered.
Laughs erupted around him. The cleric was very confused.
Finally, a councilor told everyone clearly, " 'Knolwerg' was a mad mind flayer who thought he was a cursed elf. He wrote many books to teach the 'universal truth' as it was 'told' to him by 'the Universe'. Each book contradicted the previous. By the way, it is not 'Knolwerg'. Part of the letters are missing. His real name is Knahverga."
Gasps went out. This name they, even the cleric, knew. The rest of the gnomes were released. The cleric handed the council his book and removed his clerical symbols and dropped them to the ground. He apologized and offered himself for punishment. Some of the council walked him to their building. The rest told the city to go about their usual business. The ones who had attacked apologized and helped replace what they had damaged.
A calmness began to bloom in Gowgornok
The other councilors were there when we arrived and let us know that the cleric would not be causing any more trouble. Over breakfast, we talked about how best to face the ogres. While we knew little of military strategy, we told them what was done against the Baalocs. Notes were scribbled as we spoke and flashes of inspiration lit up many of their faces. By the time the dishes were being gathered, they had "a wealth of options" to pursue. They asked us to "hang around" should a point or two need clarification. We returned to the outpost to see if we could help in any way.
We spend most of the day working on the outpost. The city was accepting the riders' and dragons' presences and began treating them warmly. Some oddlings quietly let them know of services they could provide at night or during Sourmoratane. The dwarfs had difficulty in understanding why these gnomes hid from the rest as they could see no physical differences or any other reason for their segregation. The gnome riders, even though they disapproved, explained as best as they could. The riders, dwarf and gnome, vowed to treat them all equally as a new rider could be among any of them.
A few hours before sunset, strange sights appeared in the sky. Bigger than lightning bugs, but smaller than hornets, glowing bugs began hitting the illusion barrier. Some hit it once and just hovered around. Others hit it over and over until they killed themselves.Once dead and harmless, the bodies fell through the barrier. We and the riders inspected a few. The gnomes had never seen such before. Anna was able to tell us about them.
"They are bees who gather magic instead of nectar. The more they gather, the brighter they glow. The Rod is attracting them like a field of flowers attracts honey bees. No, they are not natural creatures. They were created a long time ago and set free when their maker died. I don't know how many survived to breed or how many exist. This may be all of them or only a small fraction."
While watching, we observed that the ones who held back were physically different from the ones dying. Dawn, Bo, and Set went out to capture one of the "smart" ones. Set crushed a few before he gave up, their "blood" made his front claws swell up and itch where it coated him. Dawn and Bo got one each but had to kill it to get it through the barrier. Anna confirmed that the "smart" ones were pure bred or nearly pure bred while the "dumb" ones were half-breed or less. We seven, a few councilors, and a couple of riders and dragons went outside the barrier to get a better look at the living ones.
Almost immediately, we had a swarm around us. The councilors ran and found none followed them. Rider and dragon were likewise ignored. The seven of us and our companions stood together with a cyclone of insects cutting us off from everything else. We drew our swords. Each gained their own mass of swirling insects.
"If we cast on them, they will only suck up the magic and want more," Anna warned mentally, as talking aloud was nearly impossible.
"Let us reverse it," Lisa suggested, "They may leave if they lose magic."
We agreed and began pulling the magic out of them. Their glows dimmed. Some went out and fell at our feet. The "dumb" ones continued to swarm until the last spark left and they fell. The "smart" ones, after even a bit was drained, decided it was not worth the trouble and fled.
As the swarm got smaller, the councilors braved them to snatch us back through the barrier one-by-one. Even protesting, they continued until Set and I were alone in the swarm. My sisters were held by many hands in spite of their pleas. I don't know which made me angrier, the gnomes or the bees. I told Set to get away from me so I did not hurt him. He whimpered, but obeyed. Vanity did not ask as she could feel my anger. In one move, I pulled every bit of power from all of the bees and directed it right at their illusion barrier. A large hole was blasted in it, revealing part of the city in the middle of an "empty" meadow. I looked at the gnomes holding my sisters.
"Release them at once," I commanded, pointing Vanity at them, my voice ringing with power, "They were not in danger. We knew what to do. We had it under control."
My sisters were released. They surrounded me, worry in their eyes. I was shaking. I felt like I was going to explode.
