Eternal
Kivan may mean well, but you’ve got more experience in this matter. In fact you’re going to just find out what’s going on right now.
“Warrick, we know where New Dessle is correct?” you ask.
“Yes, it’s the only large mountain south of the city states. I imagine the entrance is probably hidden, but I’m sure the kobolds could tunnel through with enough time.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’m sure the gnomes have several lookout points and will open up when they see me. I’m going to New Dessle.”
At this point Kivan and Warrick are apprehensive about that idea.
“Emperor, you can’t seriously mean going there by yourself!” Kivan exclaims.
“I agree, I mean if this is some sort of diplomatic mission you should at least take a retinue with you and even then I’d be against such a thing.” Warrick adds.
“I never said I was going alone, you’re coming with me, Warrick. I figure the two of us should be more than adequate to take on a mountain of gnomes if need be.”
This remark is met with silence.
“What? You’ve always said you wanted more work outside that office and get back in the middle of things, well here’s a big thing to get right in the middle of Warrick.” You say which causes Warrick to bow his head and put his fist to his chest.
“Apologies my Emperor. This offer was just very sudden and I was taken by surprise. Of course I shall accompany you and whatever we face shall be together. It will be an honor as always.”
“It is your choice my Emperor, but I still cannot encourage this idea.” Kivan remarks.
“Well your concern for my well being is noted. Come on Warrick we need to get underway as soon as possible.” You say.
While you and Warrick prepare for your journey you also take the opportunity to start setting the stage for the attack on the Confederacy of the Free Cities. (Which you didn’t even know that’s what this little group of city-states was even called until Eldolith’s message).
The only potential danger of the journey is the fact you’re going to have to ride through the Confederacy “territory” and while you’re fairly certain you’d be able to handle whatever they send at you, you don’t want to give them anymore reason to run off before you’re ready to attack, because you know that’s going to be the first thing the svelk do. They did with the Broki Kingdom after all.
You and Warrick have a more or less uneventful journey however since you stick to the off beaten track and away from the cities patrol areas. The pair of you mostly pass the time speaking about matters of the Empire and this situation with the svelk and what to possibly expect with the gnomes. You do get the idea that Warrick is pretty happy about going on this trip.
Eventually you get closer to the mountain, which no longer looms in the distance, but instead stands towering above you. It’s not the size of the ones in Rask, but it’s big enough that if the gnomes have built a city inside the thing, it would have to be quite large indeed.
“Well, we’re here, any idea how to get inside?” Warrick asks.
“I figure I’d start shouting at the gnomes until they let me in.” you say.
“And if they don’t?”
“I guess I’ll start smashing holes into the side of the mountain with magic and let myself in.”
“And maybe you better not, Eternal Emperor. Powerful you may be, I guarantee that even you would not take this mountain all by yourself, but I get the impression you’re not here for that.” A voice says coming from above you.
You look up and see that several holes in the mountain have opened up with the barrels of rifles all pointing at you. And that’s just the ones you’re seeing, you imagine they probably got more.
“Right you are gnome. I’m here to discuss the possible future of our relationship. So how about you open this mountain up and let us talk.” You shout.
“I have a better idea, how about you get the hell out of here before we blow your fucking head off!” a different voice shouts.
“We should just do it now! Why didn’t you let me shoot him as he approached!?” another voice says.
“Glenmore! Valen! Shut the hell up! Apologies Emperor, but as you might expect we’re not exactly trusting of the Empire given our history with it. In fact we’re not very trusting of anyone nowadays.”
“Well I can certainly understand that.” You remark.
“I thought you might. Hold on let me come to you.” The voice says which is followed by a lot of mumbling and whispering.
“This isn’t exactly a good position we’re in.” Warrick says.
“Nonsense, we already got one to come out and talk. Probably a leader. We’re already making progress.” You say.
You wait for about ten minutes still noticing that the rifles are still fixed on you.
“Okay here I am, now we can talk.” A voice says and you turn around to see a gnome with a full face of gray facial hair. Typical of older examples of his race. He is dressed in fine (if dirty) clothing.
“Hmmm, it would appear you must also have a system of tunnels and secret doors in the ground surrounding this mountain too.” You say.
“Indeed. Hate living like a derro at times, but with all the kobolds running around north lately…well best to be safe right?”
“Looks like you’ve thought of everything…” you say not knowing the gnome’s name.
“Oh, the name’s Klemto. Klemto Zookwinkle. But let’s get to it, I assume you’re here to see if we’re willing to surrender without a fight?”
“Not exactly, though that is a good subject to discuss later. What I was really here to ask is if you were in league with the svelk.”
