a w00ting, er... l00ting we will go!

[Xxian]

A spark of life stired in the gnome after a hearty serve of yummy rabbit stew.  Shuffling forwards towards the ranger taking the time to scrunch the sand between his toe in each step he made as it was somewhat amusing him, eventualy he gets there and drops his pack and rummages through it.

producing a rolled up and little bit scrunched up piece of paper, he kneels down on the sand and gently unfolds it, tipping a handfull of sand on the corners that defiantly want to roll back up.



"This one map Xxian got last time me here looking for treasure, yees, think this one last piece, had lots of other ones had to find first, got lost once.... might be more times than once, but anyway doesn't matter, here where we got to go it is, that where threasure is, yees, lots of treasure, lots and lots!!" the gnome says excitedly pointing to the X on the map, looking over his shoulder momentarily to make sure noboy else had seen the map who shouldn't.

[Paks]

Paks

After studying the map for a moment, the ranger looks back to the trees and to the mountains beyond.

"Looks like we have a long walk ahead of us, we should get moving."

Keeda

"Aye, long walk but lots of time for riddles" the brownie says with a grin. "Watch out for the locals though, they like the taste of flesh."

[Zee]

Joe:

*Looks curiously at the map for a moment then around at his surroundings.* "From the beach, through the forest, up a mountain. Well we'll go from hot and bug ridden to damp and critter ridden to likely cold and crag ridden." *He pauses for a moment to point his thumb in the direction of xxian.* "Dragging a varmint along with us the entire way. Not quite the good day i was hoping for, but the sooner we're done with this the better."

[Paks]

Lilac

I washed up the pot and tucked it away in my pack, at the same time making sure that all my herbs were safely stowed away. I had briefly looked at the map and then the mountains, it looked like a hard hike was head of us and I just hoped we wouldn't get lost along the way.

Paks

Packing the remainder of her equipment into her pack, the ranger swings it onto her shoulder and secures it tightly. Grabbing her staff, she makes her way to the edge of the forest. "Right'o folks, let's get moving before the rain comes" she says, pointing to the darkening sky, the smell of rain now heavy in the air.

[Mnuxim]

Sitting in a tree overhead of where Paks is standing a small gnome looks down, his booted feet hanging off the branch he is sitting on.  "Worried about a little bit of rain?  Why rain provides fantastic cover, no one can hear you coming and no one can see you coming."

The short gnome leaps down from the tree branch to land next to Paks.  "Rain is great... unless you are being the one being snuck up upon.  Or you are Xxian, in which case it means a bath he cannot avoid."  He turns and smiles at Xxian giving a knowing glance.

[Xxian]

Xxian slaps his forehead and rolls his eyes at the sight of Mnux.

"what you doing here you, meddlesome, er, meddler? And what you mean Xxian forced to take bath, Xxian not silly, he hide well he can, not even rain can get Xxian, er, that is unless Xxian want rain to get him that is, yes, yes it is."

The gnome had used the time rambling to quickly roll up and discreetly slip the parchment into his tunic, hopefully unnoticed.

The word 'varmint' triking him in the back of the head, although said several minutes ago, it was just registering now, however the gnome is instantly distracted by the thoughts of small fluffy animals running around the forrest floor.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he turns back to Mnux.

"So what you doing here? Didn't think you wanted to travel with Xxian, run off last time you did, yeees, er, fly off last time you did, yeees!"  the gnome says with a huff, folding his arms waiting for an explanation.

[Zee]

Joe:

*Chuckles and watches the on goings before leaning over to paks and whispering to her.* "Well another ankle-bitter. But atleast we won't run out of potential balls should we decide to have ourselves a game of gnome punting."

[Paks]

Paks

Startled a little, the ranger holds her hand to her heart for a moment before looking at the gnome. Not recognising him but knowing that he knew Xxian made her feel only a little better.

"Actually I quite like the rain" she replies to the gnome, "But I'm guessing that some in our party won't be impressed about it" she continues, thinking of Agnues in particular. "Anyhow, I've never actually understood why everyone seems to think Xxian does not like taking baths, infact I've actually found it the opposite, I can never get him out."

Stepping back as Xxian comes through, she listens to him speak. When Joe whispers into her ear however, a smile spreads across her somewhat serious face. "Oh aye" she replies, "Though now that there are three of them, I fail to see how we're going to keep them out of trouble" she says with a sigh.