"Help me. It is too much too soon. My anger overrode good judgement."
My sisters, Dawn, Bo, and Set touched me, draining the power away to a tolerable level. I stepped out of a ring of dead bees. I felt so guilty for both them and the people I frightened. I looked at the hole I had made and the circle of dead bees. I fell to my knees.
"I am so sorry. I did not mean to kill them or damage the barrier. Take it! Take everything! I don't deserve any of this if I can't control it."
I sobbed. All I could hear was my own crying. Taking a breath, I heard a small buzzing. My sisters also heard it. We looked at the pile of bees. Some were moving. Then, a few more. The pile moved. Bees began flying away.
Anna gasped, "They are normal bees! They have all changed to normal bees."
We all, gnomes included, watched the pile of lifeless magic eating bees become living normal bees. A quick look inside the city revealed those, too, were alive and changed. We were all baffled. Many, if not all, of us were asking how this was happening.
From everywhere and nowhere, a voice answered, "You did it, my dear. True tears of regret undid what the wizard who changed them had done. He felt nothing when he forced regular bees to steal magic in order to live. Your tears at doing them harm broke his powers."
We all looked around. Before us, grass swirled and formed the shape of a tall woman. The gnomes fell to the ground before her as did some of the riders. She lifted me to stand before her. She brushed my tears away.
"Weep only in joy, you have done no wrong, Kayla. In time, you will understand this had to be done. As a Faerie, you are a force of nature unto yourself. The gnomes did not understand and acted to save your sisters. If they could have reached you, they would have pulled you away as well. It is easy for people to forget that a gentle breeze and a devastating cyclone are both wind. They saw only young girls in danger. Forgive their error, they meant no harm."
The gnomes nodded and verbally confirmed her words. I looked at the hole still in the barrier.
"I forgive them. It was an honest mistake."
Like a wound healing incredibly fast, the hole was sealed. The gnomes and riders rose and cheered. My sisters embraced me in a crushing hug.
Between them, I spoke to her, "Not to seem rude, but may I know who you are?"
A great laugh echoed over the meadow. The gnomes looked frightened, as if I had said something wrong.
"We have not been properly introduced. You have only met my aids and helpers. I am the Goddess Nature," she replied cheerfully.
We seven stopped as still as statues. We did not know how to react. Do we bow? Kneel? Our minds were reeling. Again, she laughed.
"Unlike my fellow deities, I am not one for personal appearances. It has been a pleasure, Ladies. I look forward to watching you fulfill you destinies."
Nature dissolved into wind-blow grass and vanished. The bees went on their ways to be regular insects. We went back inside Gowgornok. Even though it was early evening, I was exhausted. We grabbed some food and went to our suite. I don't know about the rest, but I was asleep before dark.
Days 290-296 (268-274)((258-264)):
For seven days, Gowgornok prepared for the ogres. My "attack" was forgiven and, for a day or two, was a city-wide joke. The Rod attracted some other magical creatures. Fountains in the city gained some temporary residents in the form of small water elementals. They announced their presence by splashing any who walked by "their" fountain. Likewise, pixies, grigs, unicorns, and other like creatures were attracted by the Rod's magic. Some of the larger creatures volunteered to aid against the ogres.
By the end of the seventh day, there was a fairly large group to face Nurz, his ogres, and any others he might have with him. The outpost was complete and housed many of our allies. The gnomes were quite nervous and just wanted tomorrow to be over.
It took a lot of meditation and focus to block their emotions enough to sleep.
Almost immediately, we had a swarm around us. The councilors ran and found none followed them. Rider and dragon were likewise ignored. The seven of us and our companions stood together with a cyclone of insects cutting us off from everything else. We drew our swords. Each gained their own mass of swirling insects.
"If we cast on them, they will only suck up the magic and want more," Anna warned mentally, as talking aloud was nearly impossible.
"Let us reverse it," Lisa suggested, "They may leave if they lose magic."
We agreed and began pulling the magic out of them. Their glows dimmed. Some went out and fell at our feet. The "dumb" ones continued to swarm until the last spark left and they fell. The "smart" ones, after even a bit was drained, decided it was not worth the trouble and fled.
