Hermey The Misfit Gnome
From Istaria Lexica
| Quest type: | Lore |
| From NPC(s): | Hermey Misfit Gnome |
| Locations: | New Koraelia |
| View this quest in the Quest Tree | |
Hermey the Gnome thinks that Gnomekindle is missing an element of class. He asks the players to talk to the classiest race he knows, the Elves.
Quest text[edit]
Hermey tells you, Ah, <player>, Merry Gnomekindle. Well, at least, I suppose it is a merry one to some. I can't see how anyone could really be enjoying themselves in all this silliness. Mayor Clause is trying to pass broken inventions off as presents. And would you believe that someone said they heard about deer that can fly? Silliness, that's all this is.
Hermey raises his nose in the air loftily. He looks toward his fellow gnomes and huffs before continuing..
Hermey tells you, If you ask me, what we gnomes need to do if we are ever to be taken seriously by the other races is to learn from the elves. Now they know how to celebrate. Sophisticated, ceremonious, respectful celebrations. That is what Gnomekindle should be.
Hermey tells you, I've been trying to put together a proposal for future Gnomekindle celebrations that will bring some class to these festivities. Actually, <player>, I could use your help. If you're willing, that is. You see, as a member of the Clause family I am stuck here for the remainder of this year's festival. Even though everyone thinks I am a misfit, and they have even called me so to my face, I still must remain to 'represent the family', my mother says. Would you be willing to travel to Feladan and talk to Quinitin The Wise? He would know of the elven winter celebrations.
Quintin tells you, A gnome wishes to know more of elven traditions? Why ever for? Well, 'tis not worth my concern. I admire his quest for knowledge. Yes, of course I can speak to thee of the ceremonies to welcome the time called winter among the gifted of Istaria. Winter, the season when the world lies dormant, seemingly dead.
Quintin tells you, We call the festival of the winter solstice Alban Alyssa, The Light of Alyssa. Alyssa is the goddess of nature, wife to Galderos, the Lord of the Hunt. Alyssa brings light to our world, changes the seasons, and is the giver of life. As the days grow shorter at the end of the year, it is through prayers to her that she again gives her divine blessing to our world and returns to us the life giving light.
Quintin tells you, 'Twas my great grandfather who taught me the importance of this time of year. The first day of Alban Alyssa is always the shortest day of the year. Sunset on that day marks the death of the old year and rebirth of the new. As such, elves spend the last days of the year in reflection. The celebrations being many days before, however, as villagers from across Istaria begin their journey to Feladan. This portion of the celebration is called Waes-hail.
Quinitin's dry voice cracks and he begins to cough..
Quintin tells you, I am sorry, <player>. I must rest. If you wish to learn more about Waes-hail and the Feast of Alban Alyssa, please, speak to Amad Belune.
Amad tells you, To understand Waes-hail, you must first understand the night of the first feast of Alban Alyssa. Tradition holds that the Feast of Alban Alyssa begins as the final rays of the sun's light leave the land. All who are able come to Feladan for the feast, and before the days of the magical portals, that meant that travel to Feladan would begin a week or more before the night of the feast. Travelers would stop each night in other elven villages where they would be welcomed, and as a gift to their host families, the travelers would sing songs and tell stories around the evening fire. A special drink made from a combination of wine and spices was always served to warm the travelers bodies as well as hearts while the songs were sung, a drink known as waessail. Thus the traditional of Waes-hail, traveling from village to village singing traditional songs and receiving refreshment continues even to this day, though the need to travel long distances has been made easier by the magic portals.
Waessalers know they are welcome in a home by the mistletoe hanging over the door to the home. Xerintha can explain more about that if you wish to know. I should see to Quinn to ensure he is well. Good day, <player>, and may the light of Alyssa bless you.
Xerintha tells you, Why is Mistletoe used as a sign of welcome at Alban Alyssa, you ask? Well, to be truthful, no one is certain. Some believe it is because our ancestors saw it as a gift from Alyssa herself, for the deep green leaves and white fruit stand out in contrast against the bark of the oak trees around which it grows. The fruit appears on the branches only as the days grow longer and colder. The fruit can be poison, but the tender leaves and young twigs can be brewed into a tea which wards against many ills which can occur in the colder months.
