Gnomish Passage: An Audio-Narrative Experience

As the warm smells and cozy weight of his blanket faded away, he awoke with a jolt. Still hidden within a bush was Cfgyhance, having now recovered from the fetid poison from the spider hidden below the squirrel-kin fyelings’ base. It was darker than before and this was not helped by the canopy of trees that already choked out the sunlight from this part of the Druffmar forest, but Cfgyhance’s eyes could see well enough in the dark. The gnome raised himself from the ground, his leg still stiff from the wound that was given to him. Once he got to his feet, he proceeded to make sure that he had everything with him. His red hat had been left on the ground, likely falling off during his feverish sleep. Scooping it up and brushing off the leaves, he placed his hat back on his head, straightening the point of crushed red velvet to a peak, only to have it slump back down to its natural curve. Flashes of the nightmarish vision he saw within his dreams jumped into his mind. Visions of his village on fire, rabid squirrel-kin slaughtering, and his loved ones lying on the ground, blood seeping into the thirsty dirt. He shook his thoughts clear and turned to exit the bush. Slowly and silently, he crept through the holly leaves, careful not be pricked by them. The forest was silent outside of the chilling breeze that swept through the tops of the trees, rustling the leaves and creaking the branches as they swayed. Cfgyhance sniffed deep, using his well honed nose, but could not smell anything other than the scent of dirt and moss. No squirrel-kin were around, despite this being where the tracks led to. The discoveries he had made in the makeshift huts were beyond disconcerting. With the amount of weapons and supplies tucked away there, the squirrel-kin could send a raiding party large enough and well equipped to wipe their village out. An army like this had not been heard of in any other Gnomish villages, but Cfgyhance felt a sinking suspicion that his village would be the first. He was now back in the center of the makeshift base of the squirrel-kin, which was still empty. Even when he entered the hut he first went into, the chittering noise of the spider below was silent as well. He a noticed a new set of prints, a large group marching in formation with the familiar tale tale sign of spears and shields being dragged along. There were also strange prints like that of deep spikes being driven into the ground, it looked there were eight to a set. This sent his mind back to the large spider and the nest room below ground he had stumbled into. Hurriedly he made for the exit, pausing as he passed a banner stuck into the ground. The tattered cloth bearing the black mark of Darkoak Brier, a rogue squirrel-kin thought to be taken hold of by some dark evil. “Perhaps it was he who corrupted these fyelings here” thought Cfgyhance. He tore down the banner and began on his way out of the makeshift base on the fastest route to his village. Cfgyhance’s village was called Gwimbreldfh, and was smaller as it goes for Gnomish villages in the Druffmar Forest, with only about 94 gnomes living there. Cfgyhance’s family had lived there for generations and this was much the same for most of the other families that lived in Gwimbreldfh. It was only within the last 30 years that the rabid squirrel-kin had began showing up to raid the village, prompting Cfgyhance to become a battle gnome. This was an uncommon title for a gnome to take, with gnomes being a kindly folk and gentle to the world, but a warrior was essential for moments like this. Cfgyhance had heard that in the larger cities, like that of the Gnomish capital of Heirungl, there were full armies of battle gnomes, sent out to guard and protect the smaller villages of the kingdom, but that was in the Grandwoods, very far from the Druffmar Forest. Some say the original Gnomish settlers of the Druffmar Forest were criminals that were banished from Heirungl long ago, but now that did not matter, for the gnomes of Druffmar had reunited under the ruling of Heigal VII, the Gnomish king. Heirungl rarely sent masses of battle gnomes to Druffmar, but if they were to see the banner that Cfgyhance had stole away, perhaps this would prompt the proper protection for the small villages. After he assured that his village was safe, he would have to search out the Gnomish Duke of Druffmar, Boshl. If Darkoak Brier was amassing and army of fyelings this large here then there was no telling what could be happening throughout the lands. He smelled them long