As the swarm got smaller, the councilors braved them to snatch us back through the barrier one-by-one. Even protesting, they continued until Set and I were alone in the swarm. My sisters were held by many hands in spite of their pleas. I don't know which made me angrier, the gnomes or the bees. I told Set to get away from me so I did not hurt him. He whimpered, but obeyed. Vanity did not ask as she could feel my anger. In one move, I pulled every bit of power from all of the bees and directed it right at their illusion barrier. A large hole was blasted in it, revealing part of the city in the middle of an "empty" meadow. I looked at the gnomes holding my sisters.
"Release them at once," I commanded, pointing Vanity at them, my voice ringing with power, "They were not in danger. We knew what to do. We had it under control."
My sisters were released. They surrounded me, worry in their eyes. I was shaking. I felt like I was going to explode.
"Help me. It is too much too soon. My anger overrode good judgement."
My sisters, Dawn, Bo, and Set touched me, draining the power away to a tolerable level. I stepped out of a ring of dead bees. I felt so guilty for both them and the people I frightened. I looked at the hole I had made and the circle of dead bees. I fell to my knees.
"I am so sorry. I did not mean to kill them or damage the barrier. Take it! Take everything! I don't deserve any of this if I can't control it."
I sobbed. All I could hear was my own crying. Taking a breath, I heard a small buzzing. My sisters also heard it. We looked at the pile of bees. Some were moving. Then, a few more. The pile moved. Bees began flying away.
Anna gasped, "They are normal bees! They have all changed to normal bees."
We all, gnomes included, watched the pile of lifeless magic eating bees become living normal bees. A quick look inside the city revealed those, too, were alive and changed. We were all baffled. Many, if not all, of us were asking how this was happening.
From everywhere and nowhere, a voice answered, "You did it, my dear. True tears of regret undid what the wizard who changed them had done. He felt nothing when he forced regular bees to steal magic in order to live. Your tears at doing them harm broke his powers."
We all looked around. Before us, grass swirled and formed the shape of a tall woman. The gnomes fell to the ground before her as did some of the riders. She lifted me to stand before her. She brushed my tears away.
"Weep only in joy, you have done no wrong, Kayla. In time, you will understand this had to be done. As a Faerie, you are a force of nature unto yourself. The gnomes did not understand and acted to save your sisters. If they could have reached you, they would have pulled you away as well. It is easy for people to forget that a gentle breeze and a devastating cyclone are both wind. They saw only young girls in danger. Forgive their error, they meant no harm."
The gnomes nodded and verbally confirmed her words. I looked at the hole still in the barrier.
"I forgive them. It was an honest mistake."
Like a wound healing incredibly fast, the hole was sealed. The gnomes and riders rose and cheered. My sisters embraced me in a crushing hug.
Between them, I spoke to her, "Not to seem rude, but may I know who you are?"
A great laugh echoed over the meadow. The gnomes looked frightened, as if I had said something wrong.
"We have not been properly introduced. You have only met my aids and helpers. I am the Goddess Nature," she replied cheerfully.
We seven stopped as still as statues. We did not know how to react. Do we bow? Kneel? Our minds were reeling. Again, she laughed.
"Unlike my fellow deities, I am not one for personal appearances. It has been a pleasure, Ladies. I look forward to watching you fulfill you destinies."
Nature dissolved into wind-blow grass and vanished. The bees went on their ways to be regular insects. We went back inside Gowgornok. Even though it was early evening, I was exhausted. We grabbed some food and went to our suite. I don't know about the rest, but I was asleep before dark.
Days 290-296 (268-274)((258-264)):
For seven days, Gowgornok prepared for the ogres. My "attack" was forgiven and, for a day or two, was a city-wide joke. The Rod attracted some other magical creatures. Fountains in the city gained some temporary residents in the form of small water elementals. They announced their presence by splashing any who walked by "their" fountain. Likewise, pixies, grigs, unicorns, and other like creatures were attracted by the Rod's magic. Some of the larger creatures volunteered to aid against the ogres.
By the end of the seventh day, there was a fairly large group to face Nurz, his ogres, and any others he might have with him. The outpost was complete and housed many of our allies. The gnomes were quite nervous and just wanted tomorrow to be over.
It took a lot of meditation and focus to block their emotions enough to sleep.
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