An Odd Customer

 
The Gnomes of Nismurflind love gossip, but on this day the rumors were flying with uncommon speed. Many wild tales were making their way around the taverns, but one was in fact true; just the day before, a human stranger had arrived at the gates and asked the way to the Airship Yards. It is not all that uncommon for wealthy foreigners to visit the Yards, but this one was very odd indeed; for one thing, nobody was quite sure how he had come to Nismurflind in the first place. Nobody at the Pilots' Guild recalled taking him as an airship passenger, nor had any strangers been spotted recently on the rivers, lakes or roads near the city. Furthermore, he had no henchmen or servants of any kind, not even a pack goat!, and still he looked as clean and refreshed as the most pampered nobleman. The only explanation left was magic, which many took to mean he was up to no good.

Nevertheless, even a suspicious customer is still a customer, especially if he brings a big bag of valuable gems, as the human visitor did. To the delight of the shipbuilders, the visitor placed an enormous order of seven ships, five as large as any craft the Yards had ever built, and two that were a full ten yards longer. If there were any doubts about the visitor's credibility, they vanished when he paid the full commission up front; the man didn't even haggle! Already, eagle messengers were on their way to distant gnome villages to recruit additional workers for the project.

On the day he planned to leave, the mysterious visitor paid a visit to a place he should not even know existed -- the Twisted Spire, from which the Illusionists' Guild rules Nismurflind in secret. Though none had any memory of the man, he marched directly to the Hidden Gate and asked for admittance as if he were an old friend. "I am Duramon ... at my request, please summon the guildmasters to the Great Hall of Mirrors, I wish to address them there." As he strode through the illusionary stone wall that covered the gate, the guards were so awestruck that they dared not contest him. Of course, word immediately reached the guildmasters, who hurriedly agreed to meet the stranger, more out of curiosity than any desire to accommodate his wishes.

Once the guildmasters had assembled, Duramon stepped forward to the center of the great hall and began to speak, his voice booming across the hall with unnatural force. "It has been many years since last I came to your fair town, and I see you have made great improvements since that time; I hope your power has grown enough that you can aid me in this time of need." "When have you come to Nismurflind? No one here knows you, not even the elders ... we have reason to doubt you." Duramon sighed, "Yes, it was at least five of your generations that have passed since then, I forget myself. Nevertheless, I must make this request; though I cannot speak of all that is afoot, let me say that your aid is greatly needed, both by me and many others of good faith throughout Kumul ... and beyond. You know that I have commissioned a fleet of airships in your city. I come to you, master illusionists, to request that you enchant this fleet with your strongest spells of concealment -- strong enough that even magical beings with the True Sight cannot see them." The elder guildmaster was flabbergasted, "Impossible! The material components alone would empty our treasure vault, and even with every apprentice in the Spire working day and night, it would take years to weave such a massive enchantment. You are mad, stranger ... and what audacity you have to make such a grandiose request, when none of us can even verify who you are!"

Again, Duramon sighed with disappointment, "then I see I must reveal myself to you". Duramon's form shimmered, then burst forth in a bright, golden light; when the gnomes' vision returned, they saw before them an enormous gold dragon. From his size, he must be very ancient ... the younger gnomes fled in terror, but the elders remained, though visibly shaken. "My lord, forgive my insolence", said the eldest, "surely now we know you can be trusted, but still it will be most difficult to meet your request." "I take no offense, my small friends" replied Duramon "and I do understand the difficulty of what I ask, but know that if I and my allies fail in our current endeavors, peril will come to Nismfurflind as well. Please, accept my offer for your own sake if nothing else ... I will provide whatever treasure and protection is required" "Yes my lord," replied the elder, "we shall begin at once..."