Goal 1:
*On a calm, quiet day in the realm...*
Gemma: Hey Ruler!
Ruler: Gemma! I feel like I haven't seen you in a while.
Gemma: Oh yeah, I've been busy... Lots of training, lots of learning, lots of studying.
Ruler: Really?
Gemma: Well, sort of! I have been practicing to be a knight! I do want to be a knight. But I also picked up some part time jobs just to earn a little coin here and there. I started delivering the mail, for example. That's a noble task for a knight.
Ruler: I haven't gotten any mail in a long time...
Gemma: Oh, right I knew there was something I forgot to do! I'd better go start delivering those letters now... Unless you've got some time to help me? We'll get it done a lot faster if we each take one half of the realm!
Goal 2:
Old Thomas: Good new, Young Ruler! Gimble says the Gnomish Mine is flourishing. The rescued gnomes have helped turn the operation around.
Ruler: That's wonderful to hear.
Old Thomas: However... There does seem to be a special request from the gnomes.
Ruler: Is something wrong?
Old Thomas: Gimble makes mention of a great mystery, an ancient legend deep within the mine, perhaps connected to some of the ill signs we saw in our last venture to the Gnomish Plains. He says that he wishes for our council on these matters, and he requests a flavor of us!
Ruler: A flavor? What does that mean?
Old Thomas: Oh! Oh dear. The writing says favor, not flavor. I am afraid I need to practice up on my Gnomish translation s****s!
Goal 3:
Ruler: Is everything all right in the mines, Gimble?
Gimble: Mostly! Ever since ya helped free my kin, th' mine has been more productive than ever! It's just... We're about to go deeper in the mine that we've ever gone. When th' gnomes were lost the first time, twas in a terrible accident, and it happened not far from where we're digging now. I'd be less worried about it if we weren't finding such unusual rocks.
Ruler: Unusual rocks?
Gimble: yap. it's why I decided to ask fer yer help... This is th' deepest darkest part of th' mine and while I've seen a whole lot of rocks, more than any other gnome I'd reckon, I ain't never seen rocks like this. Lemme show you.
Goal 4:
Old Thomas: Oh my... Oh my word! What an incredible discovery! A truly inspiring sight!
Ruler: What is it, Old Thomas?
Old Thomas: These hot stones Gimble gave us... They are not stones!
Ruler: They're not?
Old Thomas: No, they are not! They are seeds!
Ruler: Seeds? From a rock?!
Old Thomas: Those geode rocks were more tan just rocks... they were fossils! These hot little embers must be ancient, placed there eons ago. With the right conditions, I believe these little gems may grow.
Ruler: Are you sure about that?
Old Thomas: There is but one way to find out!
Goal 5:
Gimble: Seeds! Yer telling me these here are seeds from a stone? I'm not sure I believe ya.
Ruler: Thomas thinks they are very very old seeds, but they are indeed seeds. We grew this glowing flower from the bloom embers you gave us. We had to keep it from getting direct sunlight, but it did grow.
Gimble: I ain't known many flowers that didn't need sunshine ta grow... and I've known quite a few flowers! My Poppy likes to grow 'em. Ever since you helped rescue her, she's been spending more time on th' surface. That's another reason I asked fer yer help. Poppy ain't quite been comfortable down in th' mine no more. All that time spent in th' dark has really done a number on her. She's gets real scared thinkin' about it. I jes want her to feel safe! If we brought in some light and explored ta make sure there ain't no danger, maybe my sweet Poppy lass might come down ta th' mines with me again.
Ruler: Well, it's perfect then that you discovered these new flowers. Wait till you see how bright they can glow.
Goal 6:
Gimble: Careful, kid. Stay close. We're in th' deep depths of th' mine now. Aint' no living gnome who has gone further than this ancient mine opening.
Ruler: How do you know?
