Origin of Thistleport and the Gnomish Caravans

The Founding of Gnomish Caravans

The founder of the Gnomish Caravans is Gwenipa Thistle. She was a young “master crafter.” Her husband Ganu ran the business, but poorly. He lacked a work ethic and spent all his time in the local taverns with his cronies drinking and pretending to solve all the Wold’s problems. Gwenipa had 6 children and from a young age she taught them the skills she had mastered. When they were older, she apprenticed them to other craftsmen so they had skills in more than one area.

When the opportunity came to increase trade with the dwarves in produce and other gnomish products, Ganu and his cronies were lazy seeing only the problems and extra work of such a venture. So Gwenipa decided she would start her own trading company. Ganu objected strongly to this and forbade her from doing so, so she tossed him out on his ear (which is a real thing with gnomes). She and her children were willing to take the risks needed to succeed in the dangerous mountains of The Scab.

She indeed took great risks, expanding both the wagon building and the dangerous trading portions of her business, hiring those brave enough to face the dangers. There were obvious risks, both financially and to the traders themselves on the dangerous roads of the Scab. A compound was built. She hired the most brave and would pay her traders a bonus when a wagon was attacked by monsters or giants. She set up a “command structure, ” offering higher salaries and responsibility to employees who continuously made successful runs or had the knack of facing danger and returning. Her generically named “Gnomish Caravans” began trading produce of the gnomish farmers to the most accessible of the clans in the western ranges of The Scab. It took some time for her company to catch on even when using every tried and true tactic that gnomes have used since the beginning of time.

During this “start up venture,” Ganu and his cronies fussed and railed against Gwenipa and her venture. Then, when that didn’t work, they began to scheme. Vandalism began to regularly occur to Gwenipa’s wagons. This began with things like wagon axles being damaged, traps being set on the main trail leading up into the mountains etc.

It wasn’t hard to find the culprits: Ganu and his cronies. She and some of her workers accosted them in the tavern and left them with black eyes, bruises, and cuts from wine bottles on their heads. The vandalism stopped…for a short time. Then about a week later in the dark of night, the newly completed compound of the Gnomish Caravans Co. was set on fire. The fire spread on this windy night, burning down the entire community! Other fires had been started at some of the houses of Gwenipa’s employees. Mages were even hired to start crop fires in the fields of those selling goods to Gwenipa to be traded.

Ganu and his cronies were caught in the act by two of Gwenipa’s older children at their old family workshop. A posse was formed by Gwenipa’s daughter Rexie who was a deputy in the area. Ganu, his cronies, and the mages he hired, were arrested, tried, and hanged.

The Founding of Thistleport

Gwenipa was beside herself with anger and regret, apologizing to everyone for her ambition. However, no one would let her blame herself for this. They said, “Let the blame lie with the evil ones who did this.” She rued the day that she started the business, but her children rallied for her and Rexie, her eldest, suggested that a new location with new possibilities was called for. She brought to her mother one of the wagon masters, a halfling named Roskin Brushfoot, who told her of a place with fertile fields with rich volcanic soil to grow their produce. Their business would also be in a more central location on the north shore of the fabled Dragon Bay just south of the central ranges of The Scab. It had access to points east and west. Being a harbor, boats could come and go as well, increasing the variety and amounts of goods they could trade with the dwarves. He suggested that they simply up and move! “No one seems to own the place.” Gwenipa along with her partners and children formed the first “gnomish caravan” of multiple wagons to go check out the location. It was in the perfect spot! They would not be limited to just the Scab and with the Dragon Nation gone, Dragon Bay was relatively a safe body of water for trade ships.

The initial buildings of the town were completed within a year and a great celebration was held. All the dwarven clans were invited and some trade ships came from South Harbor of New Elenna to check out the possibilities. At the ceremony, everyone called for a speech and Gwenipa proudly stood before them and instead of a speech, read the names of everyone that had helped with the move, ending with those who did not survive the fires of the attack. A spontaneous song of praise to Wardd, was sung with gusto by all.

Then Rexie stood and said that the children of the new town had been asked to name it as part of their schooling. All were to practice their penmanship and suggest what they thought the name of the town should be. With tears in her eyes, Rexie said that there were many suggestions, but that most seemed to follow a common theme. She looked at her mom and said, “The name of our new town will be…Thistleport!!!” The cheering lasted and lasted.

Thistleport Prospers

Everything in Thistleport was in place and prospering within a few years. A cave system was discovered within one of the nearby mountain caves that was large enough to be of use. With the help of Clan Grimrock, they dug it out and shaped it, transforming it into the Gnomish Caravan Wainwright Facility.

A warehouse barn was built in Thistleport for goods coming and going. A wharf was constructed so that ships could line up alongside to load and unload. Two ships were purchased to initiate trade with nearby ports, however, the plan was to encourage traders from other places to come here to buy and sell. They would keep their emphasis on the Gnomish Caravans and not run a fleet of trading ships.