before he ever saw them. Their rancid smell had alerted Cfgyhance that he was heading in the right direction. If it was not for the rabid squirrel-kin’s love evil, they would be a pitiful creature. Their fur was manged and coming off in chunks, leaving festering wounds and pock marks marring their skin. Many were deformed in some way, having lost limbs or eyes due to their unfortunate circumstance. Cfgyhance made sure to swing wide from the March of creatures, making sure to stay downwind away from them. After awhile of pushing ahead, Cfgyhance noticed that this was a larger group than he could have imagined, finding a group of three squirrel-kin out from the main march. He made sure to be silent as he moved, creeping as close as he dared to see if he could hear anything of importance. “What’ll you think we’ll find this time in the village”? Asked one of them eagerly. “Who cares, we’ll take it all! Even their lives if we’d like. It’s ours for the taking isn’t it”? The other exclaimed in reply. “Hehehe yeah, I’ll have it all then, nothing left but scraps an’ ruin I say”. The two cackled and guffawed in hearty heaving laughs before the captain that was with them scolded them. “Oi, you lot. I’ll have your tails if you don’t be quiet. We’ll do no good as a bloody scout patrol if we’re making such racket you fools.” The two that were laughing straightened up quickly and nodded in silence, clutching their weapons as they continued forward. Cfgyhance drew his dagger silently from his belt. Gnomes are very adept at moving silently amongst nature, and Cfgyhance used this to his advantage. He followed them watching them as they made a makeshift lookout. Like a shadow he was on top of the three before they could notice. a quick stab through the ribs silenced one before the next one noticed. Coarse hands muffled the mouth of the second as a blade tickled him and after a few struggling moments, the three were down, stashed among the leaves that littered the ground. Cfgyhance nodded a somber nod of recognition for the life that he took and then continued on quickly to the village. First was the smell. Before Cfgyhance even got close to Gwimbreldfh, the smell of fire caught his nose. Then it was the sounds, the shouts and screams as the sound of metal against metal clanged through the forest. Cfgyhance was careful to stay hidden as he dashed into his village. Many building were already skeletons, and more were burning. His eyes scanned frantically for his house, which was just starting to ignite. The streets were filled with the armies of Darkoak Brier shouting and pushing captured gnomes through the village. Out on the other side of the village and through the flames, Cfgyhance could see wagons that the gnomes were being loaded into. At the front of the wagons were large spiders, with riders atop them. Quickly, Cfgyhance stole an opportunity to run to his house, careful to avoid the eyes of the squirrel-kin. There was one who was laughing at the flames as they crept up the side of Cfgyhance’s home. Cfgyhance leapt and drove the dagger into the fyelings shoulder, cutting through fur and flesh. The squirrel-kin slumped to the ground and Cfgyhance continued his sprint. Bursting through the door, Cfgyhance called out for his family, but there was no one to be seen. The house was a mess, clear that a struggle took place, but now it was empty. He checked everywhere to make sure that no one was left hiding, but the house was empty. From the window on the top floor, Cfgyhance glimpsed his family being stolen away to the wagons gruffly. Slamming his fist into the windowsill, he torn out of the room, stomping down the stairs. Taking his flail from his waist, he let the large spiked ball hang to the ground. Anger was boiling within him, and he intended to try and free his people. Stepping through the flames he saw two other squirrel-kin who were now checking on the fallen one outside of his house. They never saw the spiked iron ball of the flail until it was too late. The three lay crumpled on the ground as Cfgyhance let out a shout. A group of guards turned from their looting and saw the gnome and their fallen comrades. They chattered their war cries and began advancing on him, swinging their swords and spears. One squirrel-kin hurled a spear at Cfgyhance, which he easily stepped out of the way of. Another came swinging it’s sword down in a vicious strike right as Cfgyhance dodged the spear, but this was met with a flail to the gut. The fyeling halted mid swing and was met with a fist to the face. Cfgyhance then retrieved