Gimble: Well, fer one the door won't open. But in truth... this cavern is where th' terrible accident first happened. Where me Poppy and all me kin were taken from me. I'll never be able ta thank you enough for what you did ta help me! With all that ye did fer us, we brought nearly everyone home that day.
Ruler: Nearly everyone?
Gimble: There are a few gnomes who didn't come home... My brother included. Poppy doesn't like ta talk about it much. Whatever happened down there was so dark, she won't even come in here no more. That's why I sent fer ya. Ain't right for a gnome to be afeard of th' mines. I appreciate yer help exploring th' mines and clearing 'em out so she'll feel comfortable again. They could be dangerous! Who knows what might be lurking under th' surface.
Goal 7:
Gimble: Oy, who are you?!
Mole Gnome: I could ask ye th' same thing. Who are ye and what are ye doing down here?
Gimble: I'm a gnome, of course I'm down here.
Mole Gnome: Well I'm a gnome too. And you came down here to me!
Gimble: Wait... yer a gnome? Ye live down here?
Mole Gnome: Aye, I am ... and ye live on the surface? That's rather odd.
Gimble: Yer a gnome, hmmm... I'd reckon we might even be cousins.
Mole Gnome: There's definitely a family resemblance, that's fer certain. But my kin live and work here in the deepest depths of the mine. We've been trying to open these ancient mine doors since before I was born.
Goal 8:
Gimble: So ye really live down here, do ye?
Mole Gnome: We used ta live even further, actually. This cavern used to be completely buried in... but not long ago, something changed. Th' rocks began moving and new passageways opened up.
Gimble: Aye, that was us. We didn't realize anyone was still down here.
Ruler: Are there a lot more of you down here?
Mole Gnome: Oh yeah... There's a few different clans that call these depths of th' mine home. Maybe ye've got some distant cousins down here. Oy! And now that yer down here, I bet ye could help us get this mine door open.
Gimble: Aye... I reckon we could!
Goal 9:
Old Thomas: Ruler! Is everything all right?
Ruler: No... We were attacked by a monster down in the mine.
Poppy: A monster!? Gimble, are you hurt?
Gimble: Naw, Poppy, I'm unscathed. The Ruler here protected me from that winged beast.
Poppy: What were ya doing deep down in the mine?
Gimble: We were trying to excavate it, Poppy love. We wanted to open th' ancient mine door.
Poppy: Gimble, no! I told ye not to go down there.
Gimble: I wanted to go down there and bring some light into the mine, so that ya might not be so scared ta go in there.
Poppy: Gimble, it ain't safe ta go back into those mines.
Goal 10:
Poppy: While we were trapped in the mine it was so dark and lonely... And it was dangerous ta move about in there. One wrong step, one loose rock could send ya falling deep into the ancient depths. But that ain't even the worst of it. There is a great, hulking beast in the depths. We had ta keep only to shadows, ta stay out of the light. When that great slumber fell o-upon us, I was relieved! At least I wouldn't be afeard anymore. When I woke up, I knew we had ta get out. I didn't want ta go back into the mines because I know it's not safe! That's why I asked ya to promise me ya wouldn't go into the mine, Gimble. Gimble? Gimble? Where are ye?
Old Thomas: Oh! I think I saw him go that way... into the mine...
Goal 11:
Gimble: Oof... I think me clock is cleaned, Poppy lass.
Poppy: Gimble, no! What happened?
Gimble: The mine monster... He's real...
Poppy: I told you, Gimble! I told ya t'wasn't safe.
Gimble: Ughhh... I jes wanted to make sure the mine was safe for ya...
Poppy: He needs help!
Ruler: We can take him back to our realm... I'm sure Ivy will know what to do.
Poppy: He can't walk, and it's climb back up the mine. What will we do?
Ruler: We need a cart!
Goal 12:
Ruler: Ivy! We need your help.
Ivy: What's wrong, Ruler? Oh! I see... This is a baaaad magical burn... I've never seen one so severe. Bring him into my hut and I'll run through a few spells.