“Oh goodness no! We trade with them at times, but only rarely and never anything they could use as a weapon! I believe we’d all sooner trust the Empire before we’d trust the dark elves. At least the Empire is up front about wanting to exterminate us.”
You stop Klemto right there.
“Okay, first of all there is no plan to exterminate the gnomes.”
“Could’ve fooled me given the information we’ve heard. Waging a genocidal war on the Torites. Even bombing other human nations into submission. Now you’re planning on annihilating the svelk, though I can’t say they’re the most sympathetic of beings. I know who you are Eternal. You were a general in the Felkan War. The old emperor’s right hand. In fact you even led captured gnomes and them to that infamous death camp called Gnome’s Home.”
“I did that once.”
“Oh, he did it once! And that makes everything better? Was that a bad attempt at an apology?”
“Of course not since I have nothing to apologize for. I was merely following orders. You want to know what I really think of your people? Nothing. You’re clever and you invent useful things. That’s it. I think your manipulation of the Felkans to protect yourselves was a useful survival strategy and one to be admired in some ways. Just like your mountain city here. I don’t have some burning great hatred for any of your kind. Personally I thought it was a waste of resources to ship you all off to Gnome’s Home just to go through the unnecessary process of banishing your souls to oblivion. But that’s what the Emperor wanted so that’s what happened.”
Klemto lights up some sort of pipe as you talk and takes a puff before speaking.
“So just following orders eh? Sounds about right. From what we know of you, you were and apparently still are an emotionless individual. That’s probably what makes you scarier than your former Emperor. At least he had an emotion. An irrational one, but it was something.”
“Oh he had a reason. And it wasn’t just the gnomes rebelling. Your last name, Zookwinkle isn’t unknown to me gnome.” You say.
You stare at Klemto and he stares back. He instinctively knows that you know something concerning a female member of his family being involved with the Emperor in some way. Warrick just stands by looking a bit confused, but mostly more concerned about the guns overhead.
“Heh, well grandma always did do what she thought was best for survival.” Klemto remarks.
“Well I suggest you follow in her footsteps then and do the same.”
“Don’t think you’re my type.” Klemto jokes nervously.
“Amusing, but you know what I mean.” You say seriously.
Klemto wipes his forehead and begins puffing away again.
“Look, we just want to be left alone. I mean do you really need us under your thumb too even with the countless slaves and subjects you already have?”
“Well since you bring it up, yes. If you’re under my rule, I can keep a closer eye on you. Not to mention your skills would be of great use to the Empire once again.” You answer.
“We were once under the old emperor’s rule too. You see how well that worked out.” Klemto remarks.
“He also was blinded by love at the time and as you pointed out, I am the emotionless one. His hatred of your people also caused him to make many mistakes. If you betray me in some way, rest assured I won’t bother going through some elaborate process of torturing you and destroying your souls. I’ll just have you run down and slaughtered wherever you may run to. Where you go in the afterlife is your own affair, but here in the land of the living, that’s my domain.” You say with a cold tone.
Klemto is now contemplating the consequences of what may happen if he and his people try to resist when you eventually do come to stake claim on New Dessel. He’s pondering if they can kill you now before it even comes to that. It’s obviously that he doesn’t think they can or else they would’ve done it long before now. Klemto and the gnomes aren’t stupid, they know that the stories of what abilities you really possess are probably exaggerated, however that old fear that still lingers from their treatment by Casimir mixed with what they DO know what you’re capable of is still enough to stay their hand.
And it is this fear that is making this all work in your favor. Just like you knew it would. Had the roles been reversed, you wouldn’t have hesitated. You would’ve killed yourself with a volley of rifle blasts and more as soon as you were in range.
After pacing a bit, Klemto finally speaks again.
“I’m going to have to talk this over with the rest of the council and while that’s more of a formality, most of them aren’t going to be happy... (Sigh) Okay, here it goes. We will capitulate to Empire rule and we’ll pay tribute. But we must remain in this mountain. Whatever it is that you need from us to serve the Empire, it will have to be here or at least within the area. Now if some individual wants to leave and help elsewhere in the Empire, then that’s his decision. But at no point will our people be forced to leave if they don’t want to. Also no other Empire citizens may enter this mountain either unless we allow it. This includes the army.” Klemto says.
“Hah! You must be joking.” You interrupt.
“I’m serious. Now I know you’ll need to keep an eye on us as you say, well your Eyes will be allowed in. As many as you want, but I assure you that it won’t be necessary since there will not be any attempts at betrayal.”
While it would appear that Klemto is willing to capitulate, there are a lot of stipulations he’s making. Stipulations that imply he thinks he’s in the position to make.
