- Messages
- 8
- Character Biography
- Link
It never occurred to young Wilkas that adventure could be such trouble. Far from the warmth and comfort of the tree village of Gildden his feet had been chasing the earth without direction. Making the mistake of assuming a cave would make good shelter, the little gnome didn’t check for wild predators or residents. Instead he barged in and made trouble of a Kobold nest. Nasty little creatures, often mistaken for lizards or dragon folk, the Kobold were as tiny as goblins but were fond of making traps. Traveling in groups through cave systems and mines all throughout Arethil they were more than a common pest.
The young man had been naïve to assume the huts, beds, and fire pit lined with wild cooked game was there for travelers. He knew no better. Only the hunters and druids of the Leafspring Clan ever stepped past their village, so Wilkas had been left to his imagination with no inclination of threat. But when spear and sharp stones were drawn his way with shrill hisses and loud rattling screech the gnome learned quickly. Swift as the wind he’d darted from the cave and raced towards the trees while the nest of twenty some Kobolds chased quickly after.
Was it not mentioned they were fond of traps? Oh most certainly they were. They bothered Dwarves especially with their ingenuity and tendencies to place them all through their deep caverns. Wil had almost become a victim of a simple snare that would have dropped him into a pit of sharpened wooden prongs. It was a nasty contraption but thankfully, as quick as the snare triggered, he was quicker, and leapt towards a tree with whole body wrapped against the thick bark. Climbing up he stood upon a heavy branch watching the Kobold’s gather angrily.
“Can we not talk friends? I am a bit lost and trying to find my way…” The Gnome attempted diplomatically sway the savage folk, but when a spear plugged the wall of tree behind him from between his legs? He swallowed hard and guessed, “Not the talkative folk I suppose? Well I’ll be on my way!” Quickly he scattered out of sight following a strong breeze that flooded through the edge of the Falwood.
No sooner had he began his jump between branches of this thick forest did the Kobolds’ demonstrate their own nimbleness. Like a horde of angry insects they climbed and circled, and some even gliding on tiny wings. It would be a lie to say he was not scared but Gnomes as much creatures of curiosity also lived for the rush and thrill.
Taking a swift turn the Gnome tucked into a wooden crevice and retrieved a wooden pan flute. A few puffs and a huff Wilkas had chimed an erratic melody with Bardic charm, his green eyes ebbed faintly in the shade, and darkness began to encroach and sweep over. A shadow swelled in monstrous shape with two large fiery eyes. Formless as it was a gnashing maw shaped as the body of it clamored about the forest looking towards the Kobolds stunned in their pace. Some lost footing and tumbled from their branches. But it was all clear when the bestial form gave a cacophonous roar that the vicious reptiles wanted no part of it.
Scurrying away towards the forest edge Wil piped a maddening tune cloaking himself in the illusory shadow. The Kobolds ran until the rays of daylight from past the domains of the Falwood crept in. While not ill exposed to light, the creatures who made the Falwood their home had grown content in the dim and dark. Where the light crept was no place for them. For Wilkas it was a sign of hope as he ran with the shadow that took to all four poorly arranged appendages and ran through the middle of them. Shrill shrieks and hisses of terror emitted at the sight, as the young Gnome launched past the edge of the forest into the daylight.
But the shadow would not maintain and dissipated as quickly as it was formed leaving the Gnome revealed in a world of brightness. Flute to his lips formed with a smile he stood proudly in his leaf stitched leathers. Giving a whimsical flourish he hopped one foot and then bowed graciously saying, “Thank you! Thank you! You really are tremendous folk, how did you know I was looking for the forest edge?” The Kobold were confused and none too happy barking and hissing at him from the shaded treeline, but not wanting to cross the barrier of sunlight they turned at eachother in argument before sifting away into the dim forest.
Such strange folk, Wilkas thought to himself, he had never seen a Kobold in his whole life but found them entirely fascinating. It was then his time to turn and just as excited he had been, the gnome found a stone suddenly sink to his stomach at the sight. Without trees to bar the distance the world before him seemed so strange and vast. Never felt smaller Wil knew he could not turn back. Adjusting the sack of belongings strapped to his small back he pressed forth.
SEVERAL HOURS LATER…
Assured he’d accidently fallen into a realm of torture the gnome had found a road that the human Bard in Fal’Addas had told him to travel. Having followed it for less than a mile it looked to never end. Overwhelmed and paralyzed by his decision Wilkas fell to his back and sprawled out with a witless expression glued to his face.
“So long… so far…” He murmured. Had he given up? Most certainly he didn’t know as he stared up at the clear sky and daylight. So many unfamiliar sights had given him an odd sense of claustrophobia… or what was it? The Gnome puzzled his brain to describe the sensation of feeling like being in a large place that made you feel trapped and small. Maybe he should have stayed in Gildden? Maybe he should have listened to the Elders? Those thoughts made him scrunch up his face with disgust. It was utter nonsense.
