Hollows Last Hope Part II 'Darkmoon Vale':
Nomerendal had gathered his pole and while they were walking back to the herbalist's shop, he was entirely considering just a brief stop in order to settle his curiosity about the bundles, and then heading toward the river. Much of his day had already been wasted with the excitement, and his fishing and his napping had been seriously cut into. When Laurel tasked them with the recovery of certain ingredients, Nom was about to bow out, he had every intention of doing so for any number of excuses came to mind. He had a bit of practice for tonight's show at Jak'a'napes,.. as well as some other things... yes, plenty that required his attention elsewhere.
But if it was the glare from Arell, or some compelling and ongoing sense of curiosity, Nomerendl grudgingly agreed to accompany them. "As long as we're not gone long, I don't want to miss anyone passing through. Just so we all understand..."
The little gnome returned to his small room and was about to flop himself on his cot, a bit overwhelmed by the thought of having to pack and prepare things for what would likely be an interesting but uncomfortable outing, when he paused to look upon his adventuring pack all ready by the door. "Well, I suppose I could take you along, though this is something far short of the adventures you'll one day see, it might be a good idea to break you in a bit so that you're ready when something exciting comes our way!" Nom said to his pack.
He grabbed a few odds and ends, stuffing them into his pockets and grabbed his pack with a sigh. "Someday, I just know it. Someday adventure will find us! But until then, I suppose we'd best help out the town and go for a bit of a hike. I just hope we don't miss our big chance while we're away!"
~~~
As he trudged back up the street to meet the others, he felt a strange elation as people took notice of him. Some waved hopefully, others gave words of encouragement and gratitude. It was as if he were going on some great quest in a story! Just going with Arell and the others to fetch a few ingredients, he thought to himself. It's not like I'm going to save the world or anything! Ha!
The small pack carried well. To it, he'd strapped his fishing pole - just in case - and he carried a walking stick. At his waist was a very new-looking shortsword that he'd brought along simply to get it roughed up a bit so as to not look quite so fresh. A quiver of arrows hung across one hip, and his shortbow was slung across his shoulders as he'd seen some elven rangers carry theirs when they'd passed through town a year or more ago. His clothes were covered by a set of hand-me-down leathers he'd traded stories and songs for, including the alterations to make them fit his small stature, with a local tanner.
He looked eager, munching occasionally on some of the now baked bread he'd stolen dough for earlier in the day, and was even humming the tune to a ballad about real adventure, trying to keep a straight face as he thought about their little outing compared to a truly heroic undertaking like the one in his song...
"Well then, I suppose I'm ready, but just remember I need to get back as quickly as possible. I don't want to miss adventure should it pass through town while I'm out collecting... whatever it is we're after!"