the spear from the ground and charged at the group. The clang of metal on metal was added too by Cfgyhance as the swing of his flail could not be halted. This was complimented by the sounds of the squirrel-kin hitting the ground. More squirrel-kin began to surround him, foaming from the mouth at the prospect of a fight. Despite the mad slashing of the fyelings, Cfgyhance took what slashes he couldn’t dodge and returned them with deadly force. With each swing of his flail, fyelings were sent sprawling and battered. The group waned as they saw the carnage that Cfgyhance left, and they retreated to the wagons, where the rest of their forces were. An armored squirrel-kin approached Cfgyhance, pushing his way through the crowd of fleeing creatures. “You’re a feisty one ain’tcha” it said in a taunting voice. “I’d love to take that bright red had from atop your head. Won’t you be still now and let me finish this easy”? The squirrel-kin had dark brown fur which was less matted than the others. The plate armor that he was wearing was a dark metal, decorated with the image of a squirrel-kin biting a snake in half. The fyeling withdrew a long blade from his back and pointed it at Cfgyhance. Cfgyhance readied himself, taking a deep breath and shouting at the fyeling as they both charged in. The ground was littered with the bodies of fallen gnomes and squirrel-kin as the two battled with one another. The wicked blade that the fyeling wielded was serrated and made to tear flesh, its metal bearing the marks of wear through countless battles. Cfgyhance caught a wild swing with the chains of his flail and pulled the fyeling into a savage punch. The fyeling recoiled and sent a scratch across Cfgyhance’s face. Red rushed to the surface in reply, dripping down his face. The squirrel-kin had wrenched his blade free and now began to swing again, this time with more vigor. The blows rattled Cfgyhance as he blocked them. Now on the defense, he began to dodge and close the distance. The fyeling swiped and slashed, with a few grazing Cfgyhance’s arms and legs. The squirrel-kin was fast, and in order to land a fatal blow, Cfgyhance knew he would have to get risky, so he pushed in further. The fyeling pushed a feint with his left hand and then swung his sword hard to the side on the right. Cfgyhance was only fast enough to slow down the swing, which then imbedded itself into his arm with a crunch. The fyeling chuckled at the outcome, but the chuckle was cut short by Cfgyhance’s flail crashing into the squirrel-kin’s leg. The bone splintered and its leg bent at a wrong angle. The fyeling howled in pain and leapt back from the gnome, who was now kneeling on the ground, huffing in exasperation . “You bastard! I’ll have your head”! The fyeling yelled. The fear was clear in its eyes though, and he turned to leave, limping away with its broken leg. “Lorash Febbletwine! Remember the name of the one of will kill you, you Gnomish cur”! He spit as he turned and hobbled away. Cfgyhance fell to the ground. The wound in his arm was bleeding strongly, but it was not yet fatal if he could treat it. The grief of the destruction of his village rested heavily upon his heart. He wept a silent tear as the wagons rode off, shrouded by the flames and smoke. Sleep pulled at the lids of his eyes as he lay on the ground but right before he passed out, A white streak flashed in front of him. A warm feeling flooded the spot of his wound and it itched more than normal. He dreamt of the flames, and of the smell of blood and rancid fur that now desecrated his village. He felt as though he were lifted and the soft feeling of fur was underneath him. There was now a subtle sway as he lay asleep. When he awoke, he was under a large holly tree. The wound on his arm still throbbed with pain, but it was closed now. He wiped the sleep away from his eyes and looked around at his surroundings. He’d not been to this part of the forest before. It was a holly glade that he’d heard stories about from folks who’d pass by every once in a while. The biggest surprise to Cfgyhance though, was in the distance. There, in the middle of a forest path, was a large horselike creature. It had white fur and an elongated neck. It’s look was grotesquely beautiful and enrapturing. Atop its head grew a spiral shaped horn. The creature stared at Cfgyhance intently. Suddenly Cfgyhance heard the words “come find me” waft through his mind in a soft ethereal voice, like that of a lovely fragrance dancing on the wind. The creature then turned and whinnied before galloping away into the glade.