Description
A ragged red scar stands out like a beacon in stark contrast to the
mottled grey skin on the right side of this deep gnome's jaw. The jaw
is twisted in a grotesque fashion which shows the bone and teeth through
the open scarring. A bald skull shows an unkempt living as it is
streaked from dirty finger prints. Broad shoulders show many years of
swinging heavy hammers. The broad shoulders lead down to extraordinarily
long arms that end with fat, meaty fists. A thick chest molds into a
thin waist. The upper torso of this svirfnebli appears more dwarvish
in size, but, short, tree trunk-like legs and a three and a half foot
height prove otherwise.
Role
Home and Topside
Added Sun Sep 2 12:29:58 2007 at level 30:
Homecoming was not as I expected. There was a time when I would walk
the caves and look at places with awe and wonderment. I will admit
the places that I found interesting to me as a child, repulsed me when
I came back. The mages are using the same power as my captor. I could
hear them speak in that same foreign tongue. I wanted to kill at each
sound I heard come from their lips. They did not care the harm they were
causing. Speaking to them only caused me to be shunned. There was one
place where my thoughts were accepted. The warriors guild. They
understood my concerns and did not judge me harshly for it. There were
weapons of all types to choose from they told me and led me to a rack
of them. The first thing that caught my eye were the hammers. Bloody
hammers. The tools of choice that Mremrisl had me use. It seemed
perfect. Except I despised them even though I knew them so well. I
would not use them again. Next to them I saw something akin to a hammer.
But, these had blades on them. It was the axe. I had already built the
strength and knew the motion of the hammer, but, these just seemed a
much fiercer weapon for me. I could hack the abominations. They were
just right. The ferocity that the axes worked with me soon gained
me a reputation. Of course, mages started dying in the caves from axes.
The mage guild complained to the warrior's guild who asked for the
evidence that it was one of them. No evidence could be found, but,
my guildmaster knew and told me of a group run by Lord Kastellyn. Their
village was topside. Never having been topside before I asked him for
directions. He said to seek the the constellation of five stars. The sign
of my freedom.
Deep Earth Combat
Added Thu Aug 16 13:37:08 2007 at level 17:
The deep earth is beautiful and unforgiving. One wrong step, one wrong turn
and death is waiting...or in my case, something worse. There is magic in the
deep earth that eats at the very flesh upon and in bones. It destroys the
mind and body. I am familiar with it. I took the wrong turn and my flesh
and mind paid a heavy price. His name was Mremrisl. They are known as the
Rooglek to my people. They are not many, but, they are powerful. It is
only by luck that the faintest hint of bright light burns them. The opening
of our world to the surface has kept them only in the deepest, farthest
reaches of the earth. But, like I stated...one wrong step or turn.
I looked up from my searching for a good place to harvest and work with the
earth and realized that I had made a wrong turn somewhere. It was then that
my muscles froze. The agony was unspeakable. The fire in my muscles made me
wish I were dead. I was ready to give up on life that quickly. Unfortunately,
that was just the beginning. I knew that I would eventually be dead, because
no one ever came back from the Rooglek. We only know of them because of the
stories we are told as children to make us more wary of what we were doing.
But, here was Mremrisl, right in front of me just looking at me with intense
malevolence. It wasn't hate. No, it was a longing. A longing to force me
to do things against my will and into servitude. I was to become a harvester
of the earth for him. Gems, he wanted gems. He used those of my race for
eons because those of the topside do not see the gems for what they are.
They see them as trinkets to be traded and worn as ornaments. They don't
see them for the function as things to be used and worked. Clothes, tools,
furniture, light and so much more. But, Mremrisl wanted them to trade
with those from above. He preyed upon their wants and needs to grow in
power so that he may overcome the pain of the light from above. This was
his mistake. It was also many years of pain before I could make use of the
mistake he was making.
Deep Earth Escape
Added Fri Aug 17 20:01:29 2007 at level 21:
I was young when I was captured. And very stupid. I used the hammers of my
heritage to harvest the gems that Mremrisl wanted. I would use them until
I passed out from exhaustion and he would wake me again with his magic and
force my body to do more. He knew I wanted death. He knew that was the only
thing I wanted for myself. And for that reason alone, he did not give it to me.
It was when I found a streak of moonstone, with it's near transparent life,
I realized his weakness. The gems must have reached all the way to the surface.
When it became uncovered it gave out a bright light that made him jump. He
forced me magically to cover it up with my body, then bury it again with my
muscles. It wasn't just a jump from seeing something bright that hurts the eyes.
It was pain. Searing pain for him. Before I buried it, I used my touch on it
to feel it's presence and know what surrounded it. It took another year of my
life to exact my plan. Truth be told, I was hoping that I would just hurt him
enough for him to kill me. Sweet release was all I sought. Over that year,
I methodically calculated where the streak of moonstone was and began to
set up the earth around it to reveal it in all it's glory. I piece of earth
moved here, another piece pushed away there. Until I knew the day of my death was
ready. No more torture. As soon as I was useless to him, he would get another,
but, at least it would not be me.
The brightness of the light blinded me and caused my head to spin. All it took
was one strike to the place I set up and the entire cavern collapsed around me
revealing the moonstone. As I think back on it, if it were night time, I don't
know if I would be here to write this down. I crawled away from the rubble
very hurriedly, just feeling my way around. After a few moments,
my vision began to come back. As I began to focus on the light in the cavern, I
could see Mremrisl on one knee with his hand up in a defensive position.
I looked around for a way out so I could escape. Here was a chance to live!
I stopped. I turned around and I saw him for what he was. Something that was
too weak to do his own bidding. Yes, he was strong in magic, but, weak in
flesh. He was an abomination. And I had already decided to die. I charged him.
I dropped my hammers on my way to him because I wanted to kill him with my
bare hands. I think I beat on his corpse long after he was dead. It was the
first time in years that exhaustion did not stop me. My blood burned. I was free.
And I realized that I would never rest until this type of abomination was
eradicated from the deep earth. It was then I saw the sparkle in the moonstone.
A ring of five stars. The revelation was upon me.