Mercarsnel the Gnome.

Mercarsnel worked, he worked hard. He ran the ruff center of Mernac, with his lovely wife of course. Mercarsnels wardrobe consisted of similar garment. All made from the ruff of the inhabitants of Mernac. His hat was the cast of sock, of some smelly giant. It was brown and had a profusion of furry bits sticking out of it hither and tither. His jacket, used to belong to one of the Fae, it still faintly glowed with gossamer threads. It also afforded him, with the ability to hide. When out on his rounds, collecting what was dropped or lost. The breaches were his pride and joy. They along with his knee high boots. His breeches were made from the leatherwood tree, but the bonus was that the leatherwood had already been broken in and judging by the size of the jerkin that he’d found. It used to belong to an Ogre. Needless to say; his boots were made of the same material and his wife had worked hard making him several pairs of breeches and boots.

Mercarsnels, beady eyes were so far sighted that he could see the glitter of a button leagues away. His nose, though bulbous, did not work so well. It was an occupational hazard, but it never bothered him. His cheeks always appeared to be rosy red. But only from the exertions of his travels. His ginger hair was what had attracted his love. It hung down his back, in a heavy plait. Even his beard and moustache were plaited. His moustache hung to just above his heart and his beard hung to his over indulged belly. His stubby fingers and hands remained unadorned, but near pitch in colour. It could be said that Mercarsnels, was a grubby little Gnome. But again it was an occupational hazard and besides he thought “I smelled worse in Mernac!”

Being the enterprising little Gnome that he was and from being taught to be that way. Mercarsnel was in his own eyes rich beyond compare within the Gnome community. Though not many visited him and his wife; it had been that way for all of his life. Mercarsnel had inherited the business from his Father. Gorisnel and he had inherited it from his father. And so the story went way back in time. Going by the Legends of Mernac, Mernac custom resource and Trumpery had been in his family for many seasons. Though the Legend was a little cloudy, Mercarsnel was more than proud to tell the tale and of course embellish on it with his own brand of humour.

©FI/ND/Botr 2006