Quoted By:
With both hands and an immense effort... how much easier this would have been if you had your old size and strength, eventually after a fair amount of time and exhausting yourself, you manage to drag the vehicle the rest of the way from the riverbed and hauled behind you onto the shore. Setting it down with a huge clunk so that you can collapse and sit against it, panting for breath.
As it had been that the gnomes believed they were doomed, it takes them awhile to try and figure out what's going on. Slowly but surely though they stop fleeing at least, and start to cautiously return. Peeking out from the trees or the river shallows, to see the troll "monster" having rescued their machine and not eaten anyone. Though they remain suspicious of you, they're not about to refuse this boon that you've brought upon them.
<span class="mu-i">"Uhm, well-ne... troll, perhaps we ought to thank ye for yer help-te?"</span>
<span class="mu-g">"What are gnomies do-ing here? Get-ting stuck in the riv-ver?"</span>
<span class="mu-i">"Ooh? An intelligent troll are ye-ke?"</span>
Though they remain even more nervous around you than the humans ever were, the gnomes waste no time in benefiting of the help you provided to see their vehicle returned to working order, while a few linger about to watch you with fear and awe. It seems they know as little about trolls as you know about gnomes. You even get your finger shook by one of them in thanks, and while no apology is offered for shooting you they are willing to talk to you while you remain to catch your breath once more.
From what you can understand though, they were merely passing through the area (safer underground so they don't get attacked) when some sort of magical interference in the area caused malfunctions in their machine. They attempted to surface and merely had the bad luck of doing so in a river. Since they were only trying to travel through the area the gnomes were unaware of any settlements or what the situation is on the surface, but at your indication and offer, they are open to the idea of seeking out the local human town for possible trade. The malfunction mishap cost them some supplies so they could do with the extra trade rather than trying to hope and forage what they can from the wild.
For all your help provided then, they grant you a distinctive red cap... normally reserved for their leaders, although it's far too small to be able to wear it. As well, they offer you some gnomish device of your choosing. Not really why you bothered to do any of this, and really you'd prefer some healing help against their attacks, but it's better than nothing you suppose.
Odd little encounter with odd little folk, before you're on your way again towards the real challenge.
---