With a huff and a fluttering patter of his flapping lips as he continued to blow air, Wil figured he needed to just think. He would find a way. Assuredly or a way would find him. Until that time however he figured he would lay there in his thoughts watching the white puffs swirl against blue sky making shapes. “Too much room… Too much room…” Was all he could think and say as he laid in the middle of the road waiting for something as his golden locks of hair dusted in the breeze.
The young man had been naïve to assume the huts, beds, and fire pit lined with wild cooked game was there for travelers. He knew no better. Only the hunters and druids of the Leafspring Clan ever stepped past their village, so Wilkas had been left to his imagination with no inclination of threat. But when spear and sharp stones were drawn his way with shrill hisses and loud rattling screech the gnome learned quickly. Swift as the wind he’d darted from the cave and raced towards the trees while the nest of twenty some Kobolds chased quickly after.
Was it not mentioned they were fond of traps? Oh most certainly they were. They bothered Dwarves especially with their ingenuity and tendencies to place them all through their deep caverns. Wil had almost become a victim of a simple snare that would have dropped him into a pit of sharpened wooden prongs. It was a nasty contraption but thankfully, as quick as the snare triggered, he was quicker, and leapt towards a tree with whole body wrapped against the thick bark. Climbing up he stood upon a heavy branch watching the Kobold’s gather angrily.
“Can we not talk friends? I am a bit lost and trying to find my way…” The Gnome attempted diplomatically sway the savage folk, but when a spear plugged the wall of tree behind him from between his legs? He swallowed hard and guessed, “Not the talkative folk I suppose? Well I’ll be on my way!” Quickly he scattered out of sight following a strong breeze that flooded through the edge of the Falwood.
No sooner had he began his jump between branches of this thick forest did the Kobolds’ demonstrate their own nimbleness. Like a horde of angry insects they climbed and circled, and some even gliding on tiny wings. It would be a lie to say he was not scared but Gnomes as much creatures of curiosity also lived for the rush and thrill.
Taking a swift turn the Gnome tucked into a wooden crevice and retrieved a wooden pan flute. A few puffs and a huff Wilkas had chimed an erratic melody with Bardic charm, his green eyes ebbed faintly in the shade, and darkness began to encroach and sweep over. A shadow swelled in monstrous shape with two large fiery eyes. Formless as it was a gnashing maw shaped as the body of it clamored about the forest looking towards the Kobolds stunned in their pace. Some lost footing and tumbled from their branches. But it was all clear when the bestial form gave a cacophonous roar that the vicious reptiles wanted no part of it.
Scurrying away towards the forest edge Wil piped a maddening tune cloaking himself in the illusory shadow. The Kobolds ran until the rays of daylight from past the domains of the Falwood crept in. While not ill exposed to light, the creatures who made the Falwood their home had grown content in the dim and dark. Where the light crept was no place for them. For Wilkas it was a sign of hope as he ran with the shadow that took to all four poorly arranged appendages and ran through the middle of them. Shrill shrieks and hisses of terror emitted at the sight, as the young Gnome launched past the edge of the forest into the daylight.
But the shadow would not maintain and dissipated as quickly as it was formed leaving the Gnome revealed in a world of brightness. Flute to his lips formed with a smile he stood proudly in his leaf stitched leathers. Giving a whimsical flourish he hopped one foot and then bowed graciously saying, “Thank you! Thank you! You really are tremendous folk, how did you know I was looking for the forest edge?” The Kobold were confused and none too happy barking and hissing at him from the shaded treeline, but not wanting to cross the barrier of sunlight they turned at eachother in argument before sifting away into the dim forest.
Such strange folk, Wilkas thought to himself, he had never seen a Kobold in his whole life but found them entirely fascinating. It was then his time to turn and just as excited he had been, the gnome found a stone suddenly sink to his stomach at the sight. Without trees to bar the distance the world before him seemed so strange and vast. Never felt smaller Wil knew he could not turn back. Adjusting the sack of belongings strapped to his small back he pressed forth.
SEVERAL HOURS LATER…
Assured he’d accidently fallen into a realm of torture the gnome had found a road that the human Bard in Fal’Addas had told him to travel. Having followed it for less than a mile it looked to never end. Overwhelmed and paralyzed by his decision Wilkas fell to his back and sprawled out with a witless expression glued to his face.
“So long… so far…” He murmured. Had he given up? Most certainly he didn’t know as he stared up at the clear sky and daylight. So many unfamiliar sights had given him an odd sense of claustrophobia… or what was it? The Gnome puzzled his brain to describe the sensation of feeling like being in a large place that made you feel trapped and small. Maybe he should have stayed in Gildden? Maybe he should have listened to the Elders? Those thoughts made him scrunch up his face with disgust. It was utter nonsense.
With a huff and a fluttering patter of his flapping lips as he continued to blow air, Wil figured he needed to just think. He would find a way. Assuredly or a way would find him. Until that time however he figured he would lay there in his thoughts watching the white puffs swirl against blue sky making shapes. “Too much room… Too much room…” Was all he could think and say as he laid in the middle of the road waiting for something as his golden locks of hair dusted in the breeze.
