Role

Chapter 5

It all began back when I was just a wee little gnome working in the mountainy
fields of Hillcrest. My parents were the sort of folk who had no future, no
ambition at all and were happy with being simple farmers. I can honestly say
that I was going to end up the same way, were it not for the incident that
took place one dreary afternoon coming back from a short break in the fields.
They hit the town like a tornado and before I could even really discern what
was going on, I was thrown in a sack swept away with the madness took my
hometown. A kidnapping, this had to be some sort of sick joke, things like
this didn't happen in the quiet, peaceful town of Hillcrest, but it did that
day. I was taken aboard the caravan heading east, along with four other
childhood friends of mine. Seven days and one gnome later, we arrived at the
docks of Hamsah Mu'tazz where the brigands threw us aboard their ship along
with various other trinkets and sacks, I'm guessing Hillcrest wasn't the only
town they struck. It was Raisley who didn't survive before we set sail, I
guess he just didn't have the will to carry on, for who really knew what our
future was on this ship. Don't know whether it was the adrenaline or what,
but I was breathtaken at all of the new things I took in along the way. I
couldn't say the same for the other three lads, but wherever we were going, I
was eager to find out.

The Captain took note of this the moment he demanded we take care of the
shit-work around the ship. It wasn't long before the other gnomes were cast
off the deep end of the plank and I was left solely in charge of keeping
everything in tip-top condition. Were I to prove myself, I might one day be
able to earn a spot on the crew that didn't involve a mop and pale. A few
years went by and conditions did not improve for me. Oh, I grew wealthier
every now and then when one of the pirates would grant me a boon from one of
their successful pirating missions, but as far as status was concerned, I
held the shortest straw. One night, while we made port in Seantryn Modan and
the whole crew was asleep, I crept along and took a few necessities and
boarded a small craft and began my journey back west.

I heard picked up a few things along the way, which would ultimately help me
pilot my own ship. I took note of how the Captain studied the weather and
always knew when the seas would grant us favor and when it was going to be a
rough night on deck. To hone my skills though, I would ultimately need to
seek further guidance amongst the forest-dwellers as rumor be told, they know
much about nature and the storms. And its with that in mind, that you find
me, here and now, in and amongst the land lubbers, biding my time and picking
up the necessary skills, and crew, to eventually set sail on my own
adventures.