Xerintha tells you, There are other, older rituals associated with mistletoe as well, but those are kept secret from youngsters such as myself. I only know that when hung over a door or in a room, it is as a sign that all are to be made welcome. I know that other races in Istaria believe that it is necessary for a kiss to be given to any who stand beneath mistletoe, however this myth comes from greetings exchanged when new guests arrive at the home, not because the guest is beneath mistletoe.
What more have you learned of the Feast of Alban Alyssa? Did you speak to Dibiano about the yule log and the role it plays in the feast? If not, you really should. He tells the tale best.
Dibiano tells you, No one truly knows how many perished in those long, long years. Fathers and mothers would gather their children close to the hearth, huddling together in hopes of keeping the dark away, praying for Alyssa's return. But as the forests were torn down, even hearth fires grew dim at night from lack of fuel. That is until one night, longer ago than any alive can now recall, one brave and faithful lad left the safety of his home in the middle of the darkest, coldest night. The Night of Eternal Dark, the ancestors call it. They believe that on this one night, this one day actually, Alyssa left her people for a full day, never appearing above the mountain tops in the morning as she did every other day. It was during this night that one lad, Yule was his name, went out deep into the forest, fell to his knees and began to pray.
Dibiano tells you, His prayers were ceaseless through the whole of the night and dark of the next day. Over and over he prayed to Alyssa to bring the elves some hope, some source of light to her people that would keep way the undead who plagued them in the long nights. And though many in his village perished that night, no harm came to young Yule as he knelt in the cold snow and prayed..
Dibiano tells you, And so it was the next morning, as the sun rose over the horizon, it touched the ground in front of Yule, melting the snow around him. And Yule lifted his head toward the light, and in a cracked, dry voice, began to sing praises to Alyssa for returning to her people once again. In a sudden burst, the log on which he'd rested his head when his voice grew weak burst into flame. And Yule took up the log, unafraid of the heat which radiated from it, and carried it back to his village as a sign of blessing from Alyssa. He took the log from home to home, relighting the cold hearth fires from that log, causing them to burn bright and warm again, until every hearth in the village was relit.
Dibiano tells you, He told his story to all who would listen. That night, as Alyssa left her people, Yule's log glowed brightly in the hearth of his home. And throughout the village people sang songs of praise to Alyssa for returning after the Night of Eternal Darkness. The most astounding part of all, though, was that there was not one attack from the undead horde that night. Or for many nights thereafter. And the fires lit by Yule's log continued to burn bright and strong throughout the cold winter nights.
And so it is that each year as we open the Feast of Alban Alyssa, the heart of the Yule Log from the past year is rekindled, and elves from all around come with cold torches, touching them to the Yule Log before returning to their homes to relight their hearth fire, and welcome in a new year of Alyssa's blessing of light to the home.
Dibiano smiles warmly at you as his story draws to a close..
Dibiano tells you, So, young Saris, is there more you wish to know about Alban Alyssa? Or do you think that your friend Hermey will have learned enough from what you have heard so far? Yes, do not be surprised. We all heard of why you were in our village, and welcomed you to hear our stories and our traditions. It is good that the gnomes are celebrating their own holiday. We just hope that you will tell Hermey that he and his kind must develop their own traditions based on their faith and belief, for ours are well founded and grounded in our own.
Hermey tells you, Well, well, I suppose he's right. I suppose we will have to make Gnomekindle fit with gnomish traditions. But I still think some things, like flying deer, are just plain silly. In any case, <player>, you should still be rewarded for your time. Here, it is not much, but take this coin and a token. I've heard they are useful for exchanging with Dolly for Gnomekindle costumes and goods.
Hermey listens intently as you share with him all you learned..
You have received 2 Istarian Express Check.
Steps[edit]
- Talk to Hermey
- Travel to Feladan and talk to Quintin The Elder to learn about the origins of Alban Alyssa.
- Wait for Quintin to catch his breath.
- Learn why the elves travel from village to village singing from Amad Belune in Feladan.
- Learn about the traditions behind Mistletoe from Xerintha in Feladan.
- Learn about the traditions behind the yule log from Dibiano Allorni in Feladan.
- Talk to Dibiano Allorni.
- Return to Hermey and tell him of what you learned. Be sure to deliver Dibiano's message that the gnomes will develop their own traditions over the years and do not need elven ones to make Gnomekindle special.
Rewards[edit]
- Money: 1s
- Reward: Istarian Express Check