[Zee]

Joe:

*Nods in agreement with the woman.* "Aye, between the three of them and the dwarf i believe we have certainly become out numbered. Next time i'm only going on a grand treasure hunt when there's a sign at the embarkation point that says you must be this high *he holds his hand up about mid chest level* to adventure." *The lasts he says with a grin and a wink.* "Oh well, when the dragon in the mountain wakes up, that's four short legged creatures that we can out run."

[Mnuxim]

"Har har har, lets make fun of them for being short."  The gnome leaps down from the tree to stand between Paks and Joe, and looking up at them both he smiles "How original of you."  Walking away from the overtall ones he muses.  "Of course, when the giant axe blade swings out of the wall to decapitate you we won't even notice.  So I guess it all evens out...but to answer your question Xxian..."

The gnome walks over, his age starting to show as he actually puts some weight on his once purely ornamental cane, and he muses, pushing back the goggles he usually wears. "I came with you seeking this treasure before, and that was a bust, I figured you might try to go looking for it again, and luckily for me I stopped in at the right time and right place to hear about it.  So I figured I would offer my services once more as I had before."

[Xxian]

Xxian scratches his chin, a little suspiscious that mnux had just happened to find them right at this time, right at this place, but knowing that he did have some very impressive powers, the gnome dismisses his suspiscions and hands Mnux a waterskin, currently filled with, um, rum flavored water

"Good to have you back it is, yees, might find the treasure this time Xxian hopes, might be the richest gnomes in all lands we might.." the gnome scratches his chin again and stares at the ground briefly before continuing "...wait, already be the richest we might be!" he says, slapping Mnux on the arm and laughing.



Chip, loitering at the back of the group raises and eyebrow at Paks' last comment, the corner of his mouth turns up a little as well before he washes his facial expression clean with a raise of his eyebrows.

[Feff]

Only after a long period of the exchange between the gnomes did Din finally move her hand away from the hilt of her sword. She still remains tense, sliding over towards Arak and Lilac, "Do you know the new one? he seems familiar with the others." She holds her tongue further though, not wanting the new gnome to overhear her, she keeps her eyes glued to him, watching every action, every movement he makes.

[Mudguard]

Agneus had slurped down the stew greedily. Wiping his mouth, he thanked Lilac and peered at the map with some scepticism before it was quickly rolled away.
When the brownie had hinted that there were things on this island too that liked human flesh, Agneus had tremblingly pulled out of his sack a suit of leather armour, a shortbow and a quiver of arrows. His Uncle Beneto had insisted on instructing him in their use. “Now boy, this time you miss you’ll hit your precious drum…” Agneus had learnt quickly.
Donning the armour, he slung the quiver across his back and picked up his sack in his left hand to drape it over his left shoulder. He clutched the shortbow in his right hand and followed the others rearwise into the forest.
Looking at the little gnome warily as he conversed with Xxian, Agneus quickly decided to have as little to do with him as possible. Previous experience with the little horrors so far giving him every reason not to.

[Paks]

Lilac

Having packed everything up I was just waiting for Arak to gather his gear before we headed off after Paks. I was looking towards the ranger and the forest when I saw the gnome jump down from the tree. Frowning at first, I then relaxed when it seemed that Xxian knew him. I was so engrossed in trying to listen in without appearing to be listening in that I didn't notice Din appear beside me. I jumped and let out a little yelp as she spoke, my heart beating much faster than it usually did. "You gave me a fright Din, you must have very quiet feet" I said to the girl as my heart tried to slow it's tempo.

"I have no idea who the gnome is but you're right, he does seem familiar with Xxian at least. Do you think it means more trouble for us? I mean, we can hardly handle the two gnomes that we already have, what are we going to do with a third do you spose? Assuming he'll be joining us that it, he may have just dropped by. Dropped by! Get it?" I giggled, nudging Din a little.

[Paks]

Keeda

The little Brownie appeared from behind one of the many trees. Using one if his rather pointing fingers, he jabs Nux in the ribs. "Hello Mnuxim, nice of you to stop by. So, what have you been up to? Are you planning on staying long? Oh that's right I heard you offer your services to Xxian so I guess that means we'll get to spend lot's of quality time together won't we?" the brownie says, carrying on as though the two had known each other for years.