Increasing trade with the dwarf clans became the emphasis and goal of the Gnome Caravans. They worked to increase the dwarf clans’ dependence upon the Gnomish Caravans. Whereas the forming and planning of the Gnomish Caravans happened relatively quickly, trade with the hesitant dwarves proved to be a very trying ordeal. Most dwarves give their trust completely, but it comes slowly and has to be earned, not manipulated. And that was the problem: manipulation was a staple part of trade in gnomish culture. So in the beginning, the gnomes were sending gifts and treats for the dwarven children, and invitations to come see their facilities. The Gnomish Caravans became frustrated at their lack of immediate success.

The dwarves would shake their heads but the gnomes were frustrated at their lack of growth. Gwenipa sent an invitation to the chiefs of the major clans inviting them to Thistleport to meet and see their facilities--to see with their own eyes what the Gnomish Caravans had to offer. All either ignored the invitation or politely declined.

Finally the chief of Clan Mountainheart invited Gwenipa to bring her family and come to Mountainheart Stronghold for an audience. Gwenipa’s company board acted a bit like dwarves saying, “We invited him and he refused. Now he wants us to come? An audience implies we are inferior to him! How dare he! Who does he think we are?”

But Dulian, Gwenipa’s youngest son who was twelve said, “Mom, we don’t know why trade with the dwarves hasn’t worked better. We don’t know why they don’t want to trade with us. It seems obvious that they really need us and that we can help them. But it also seems that they don’t trust us. We keep hearing things like, “They have not earned our trust.” Some of the caravan masters have been told that we have no honor. If we want to understand them, I think we’d better go and visit them.”

Gwenipa thought about it and slowly nodded. “If we’re going, I am going with all my children. They need to see what “Gnomish honor” is all about. So all 6 children packed, loaded wagons with the usual trade items and gifts and took off for Mountainheart Stronghold.

Gnomes in Mountainheart Stronghold

Gwenipa got to experience a bit of what can happen to one of her trading caravans on the way through the eastern Scab as some stone giants hurled boulders at them. One of the four wagons was hit and destroyed. The driver and lookout for that wagon were both killed. The driver of the wagon she was on had to hold her down to keep her from hopping out to go get the bodies.

When they arrived at Clan Mountainheart, they were welcomed and given rooms near the Clan Leader’s quarters. The next day, Gwenipa went before the Clan Leader in his throne room and presented him with a sampling of trade goods from their people: fresh and dried fruits and nuts, grain, and an assortment of gnomish magical aids and gadgets such as ink pens that didn’t run out, potions of varying sorts, etc. The Clan Leader accepted these graciously and set them aside.

He then turned to her and stood watching her intently for several minutes. Finally he spoke. “I am Clan Leader Gwalin Sternbough. Welcome to our stronghold, our home.” He paused, scrutinizing the gnomish contingent. “We did not expect you to come.” He paused again and looked at each of his council members. “The consensus of my council is that you are just interested in lining your pockets with gold pieces. That you are….greedy. That you care not for the security of The Scab or the dwarven clans. But you are here and both our peoples will see what we will see. Hopefully that will be the truth, for the sake of both your town and my stronghold.”

The Wisdom of a Child

“So we are curious. Why did you decide to come?”

She started to answer immediately, but something stopped her. Instead she watched him and thought. Eventually, she motioned for Dulian to approach her. He hesitated then came to stand by his mom, obviously nervous. After freezing there for a moment, the young boy bowed before the chief, watching him with his eyes. After a good minute he stood again and waited silently. A rumbling of dwarven throats grunted approval.

Watching the chief for what to say and how to act, Gwenipa turned to her son and said, “Tell him what you told me, Dulian.”

He gave her a look of fear, but she nodded and stood behind him, her hands on his shoulders. After a few seconds, Dulian took a step forward and said, “My exact words to my mother were as follows:

“Mom, we don’t know why trade with the dwarves hasn’t been quickly successful. It seems clear to me--to us that they really need us and that we can help them. But we need them too. Dwarves have honor. It’s kinda their thing. We believe in fairness, in working together, and in trade.

The chief blinked and took a step back. He then stared down his advisors and turned to Gwenipa, “So is fairness your most important belief?”

Gwenipa answered, “It is one of our core beliefs. Responsibility is another. All our children learn a craft or trade so that they may provide for their future mate and family when they become adults. An “honorable” gnome in Thistleport looks at these qualities when considering all relationships personal and in business. ‘Will they do business with this person? Will they be friends with this person? Will they marry this person?’”

Chief Gwalin nodded. “It seems, esteemed councilmen, that we have the same core beliefs, but perhaps put greater emphasis on different things. When we say the word “honor,” do we not consider fairness and skill as part of that concept? We are more similar than you would have me think.”

