Nargoth, still with a disgusted look on his face, wasn't impressed when the hero-ish, spur-flashing, sword and cloak man waltzed into the room like he owned the place. His first impression of the hero-man: a pride-full, greedy, man. He couldn't think of anything else to say about him. But, Nargoth learned to not judge a book by the cover. Even though Nargoth planned on not getting aquanted with him.

Then the door to the Inn slammed open. Again. And this time it was a gnome. A gnome. And the gnome pulled out a twig which grew. And grew. And grew. Until it was a full-sized twig-staff. Then it anounced that'd there be no cookies or gold.

"That's it, I'm out of here. I came at the alloted time. The note said nothing about leaving afterward," Nargoth said, and stood...

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(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

The door opened again, letting more cold air in, and in waltzed the gnome, announcing that there was no cookies or gold. No gold was definitely a let down. Beinion tipped his chair back on two legs, having quite the time of his life keeping his temper in check. "Well, then," he growled from his corner, "Why, in all the worlds, did you need us all gathered here in this tavern."

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I was Nymphadora Tonks

Celebwin, not enjoying it, had been sitting in a corner by the fire all evening. She pulled her cloak closer around her and glared at anyone who tried to come near. The elf held a kerchief to her nose and mouth that was splashed with purfume to help lull the terrible smell of the Gnomes Foot. And, it didn't suprise her when a gnome, with his growing twin, came into the Gnome's Foot. Infact, Celebwin chuckled slightly at the thought, but quickly set the small not-really-a-joke-but-kinda joke aside, as she listened to the short man, and then to all the objections and questions afterward.

This would be a long night, Celebwin concluded, and stayed in her corner...

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Right, time to go, then.

The moment the gnome announced that there wasn't much hope of any gold whatsoever, Orithon lost all interest. He could be doing something far more profitable with his time, and probably far more pleasant. It wasn't that the lack of personal hygiene exhibited by several of the inn's patrons bothered him - he really couldn't care less - but there was not a single way that sitting in an inn downing ale benefited him personally, and therefore it wasn't worth doing.

He tugged his hood up and stalked over to the door, ignoring several people who happened to be in his way - namely a pretty-boy human who was waving his sword around like a banner, one of those insufferable vampiresses, and a pudgy boy in robes.

The moment he touched the handle, something kicked him in the shins. Orithon swore, lashing out with one foot, and found his boot held by something small and close to the floor. He blinked and looked down.

It appeared to be a very small female gnome. "You is leaving!" she chirped happily. "No noes, can't let you do that." And she hugged his boot like it was her new best friend.

Orithon had a dagger out instantly, resenting more than ever the inane patrons of this inane inn, but at that moment she squealed piercingly. "Elfy boy's trying to get away!"

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At the moment, "getting away" sounded pretty good to Saeryn, too. After the gnome had taken back promises of gold and cookies, she had lost interest in the whole thing. The tall man <i>was</i> rather handsome, but probably too old for her. Anyway, she was tired and wanted to get back home.

Standing, she shoved the chair back and walked towards the door, thinking it would be easy to get away, what with the little gnome busy holding Elf boy's boot.

She was wrong. The female gnome somehow managed to push Elf boy's foot under Saeryn's, making her trip and go sprawling a few feet away from the door. "Hades!" These gnomes apparently wanted to have a nice talk with everyone.

Aina stared blankly around the room, unsure of what was going on. She had caught the word "cookies," and a few annoyed grumbles from people around her, but exactly what was going on was unknown to her. Shaking her head to clear it from thoughts of kittens and sleep, Aina finally realized someone - apparently the gnome - had said they would not be getting cookies or gold.
Aina shrugged - she'd come partly because she had nothing better to do anyway... and she wanted to see where this went.

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<center>
Receiving So Much More.

PM me with prayer requests
www.therebelution.com
</center>

Arete rubbed his hands across his face as he once again refused a barmaid's offer of ale. He decided to 'solve' his problem for the time being, "If I am offered ale once more, I will refuse, very violently." His voice was calm, able to be heard clearly over the din of the tavern (which was becoming incessantly more crowded) but still softer than a normal conversation tone. His tone had to convey the threat that his body could not, because, in all fairness, how intimidating was a tall man with no weapons?

The door then opened, sending welcome clean air into the tavern, at least clean for the moment, and a man with armour shined to perfection and spurs--who wears spurs in this kind of tavern?!--stepped in. Great, another self-righteous, cocky, arrogant....

Arete's very rude thoughts were interrupted by the door once again opening and a gnome stepped in. Of all creatures that could have sent the note, a gnome was the last one Arete had expected. He did note the irony, meeting a gnome in a tavern with the name Gnome's Foot. He decided to sit back and wait for others to insult and question the gnome before plying his own.

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Four Gods wait on the windowsill,
Where once eight Gods did war and will,
And if the Gods themselves may die,
What does that say for you and I?

Now, three Gods wait on the windowsill
Where one God's blood was lately spilled
While black tongues lap at the spreading pool
And build the strength they need to rule.

Nendira entered the tavern. She was running late, as she well knew. She paused in midstep to see a great congregation of people. How very curious, she thought to herself.

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<center>
Thanks to Revenge for the lovely set!
~Married Legolas of Gondolin April 6, 2006~<center>

Alex - Prince Alexander, that was - watched in amazement and even jealousy as the gnome walked in with a flash of lightning. There were times when he wished that he, too, possesed supernatural powers; it was times like this when he had to remind himself that anything beyond strength and skill and intelligence cheapened any victory.

As the gnome glared about the tavern, growling, "You didn't really expect cookies and coin sacks, did you?" Alex felt that it behooved him to step forward and answer, sweeping his cloak back and laying his hand nobly on his swordhilt.

