Legend

You stand up and face your quarry. You were expecting an elf, but it's a gnome holding a staff bigger than himself instead, however given how he's dressed and looks, you have a hunch of knowing why he's done what he did.

"Let me guess, you're a druid aren't you?" you say.
"I am the guardian of this most blessed land!" the gnome shouts.
"Erm, whatever."
"Earth defiler, I'm surprised that you could even track me. No matter, you will soon pay for your defilement and rape the earth!"
"What?! I haven't done any of that and neither has anyone from the village."
"LIES! They chop down trees needlessly for their civilization!"
"Civilization? Are you kidding me? They're living as simple as possible without living IN the trees!"
"And what's wrong with living in the trees? I love the trees! How tall and lush they areĀ…"
"Um, do you need to be alone or something?"

The gnome seems to space out temporarily in his own world before addressing you again.

"ENOUGH! What I did in your precious village is but a sample! After I dispatch you, I shall completely wipe it out and return it back to its natural state! HA HA! Come to me, beasts of the great forests! Protect me!"

This gnome is definitely off his rocker, but that doesn't mean he isn't dangerous. However, this really isn't a great forest so much as it's a small woods. You're not going to be attacked by any exotic beasts. Not even a bear.

You're going to be attacked by angry squirrels while the gnome tries to bash your head in with his big stick!

CRAZY GNOME
SKILL: 8
STAMINA: 7

While the squirrels aren't going to do enough damage to hurt you, there are enough of them to distract you. Subtract 3 SKILL points during this combat.
Being a wizard you can cast a repel pests spell to avoid this penalty. Having a pet will also help you, but in this case he can't help you fight the gnome as he's too busy keeping the squirrels away.