He paused to give his advisors a stern look and his council squirmed a bit. Gwalin’s council had evidently been advising against inviting Gwenipa to visit Clan Mountainheart.

Then he smiled fiercely at his top advisor who noticeably blanched and then the chief turned to the boy, going down on one knee to put him at Dulian’s level.

“Master Dulian, I discern wisdom in your words. Your mother has taught you well. How would you suggest that we proceed.”

The chief advisor stood and protested, but Sternbough cut him off with a shout. “Leave me. You bring dishonor to our clan in front of guests.” The advisor stomped out.

“Please accept my apology on behalf of my FORMER chief advisor, young Dulian and proceed.”

Dulian swallowed hard and thought for a time. Bowing again, in nervousness, he continued. “Your clan has great honor and has made a great stronghold that will last forever. Our family has had to suffer my father’s treachery. Our settlement and many farms around it were burned ruining our lives. There is much we can learn from you.”

He paused, planning his words and glancing at Gwenipa. She said softly, “Do you remember when we talked last week about strategy in business? The chief is teaching you a master class in the use of strategy even now. Speak your mind, but carefully.

Dulian swallowed and said, “Our clan are very good farmers and know how to enrich the soil. We know how to improve our lives and develop tools to aid in that. This is not different from your skill in forging weapons and tools or your expert knowledge in mining and warfare.

“Yet our cultures are…different. Your noble people like the old ways, which is good. It builds discipline in your young and gives them a sense of pride. Great honor comes from this.

“Our culture respects new ways. We invent, try new methods, and embrace change quickly. Anyone who cannot adapt falls behind and does not earn respect among our kind.”

The Chief’s counsel began to grumble agreeing with the lad, but not hearing him. The chief silenced them with a look. The boy receiving a nod from the chief continued.

“We love the same things, just differently and it’s easy for us to….not like what we do not understand. Yet there are some of our people and some of yours that are not interested in learning about the other. They do not understand how we will both be better because we have learned from each other. Each of our peoples need help from the other. Our people need to learn to respect our older folk and the old ways they have learned in their life. Your people need the trade goods we can provide as well as…”

“Well done son.” Gwenipa spoke beaming with pride. “I’ll take it from here.”

Gwenipa faced the dwarven council, then walked over to the hammer of one of the advisors and then to the splitting maul of the chief that had a hammer AND a blade on opposite sides and examined both. “At some point in your glorious history, a craftsman had to invent your weapon. My guess is that it was not initially accepted as a good thing. It likely took generations of use before it was accepted with the new battle tactics needed to effectively use it. Your culture does change. Things are invented. We are different, yet in ways we are the same.”

Gwenipa stepped back to stand among her children. “I propose that my family spend the winter here with your clan.” The council began to talk and argue as if the Gnomes were not even there. Then they realized what they were doing and instantly stopped. Gwenipa ignored it as if it had not happened and continued.

“We want to learn your ways. This is the only way we can learn to respect each other. If my sons and daughters cannot rise to your standards, we shall leave in peace at the chief’s request. However, know that there will be mistakes. There will be misunderstandings. But we will learn about each other. I too will do this. I will learn a craft. With your blessing I will sit in on your council meetings and with those who make your daily decisions for the clan.”

Unexpected Romance

And so it began. Each of Gwenipa’s children were placed in a craft with dwarven children. And the winter was full of chaos for both the dwarves and the gnomes as they learned about each other. The gnomes were frustrated with the dwarves and their “set in stone” ways. The dwarves were frustrated with how the gnomes wanted to tinker and improve everything. But they did learn to trust each other more with time. Some of Gwenipa’s children eventually moved in with dwarven families and were going to remain to finish learning their craft..

Then the unexpected happened. To the consternation of Chief Sternbough and the Dwarven Council, Rexie and Sternbough’s oldest grandson Tumol fell in love. The two requested an audience with both Chief Sternbough and Gwenipa stating that they had “a discovery” to share with them. Now it is important to understand that in old dwarven tradition when dwarves marry, the wife does the choosing. But the wife then leaves her family to join the family of her husband who crafts the couple a home or delving within the stronghold. But Tumol was the son of a chief, which meant that only a daughter of a prominent dwarven family could propose marriage.

Nonetheless, Rexie stood before Sternbough, Gwenipa, the council, and the High priest of Domi with Tumol at her side and boldly stated that she intended to make Tumol her mate. She didn’t exactly “ask” Chief Sternbough for permission to ask Tumol to marry her. She had already spoken to the Clan Priest in the temple of Domi and declared her intentions to him there.

When Sternbough just stared at her dumbfounded, Rexie shrugged. “I guess that’s good enough sir. You didn’t strike me down.”

