The memo went round, everywhere Gryphon Clerks worked.<\/p>\n
Attention: Important: Command of the Realmgold: Effective Immediately, Internal Distribution Universal Prompt Required, External Distribution Prohibited with Penalty.<\/p>\n
As at midnight tonight, a clarifying law takes effect which defines slavery in such a way that it includes the dwarvish concept of gnomeservice. The effect of this law is to emancipate any gnome who is outside a legally constituted dwarf hold.<\/p>\n
Should any gnome or gnomes seek refuge or assistance at your place of work or ask you for assistance in any place or time, you are to provide such refuge and assistance until otherwise advised.<\/p>\n
Register said gnomes using form GA-Reg\/001.01 (attached) and return to Office of Gnome Affairs as thereon indicated.<\/p>\n
Submit any cost claims using cost code GA-000000001-01.<\/p>\n
Volunteers sought to open offices overnight, partially paid. Advise availability to Office of Gnome Affairs.<\/p>\n
Attention: Important: Command of the Realmgold: Effective Immediately, Internal Distribution Universal Prompt Required, External Distribution Prohibited with Penalty.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Mage-minor signmakers had been at work for days in the cities of Koskant, placing glow-in-the-dark silver gryphons beside the entrance to any office where a Gryphon Clerk could be found. They activated or deactivated when touched by one of the clerks\u2019 gryphons, so they could mark whether an office was attended.<\/p>\n
A hat manufactory had received, some time before, a large government order for traditional gnome hats, but sized to fit humans. The dwarf in charge shrugged, and had the hat blocks moved around. His business was making sure that orders were filled, not asking why the Realmgold wanted human-sized gnome hats.<\/p>\n
Among the gnomes, no memos circulated. Whispers and, in the noisier factories, handsign had to do instead. But the message was carefully phrased to be easily memorised:<\/p>\n
The human Realmgold is declaring gnomeservice illegal from midnight tonight.<\/em><\/p>\n
If you want to leave, look for the sign of the silver gryphon and ask for help, and you will be helped. <\/em><\/p>\n
Keep it quiet, pass it on.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u00a0<\/em>\u201cSomething\u2019s up with the gnomes,\u201d said one dwarf overseer to another over a cup of mushroom broth.<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, they\u2019re always muttering about something,\u201d said his colleague.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Shortly before midnight, in the industrial district south of the river, large, unmarked steam vans belonging to the Realmgold\u2019s agents chugged quietly to several key intersections and stopped. Their sound went unremarked among the normal brick-building-muffled noises of steam engines, compressors and power tools from the factories on either hand.<\/p>\n
Black-clad agents bearing silver gryphons on their chests, and wearing the tugboat-shaped hats that gnomes wore outside to protect them from the sun, slipped quietly from the vans and went to lurk in nearby shadows.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, just on the stroke of midnight, first one factory, and then another, started to shut down. The Realmgold\u2019s agents straightened and, against their long-trained instincts, moved forward into the light, where their hats and their gryphons would be visible to anyone coming out of the factories.<\/p>\n
As the machines fell silent, from some of the nearest factories they could hear shouting in Dwarvish. First one voice, then it was answered by another, and finally a shout went up from many throats at once. The agents, all of whom understood Dwarvish, looked at each other. The shout had been \u201cshvv<\/em>,\u201d the Dwarvish word for \u201cvictory\u201d.<\/p>\n
Moments later, the factory doors burst open and a flood of gnomes spilled into the street, chanting \u201cShvv, shvv,<\/em> shvv<\/em>.\u201d In between the chant the agents could faintly hear increasingly obscene and desperate shouts from the overseers inside.<\/p>\n
The agents waved, but the gnomes had already spotted their hats and headed towards them.<\/p>\n
A burly, no-nonsense-looking gnome approached one pair of agents and gave a tilt of the head that communicated, \u201cI acknowledge that you\u2019re here in front of me, what now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGreeting,\u201d said one of the agents, in rough but serviceable Dwarvish. \u201cDo you need help or directions?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were going to head into the city,\u201d said the gnome.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, that\u2019s right. Look for the silver gryphon on any building.\u201d<\/p>\n
The gnome nodded and led his people off.<\/p>\n
As the street cleared, a couple of dwarf overseers came panting up. \u201cAre you in charge here?\u201d one asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d said the lead agent.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u2019t you do something?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re doing it,\u201d said the agent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? You\u2019re just standing here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re providing directions,\u201d said the second agent.<\/p>\n
\u201cDirections<\/em>? What about my runaway gnomes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRealmgold says they\u2019re not your gnomes. They belong to themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d said the senior agent. \u201cNo slavery in Koskant.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut\u2026 but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have a problem, you submit it to the Office of Gnome Affairs in the morning,\u201d said the senior.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince when is there an Office of Gnome Affairs?\u201d asked the dwarf who hadn\u2019t spoken previously.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t do<\/em> this,\u201d wailed the first dwarf. \u201cOur grandmothers will be furious<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOffice of Gnome Affairs,\u201d repeated the senior agent. \u201cNot our problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Office of Land Registration happened to be opposite the Municipal Theatre, and both had silver gryphons glowing outside. Also glowing were a couple of portable braziers, on which sat large metal urns filled with water. Eight or so volunteer Gryphon Clerks were enjoying a brew-up on the Municipal Theatre side of the street. As the midnight bells sounded from a couple of public clocks, they came alert and took their places by the doors.<\/p>\n
Before long, a tramping noise could be heard, coming across the Long Bridge from the north bank of the river. Over the sound of many feet came jubilant cries of \u201cshvv!<\/em>\u201d and \u201ctrr-kn!<\/em>\u201d (\u201cfreedom\u201d).<\/p>\n
A middle-aged clerk turned to the youngster beside him, a keen young lad just out of the Clerks\u2019 College. \u201cYou\u2019re watching history tonight,\u201d he said. The youth nodded, his eyes shining, and they moved forward to greet the oncoming gnomes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The memo went round, everywhere Gryphon Clerks worked. Attention: Important: Command of the Realmgold: Effective Immediately, Internal Distribution Universal Prompt Required, External Distribution Prohibited with Penalty. As at midnight tonight, a clarifying law takes effect which defines slavery in such … Continue reading