"I must say, my good man - excuse me, gnome - that was an unintended slip for which I beg your pardon - speaking for myself, I find neither gold nor these 'cookies' to be the motivation for my undying spirit of goodwill and the assistance of the distressed and unfortunate." He took a moment to gaze about the room, offering charming, reassuring smiles to several of the ladies and damsels present. Clearing his throat, he resumed. "Rather, it was with great curiosity and motives of the noblest kind that I sought the adventure set before me tonight. This is the hope in which I live, and the spirit with which I wish the name of Prince Alexander Balmoral n+2 the Absolutely Peerless of Hemeslan to be remembered, long after I complete my final quest, or perish in the attempt."

Bowing to the crowd in the tavern, he swept his sword and cloak aside and sat down, hand on his cup, cocking his head attentively up at the gnome.

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<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

Eyfene was perplexed. As unprofessional a court runner as she was, part of the world still remained unknown to her, and that part included these miniscule bearded folk called gnomes. She shrank back against the wall as extremely irritated humans and vampires and gods knew what else rose to shake angry fists. She herself made no move from her seat. In any case, this was far more interesting than a job as a shoe cleaner or a bathhouse operator.

Precisely seven minutes past midnight, one of the men stood up again. And suddenly (without much reason for how or why), birds were singing, the fragrance of roses was permeating the air, and a light from heaven was splitting through an infinitesimal crack in the ceiling and setting the man's armor alight in all its silver glory. Stunned could not have described her. Enthralled! Enraptured! "...perish in the attempt!" he declared, and Eyfene felt her heart melt against her chest.

The gnome was not impressed. "Quiet!" he roared, banging his (full-sized) twig against the tabletop.

The audience continued shouting. The crickets continued chirping.

He glared left and right and up and down, his beard wagging, the V between his brows narrowing with dangerous intensity. He tapped his foot. He banged his staff. He flared his nose, and a slightly drunk fly wandered up his left nostril. Finally, he decided that he had had enough.

He sneezed.

But it wasn't just any sneeze. Oh no, it was a most enormous sneeze. The magnificent "ACHOO" exploded like a thunderbolt that shook the tavern's foundations and sent everyone - crickets included - rocking back on their heels. With a shrill yelp, Eyfene tumbled out of her seat and landed hard on her buttocks. She spent a few more seconds on the floor to admire the pretty songbirds chasing themselves around her head. But then a disoriented fly came rocketing out of nowhere and knocked one of the songbirds out. The other songbirds got very, very mad and decided to mob the fly. The fly (who looked slightly drunk) squealed and tried to get away, but the songbirds -

Anyway.

"I'm asking you nicely," the gnome said, quite slowly. "I need your help. I've... misplaced something on my travels, you see. And I would very much like it back."

"Misplaced something?" murmured Eyfene.

The gnome must have heard her, because he glanced her way. He appeared a bit flustered. "Well, you see, it's not even mine. A friend of mine let me borrow it, and I... misplaced it. Not my fault, really. If only they hadn't been so insistent on inviting me to supper. Meh, what a supper. Anyhoo, I misplaced it, and now I can't - Did I already say that?"

"What did you misplace?" Eyfene asked, leaning forward, heart racing.

He muttered something under his breath. "Abeautifulartifactofunimaginablepower."

"What?"

He wheezed. Then he wailed. "A beautiful artifact of unimaginable power, okay? It wasn't my fault! I tried, I tried, I told them not to take it, but they..." His beard quivered as he hung his head.

Eyfene stifled a groan. Just as the prospect of a bathhouse operator was starting to look bright...

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Tarrion had been listening closely. "Unimaginable power?" It came out as half mocking and half curious. Some have a larger imagination then others... He thought to himself. "Why would you ask a farm-hand too help you find something like this?" He rubbed the pummel of his dagger with his thumb. Why was he here? The only thing that was different about him than any other then his uncle's dagger that most thought too have been stolen.

By this time the bartender and the serving women had all hidden behind the bar and were looking about with frightened eyes. At leased they no longer bothered him about the beer he could not afford.

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<a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vdHdsb2hhLmNvbQ==" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.twloha.com/images/twloha_banner_02.gif" border="0"></a>

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

[Just a head's up. I don't have time for a post atm, and erk, sorry, I'll be gone for the next few days. Next post on Thursday.]

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Nendira regarded the exchange in silence. She was a woman of few words. All of her thought proccesses remained safely inside of her own head. She rarely felt the need to share, and even when she did feel prompted, she rarely did. So far she had heard something of relics with some thus unforetold power.

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<center>
Thanks to Revenge for the lovely set!
~Married Legolas of Gondolin April 6, 2006~<center>

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

w00t for RJ!

---------------

Misplaced. Misplaced. Misplaced. Andra's eyes grew wide again. This gnome, who could do things that Master Orladio could do, had misplaced something? That was what he did. Frequently. The consequences of it were rarely enjoyable. Of course, out of the kindness of his heart, he should help this gnome out.....but, he might be missed from his cell, and then Master Orladio would be mad, and the whole town would run wild once the druid started summoning thornbushes in every room. He was just starting to slip towards the door when he heard just what it was that the gnome had misplaced. A beautiful artifact of unimaginable power? And 'they took it'?

His mouth actually opened and let out a bit of drool before he recovered himself from ideas of himself, grandly wielding sword and staff and beautiful-artifact-of-unimaginable-power to become the most powerful druid-king in the world. And receiving the great thanks of the benevolent gnome, with the side-addition of many of the sacks of gold that such a creature must surely have.

"I'll help!" he hollered, his face split with a broad smile. If they got on their way soon enough, he might be able to outdistance Master Orladio.

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