Tumol turned to Rexie and said he had prayed to Domi that Rexie would ask to marry him. Turning to Gwenipa he said very strongly, “I accept your daughter as my wife, but I know that in your culture the male asks the female’s father for permission to marry. Rexie’s father is deceased so I ask you for your permission to create a home for us here AND in Thistleport.” Gwenipa answered him with a huge hug, totally embarrassing the dwarf. He then produced a very large chain-mail link saying that this was all he had for a ring at the moment and dropped to one knee. “Rexie, you are the most sturdy, brave, and honorable woman I’ve ever met. I am in love with you and accept your proposal. Will you share my lodgings as my wife?

Rexie strongly said, “Yes!” with a loud voice that boomed through the cavern and bodily lifted him off the ground and kissed him. “There!”

Chief Sternbough, still in shock, just stood there. Sternbough’s wife, laughing at him, said, “Say something Sternie, you did this same thing when I asked you to marry me!” There was muffled laughter all around and several councilmen whispered, “Sternie?” But it took only a glance from the chief to stop that nonsense. He shook himself and then gave Rexie a huge bearhug, “Our families are entwined forever.” The wedding was held in the Temple of Domi and there was much feasting and a “competition of skill” was declared in honor of the joining.

Again, when dwarves marry, the wife does the choosing. But the wife leaves her family and joins the family of her husband. At this time, each of Gwenipa’s children had been staying with a different dwarven family. They left their hosts and worked with Sternbough and his family to carve out a new family hall to be named Tumol Hall. Because this took time, Gwenipa’s family stayed with Clan Mountainheart for over a year.

When completed, the goodbyes were said and Gwenipa’s family left for home with a full honor guard of 3 squads to accompany them. Tumol and Rexie returned with Gwenipa’s family to Thistleport and on this return trip, the caravan was not bothered by any pesky giants.

In Thistleport, a second wedding was held and there was not a dry eye in the place after Tumol presented Rexie with a magical ring that glowed in the dark. Rexie also gave Tumol a ring that would occasionally speak in Rexie’s voice, “This is my husband. Keep your hands off.” The Gnomes loved the idea and it became the new trend. Another house was built for the couple here in gnomish fashion, but it did have a stone basement smithy for Tumol’s forge--a wedding present from his grandfather, Sternbough.

Giant Attacks Lead to a Solution

Trade between Thistleport and Clan Mountainheart flourished. There were still trade items brought to the dwarves that they laughed at, but they would then turn with a somber expression and honestly state that they were not interested in this item at this time. The gnomes would then bow and not offer that item again. More than once, a refused item was later requested by the dwarves as the value of the trade item “grew” upon them.

The other dwarf clans were still hesitant and some did not approve of the wedding between a gnome and a Chieftain’s son. However, similar visits were made to each clan, sending some of the young people from Thistleport to spend a year in apprenticeship with a dwarf clan to learn their ways. Most of the time this proved helpful and trade increased.

Increased trade, however, started to become its own problem as giant attacks on the caravans began to increase. Several methods of “defense and avoidance” were tried by the caravans. They sent along gnomish adventurers to guard the caravans. They left gifts for the giants near their known tribal locations. They even tried trading with the giants, making oversized rings, gadgets as well as various types of produce to see what the giants would like. It turned out that extremely sour cherry pies was the winning choice. Yet, none of these solutions solved the ever-growing giant threat.

After an especially vicious attack, some gnome adventurers went back to the site to recover the bodies and found the giants had built a campfire of the wagons and were getting drunk on sour cherry pie and sour beer. The bodies were stacked nearby in a pile. When the giants fell into drunken sleep, the rogue used his ring of invisibility to carry off the bodies of the slain gnomes, without the giants noticing in their drunk-laden sleep. The typically obvious fighter of the group said, “We should just make the whole gnomish wagon invisible.” The rest of the group just stared at each other in amazement that no one had thought of that before.

By the time they returned with the bodies of the slain to Thistleport, they had thought out the beginnings of what became the answer to the giant attacks and presented it to Gwenipa. The concept was greatly improved over the years. Magic was the solution. The wagons were enchanted to move quietly. The speed of the wagons was increased. All tracks were erased. No trace of wind could be heard when a caravan passed by.

Trap detectors came next. Onboard casters were added to renew spells on longer routes and to replace the failing or dispelled protections. And although none of these strategies has ever proven to be perfect, things are much safer than they used to be.

Near each major clan hold, there is now a hidden/secret repair center with a small staff to aid the Gnomish Caravan with needed repairs. Repair centers are also situated at a few other locations. One, for example, is near the Stone Festival location.

The relationship between dwarvenkind and the traders of Thistleport constantly changes as most things do when cultures are different, especially since the gnomish culture tends to evolve at a much faster pace than that of dwarves.