A Colorful Story
This tale draws its inspiration from an old Aboriginal story. While it has been modified to better fit the DragonLance setting, we hope that you find that the writer has managed to keep its essence intact. For it is this refreshingly different type of story that gives it such uniquity and, we feel, makes it truly a wonderful piece.
Once, upon the Age of Dreams, there was a guild of Gnomes. What they called themselves would sound long and strange to our ears now, but we shall call them the gearmaker guild, and they lived together in joyous productivity. However, friend, there was one who stood out. Hydro had come into the factory one evening, while the guildmembers were resting after a hard days work, and singing a merry song. The guild always enjoyed having guests, and Hydro was no exception, being quite exuberant in chiming in and singing right along. Yet, Hydro was different from the others. He was quite fidgety, and oft moved from foot to foot, and his features were sharper than the other gnomes, and while he was a man, his face looked young, as young even as some of the children. But Hydro was good-natured and very enthusiastic, and was quickly beloved by the others, and soon became a member of the guild.
That might have been the end of our story, dear listener, but that was not to be. For Hydro was often sad as he worked along his friends in the guild. He looked about himself and thought, "This place is so uncompromisingly drab. Everywhere you look, you see only browns and reds... in the rocks, in our clothes, in everything around us. I want to repay the guild, for taking me in. I wish to bring to them all the beautiful colors of the outside world." But Hydro was dismayed, for though he often pondered on how he could achieve his wish, though he truly felt grateful for the kindness shown to him by the guild, he could not think of a way. Oh, to dress in the lush greens of elven forests, to sparkle with the silver and gold of the majestic dragons he had once seen fly overhead so long ago. Hydro consulted the Foreman, the wisest of the wise, and as he told her of his problem, she listened and nodded. And when he was done, she gently smiled.
"If color is truly your desire, young gnome, then an ancient gem is what you must seek. Deep in the caverns near this very factory lies the gem, and stories tell that inside lies a god, who lies in a deep slumber. If you had this gem you might ask the god, and he might share his colors with you, but mark well what I say, young one, for this god does not like to be disturbed!"
Hydro thanked the Foreman most jubilantly, and promised that he would take heed, for his mind had already been set on leaving that very day to the caverns, before the factory lights were dimmed, and the blind stirges came out to feed. He collected a few belongings to take with him on his adventure. A belt of pouches to store what he'd need, and a sling stick, and a tethered whip, in case he ran into any Carrion Crawlers, or Burrowing Worms.
The lights were starting to dim as Hydro neared the deep caverns. He could hear the skittering legs of the Carrion Crawlers, and the grinding noises of the Burrowing Worms as they chewed. The caverns were long and foreboding, and Hydro missed the guild, but he went on, impervious to the fear of what might lay inside. After quite a long time travelling through the caverns, Hydro found an open room, covered in dust and debris, forgotten by time. In this room, he found a pipe, and being curious, he dusted it off, and blew into it, but it was clogged. He blew as hard as he could, and much to his surprise, out popped a small gem. He picked up the gem in wonder, mists swirled around endlessly inside of it as he watched, on and on and on. After a while, it made him quite dizzy, so he put it safely in a pouch and lay down, tired from his journey, and fell asleep in the cave.
In the morning he awoke, and the familiar factory lights helped guide him back home. The guild cheered to see him in celebration, for they had been quite worried for their friend. He told them the story of his journey, and the guild was quite surprised, for they had heard stories passed down that said that the gem had long ago been destroyed. So Hydro took it out, and held it up so that all could see the wonderful gem, but it was his turn to be surprised, for suddenly they all backed away.
"Don't do it, Hydro!", the other gnomes implored him. "The god inside doesn't like to be disturbed!"
But the warning had come far too late, the gem had slipped from his grasp. And even as he cried the word, "Oops!", the gem hit the ground with a deafening crack. The others knew well what it meant when Hydro yelled "Oops!", they had heard it many times before then, and they all immediately grabbed their weapons and armor, and ran away for distance and safety. The mists poured out of the gem, swirling feverishly, engulfing the area, and as they dissipated, towering far above Hydro was the god. Hydro stared at the god in awe, for as he did, the god swirled with colors. He was the green of the beautiful vibrant forests, the silver and gold of the magnificent great dragons. He was all these many colors and so very many more. He walked closer to the god, though the god growled in annoyance, and he called out to him, and asked him to share all his glorious colors.
The god roared in fury, for it hadn't wished to be disturbed. He grabbed Hydro up in a monstrous claw, and began to squeeze. Hydro could feel his body begin to constrict, becoming thinner and thinner, yet he remained unafraid. The guild saw what was happening, and were afraid that the god might eat their dear friend, or dash him on the rocks below, so they ran out and charged the god, fearless too in their efforts to save him. The god bellowed, even more angered and annoyed, and the force of his yell sent the gnomes tumbling to the ground. With an irritated snort, he dropped the brave, steadfast, courageous, honest young Hydro roughly to the ground. The gnomes all ran over to help him, but stopped and laughed as he got up, unharmed. For where the god had clutched him so tight, his clothes had turned to all the magnificent colors of the world, all he had imagined and more. The guild celebrated again, and Hydro was once more happy. He had brought color and wonder to the guild, and with their blessings, he traveled to bring it to many others as well. Many gnomes were touched by his vision, and those that were became more like him, in body and mind. After time they became known as Kender, and they traveled far and wide, to spread their bright colors and their cheer.
And kender remain colorful, even to this very day.
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