“Warrick, we know where New Dessle is correct?” you ask.
“Yes, it’s the only large mountain south of the city states. I imagine the entrance is probably hidden, but I’m sure the kobolds could tunnel through with enough time.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’m sure the gnomes have several lookout points and will open up when they see me. I’m going to New Dessle.”
At this point Kivan and Warrick are apprehensive about that idea.
“Emperor, you can’t seriously mean going there by yourself!” Kivan exclaims.
“I agree, I mean if this is some sort of diplomatic mission you should at least take a retinue with you and even then I’d be against such a thing.” Warrick adds.
“I never said I was going alone, you’re coming with me, Warrick. I figure the two of us should be more than adequate to take on a mountain of gnomes if need be.”
This remark is met with silence.
“What? You’ve always said you wanted more work outside that office and get back in the middle of things, well here’s a big thing to get right in the middle of Warrick.” You say which causes Warrick to bow his head and put his fist to his chest.
“Apologies my Emperor. This offer was just very sudden and I was taken by surprise. Of course I shall accompany you and whatever we face shall be together. It will be an honor as always.”
“It is your choice my Emperor, but I still cannot encourage this idea.” Kivan remarks.
“Well your concern for my well being is noted. Come on Warrick we need to get underway as soon as possible.” You say.
While you and Warrick prepare for your journey you also take the opportunity to start setting the stage for the attack on the Confederacy of the Free Cities. (Which you didn’t even know that’s what this little group of city-states was even called until Eldolith’s message).
The only potential danger of the journey is the fact you’re going to have to ride through the Confederacy “territory” and while you’re fairly certain you’d be able to handle whatever they send at you, you don’t want to give them anymore reason to run off before you’re ready to attack, because you know that’s going to be the first thing the svelk do. They did with the Broki Kingdom after all.
You and Warrick have a more or less uneventful journey however since you stick to the off beaten track and away from the cities patrol areas. The pair of you mostly pass the time speaking about matters of the Empire and this situation with the svelk and what to possibly expect with the gnomes. You do get the idea that Warrick is pretty happy about going on this trip.
Eventually you get closer to the mountain, which no longer looms in the distance, but instead stands towering above you. It’s not the size of the ones in Rask, but it’s big enough that if the gnomes have built a city inside the thing, it would have to be quite large indeed.
“Well, we’re here, any idea how to get inside?” Warrick asks.
“I figure I’d start shouting at the gnomes until they let me in.” you say.
“And if they don’t?”
“I guess I’ll start smashing holes into the side of the mountain with magic and let myself in.”
“And maybe you better not, Eternal Emperor. Powerful you may be, I guarantee that even you would not take this mountain all by yourself, but I get the impression you’re not here for that.” A voice says coming from above you.
You look up and see that several holes in the mountain have opened up with the barrels of rifles all pointing at you. And that’s just the ones you’re seeing, you imagine they probably got more.
“Right you are gnome. I’m here to discuss the possible future of our relationship. So how about you open this mountain up and let us talk.” You shout.
“I have a better idea, how about you get the hell out of here before we blow your fucking head off!” a different voice shouts.
“We should just do it now! Why didn’t you let me shoot him as he approached!?” another voice says.
“Glenmore! Valen! Shut the hell up! Apologies Emperor, but as you might expect we’re not exactly trusting of the Empire given our history with it. In fact we’re not very trusting of anyone nowadays.”
“Well I can certainly understand that.” You remark.
“I thought you might. Hold on let me come to you.” The voice says which is followed by a lot of mumbling and whispering.
“This isn’t exactly a good position we’re in.” Warrick says.
“Nonsense, we already got one to come out and talk. Probably a leader. We’re already making progress.” You say.
You wait for about ten minutes still noticing that the rifles are still fixed on you.
“Okay here I am, now we can talk.” A voice says and you turn around to see a gnome with a full face of gray facial hair. Typical of older examples of his race. He is dressed in fine (if dirty) clothing.
“Hmmm, it would appear you must also have a system of tunnels and secret doors in the ground surrounding this mountain too.” You say.
“Indeed. Hate living like a derro at times, but with all the kobolds running around north lately…well best to be safe right?”
“Looks like you’ve thought of everything…” you say not knowing the gnome’s name.
“Oh, the name’s Klemto. Klemto Zookwinkle. But let’s get to it, I assume you’re here to see if we’re willing to surrender without a fight?”
“Not exactly, though that is a good subject to discuss later. What I was really here to ask is if you were in league with the svelk.”