Poppy: Oh thank ye, thank ye fer helping us.
Old Thomas: Ahem, Ruler... While I hate to distract you from this urgent situation, I do believe Thurston and the knights are in desperate need of assistance, as it appears the ancient colossal mine monster has followed us back to the realm.
Goal 13:
Thurston: The foe is relentless, my liege. It will not stop until we stop it.
Ruler: How can we stop an ancient beast?
Thurston: So far our weapons have only temporarily damaged the colossus. It returns even stronger after every attempt.
Old Thomas: Perhaps there is some weakness the beast might have... I do not know.
Poppy: Ya need mithril.
Ruler: Poppy? Did you say we need mithril?
Poppy: Aye, ye need mithril, elvenite and silver... and they need ta be pure ores.
Thurston: I will tell my men to use only weapons of those fabrications!
Ruler: Is Gimble all right?
Poppy: He will be... He's in good hands, I can tell. I like yer Ivy. This really is my fault... I should've known Gimble wouldn't stay out of the mine. So while yer witch puts him back to rights, I'm here to help ye. And lucky for ye, I know just what to do with that gruesome beast.
Goal 14:
Thurston: The knights hold the beast down now but I know not how long they can keep it down, my liege!
Poppy: We need ta work quick. That beast has found yer realm and now that it's here, it'll never stop, no matter what. It'll keep attacking until there's nothing left.
Ruler: What do we do?
Poppy: While we were trapped in the mine, we had ta hide from this beast a few times. I noticed a few things about it... It'll avoid pure ore above all else. If ye can take some of the ore we've mined and turn it into chains, i reckon it would keep the evil beast down fer good. One thing is, yer gonna need a place to put it. Somewhere secure.
Ruler: I think I know just the place.
Goal 15:
Poppy: Are yer sure these walls will keep the colossus contained?
Ruler: I'm certain. There's already a terrible foe contained in here. The knights will keep good watch of both of them.
Poppy: I trust ya! If my Gimble trusted ya, then I know I can too. Speaking' of, I better go check on him. I'm sure he'll be feeling right as rain in no time. And he'll be delighted ta hear I ain't scared of the mine no more. As soon as he's better, we'll be headed back in there together.
Goal 16:
*A few days later...*
Ruler: Gimble! You're all right.
Gimble: Aye, thanks ta yer witch, I think I might feel better than I did before I got hurt. And of course, I can't thank ye enough for banishing that wretched monster. My Poppy is already back down in th' mine without me. Though I am in a bit of trouble fer not listenin' to her....
Mithran: Oy, Gimble! I hear ya got on the bad side of the mine monster.
Gimble: Mithran!? Is tha ye?! Come on here and give us a hug! Ruler, I'd like ya to meet my brother, Mithran. Where ya been, brother?!
Mithran: After the accident I got split up from the rest of ye. The gnomes of the deep mine found me and helped me out! I kinda think I'm more suited fer deep mining anyway. Anyways, took a few days for the gossip ta get ta me about the new, above ground gnomes. I couldn't believe when they said a youngling and a gnome beat down the colossus. I knew I had to come see fer myself if ya were one of them. But I see now it was yer better half who slayed the beast! I should have known, heh heh.
Gimble: Aye, it was me beautiful Poppy flower who helped bring dow th' colossus... and this here Ruler was the one who destroyed the beast, and who rescued my Poppy in the first place! I'll never be able ta thank ye enough. If ya ever need the service of the gnomes of th' mine-
Mithran: Or the gnomes of the deep mine!
Gimble: If ya ever need us, let us know... 'cause we owe ya deeply.
After collecting from the Prison again:
Colossus: Grrrrrrrr... Rowlll...... Oh, now who do we have here?
Heksa: What have they done to you, you majestic creature?
Colossus: Prr...
Heksa: Fear not, my pet. I think both of our fortunes are about to change...
Colossus: Ha ha ha
*To be continued...*