“Oh goodness no! We trade with them at times, but only rarely and never anything they could use as a weapon! I believe we’d all sooner trust the Empire before we’d trust the dark elves. At least the Empire is up front about wanting to exterminate us.”
You stop Klemto right there.
“Okay, first of all there is no plan to exterminate the gnomes.”
“Could’ve fooled me given the information we’ve heard. Waging a genocidal war on the Torites. Even bombing other human nations into submission. Now you’re planning on annihilating the svelk, though I can’t say they’re the most sympathetic of beings. I know who you are Eternal. You were a general in the Felkan War. The old emperor’s right hand. In fact you even led captured gnomes and them to that infamous death camp called Gnome’s Home.”
“I did that once.”
“Oh, he did it once! And that makes everything better? Was that a bad attempt at an apology?”
“Of course not since I have nothing to apologize for. I was merely following orders. You want to know what I really think of your people? Nothing. You’re clever and you invent useful things. That’s it. I think your manipulation of the Felkans to protect yourselves was a useful survival strategy and one to be admired in some ways. Just like your mountain city here. I don’t have some burning great hatred for any of your kind. Personally I thought it was a waste of resources to ship you all off to Gnome’s Home just to go through the unnecessary process of banishing your souls to oblivion. But that’s what the Emperor wanted so that’s what happened.”
Klemto lights up some sort of pipe as you talk and takes a puff before speaking.
“So just following orders eh? Sounds about right. From what we know of you, you were and apparently still are an emotionless individual. That’s probably what makes you scarier than your former Emperor. At least he had an emotion. An irrational one, but it was something.”
“Oh he had a reason. And it wasn’t just the gnomes rebelling. Your last name, Zookwinkle isn’t unknown to me gnome.” You say.
You stare at Klemto and he stares back. He instinctively knows that you know something concerning a female member of his family being involved with the Emperor in some way. Warrick just stands by looking a bit confused, but mostly more concerned about the guns overhead.
“Heh, well grandma always did do what she thought was best for survival.” Klemto remarks.
“Well I suggest you follow in her footsteps then and do the same.”
“Don’t think you’re my type.” Klemto jokes nervously.
“Amusing, but you know what I mean.” You say seriously.
Klemto wipes his forehead and begins puffing away again.
“Look, we just want to be left alone. I mean do you really need us under your thumb too even with the countless slaves and subjects you already have?”
“Well since you bring it up, yes. If you’re under my rule, I can keep a closer eye on you. Not to mention your skills would be of great use to the Empire once again.” You answer.
“We were once under the old emperor’s rule too. You see how well that worked out.” Klemto remarks.
“He also was blinded by love at the time and as you pointed out, I am the emotionless one. His hatred of your people also caused him to make many mistakes. If you betray me in some way, rest assured I won’t bother going through some elaborate process of torturing you and destroying your souls. I’ll just have you run down and slaughtered wherever you may run to. Where you go in the afterlife is your own affair, but here in the land of the living, that’s my domain.” You say with a cold tone.
Klemto is now contemplating the consequences of what may happen if he and his people try to resist when you eventually do come to stake claim on New Dessel. He’s pondering if they can kill you now before it even comes to that. It’s obviously that he doesn’t think they can or else they would’ve done it long before now. Klemto and the gnomes aren’t stupid, they know that the stories of what abilities you really possess are probably exaggerated, however that old fear that still lingers from their treatment by Casimir mixed with what they DO know what you’re capable of is still enough to stay their hand.
And it is this fear that is making this all work in your favor. Just like you knew it would. Had the roles been reversed, you wouldn’t have hesitated. You would’ve killed yourself with a volley of rifle blasts and more as soon as you were in range.
After pacing a bit, Klemto finally speaks again.
“I’m going to have to talk this over with the rest of the council and while that’s more of a formality, most of them aren’t going to be happy... (Sigh) Okay, here it goes. We will capitulate to Empire rule and we’ll pay tribute. But we must remain in this mountain. Whatever it is that you need from us to serve the Empire, it will have to be here or at least within the area. Now if some individual wants to leave and help elsewhere in the Empire, then that’s his decision. But at no point will our people be forced to leave if they don’t want to. Also no other Empire citizens may enter this mountain either unless we allow it. This includes the army.” Klemto says.
“Hah! You must be joking.” You interrupt.
“I’m serious. Now I know you’ll need to keep an eye on us as you say, well your Eyes will be allowed in. As many as you want, but I assure you that it won’t be necessary since there will not be any attempts at betrayal.”
While it would appear that Klemto is willing to capitulate, there are a lot of stipulations he’s making. Stipulations that imply he thinks he’s in the position to make.