My Danger Sense grew, not as much as when the demon had shown up, but it grew. I stood up and had Ozy remain on my shoulder pauldron. While it would have been more tactically sound to send him towards the ceiling, I didn't want to make these gnomes think I was attacking them.
While it might have been better to sit down since they were so short, that would have been too much and would be rude if they were following Eldarin Etiquette.
A few seconds later, several carts came to a stop at the opening, and five gnomes hopped out. Borwass Spryclick was one of them. Three of the gnomes appeared to be fighters of some kind, since they had wands in hand and armor.
The last gnome was wearing brighter colors and a more form-fitting outfit, which was in line with Eldarin fashion. It was interesting that their culture hadn't diverged more. I guess the skill Eldarin Etiquette was keeping things in line even with the distance. That was something the College probably researched — the cultural drift of skills and how people learning skills independently of each other would arrive at the same level of knowledge once they mastered a skill.
"Greetings, I am adventurer Justin Burnstock," I said with a slight bow. Enough to be respectful but not enough to show deference.
"I am Gnomish Councilor of External Relations Baldeenk Zickleseckle," the fancily dressed gnome declared.
Now that was a name. Their fashion might not have diverged, but their naming sense clearly had.
"I have meat and vegetable stew prepared if you would like to enjoy a meal with me, or we can speak first."
"We shall speak." One guard brought out a folding chair. I brought over a chair and sat across from him. The size difference meant we couldn't have a table between us.
"It is rare to see a human in this part of the dungeon."
The rest of his entourage stood behind him as we sat across from each other.
"If we are to talk, will we do it in peace for the entirety? We part ways without violence?"
Baldeenk took a moment to think about this request and then nodded. "Yes. We are here to speak, not to fight. Even if we do not reach an agreement, we will part ways first."
I nodded and relaxed slightly.
While it was no guarantee, I wouldn't have to watch what I said as closely. Moreover, they accepted my request, so it didn't seem to upset them. A good start to our conversation.
"An unfortunate accident of the dungeon. Do you have a way to return?"
"No, and we would not trade you for such a method if we had it. My concern and the concern of the gnomish people are about obscurity."
I looked at his guards. "You want me to remain quiet."
"Yes, but if we weren't willing to talk, I wouldn't be here."
"I don't suppose my word would be sufficient?"
"No. We use a binding curse skill at tier 4. Every gnome accepts this along with anyone who learns of us. It is called Gnomish Silence. You won't be able to communicate anything about us or write anything about us."
I didn't like this. It felt heavy-handed.
"I can tell you dislike this."
"I have had a terrible experience with cursed skills previously. If you could offer me a way back to the Eldarin part of the dungeon, then I might consider your request as a trade."
"Now come the threats. We won't fight you directly. You will just have to leave the dungeon."
"Leave. And how would you even enforce that?"
"We would trigger monster swarms to your location. We dislike such actions since the dungeon is a dangerous place. You would never see us again and have no chance to fight back. However, that would be unfortunate if things escalated in that direction. We would like to offer a chance to visit our settlement. Once you leave, you won't be able to return and will have to have the cursed skill. But you are welcome to stay with us for as long as you want."
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"I can't leave and return?"
"No. That creates risk. Either this will be the last you see of us gnomes or when you leave our settlement. Our survival is based on nobody knowing about us. While we aren't prone to attacking others, we can't allow knowledge of us to spread."
"Why the secrecy? You clearly have enough confidence, and your weapons seem to be strong enough."
"Historical and cultural reasons. I would be happy to explain more at our settlement. But we can't allow knowledge of us to leave. As for your pet, it would have to accept the cursed skill as well."
"Explain this curse skill in more depth."
I would probably have to accept it. But I could break it, eventually. I just wanted to be sure it did what these gnomes said it did. Curse skills were not something to take lightly.
"Gnomish Silence is a tier 4 curse skill. After applying it, you won't be able to speak or communicate anything about gnomes outside of our settlement. It doesn't compel you to do anything or keep our secret. But anything you associate with gnomes; you won't be able to share. That's also why we limit our interactions as much as possible, since such curse skills can break."
"And cause damage to the person they break on."
"That can happen. But as long as you share nothing about gnomes, it won't happen."
"Alright, I agree," I said even though I disliked being forced into this situation. I had met the gnomes with good intentions, but they were going to use a curse skill on Ozy and me.
I won't forget or forgive this.
But if they could force the dungeon monsters to swarm me, then there really was no alternative. I knew that such a secret race would do anything to stop knowledge of their existence from getting out.
If I were in a higher layer, I wouldn't have been so concerned. But this was the 11th layer. There were too many monsters. If several caravans' worth of monsters converged, I would be dead. Perhaps I could use Stillness to hide for a while, but it would be a constant struggle against these gnomes.
I found Borwass only because my Danger Sense fluctuated slightly. If I were constantly under attack or the risk of attack, it would be impossible to find these gnomes and attack back. That wasn't even considering their weapons and skills.
The wands the guards were carrying were an older piece of equipment. They could rapidly use a single spell skill. People in the modern age found versatility more useful than wands. But I knew that those gnomes with those wands would be quick and lethal.
Pushing back too much would also create hostility I didn't need or want. I would just have to hope I would not be trapped and killed. But since they will talk, I will extend them some trust.
If it was a slave skill of some kind, well, I would respond with violence. Lots of violence.
"We can do your pet first."
"No. I will go first."
"Very well. I can apply the curse skill. Let it take hold."
I didn't like this, but I was being forced. Maybe not at sword point, but it was like the food situation and having to go to the beastkin settlement for more food. There were no other options.
"Hold out your hand."
I did so. My other was ready to help support the use of spelling skills. I also suppressed Soul Immunity.
"Gnomish Silence."
I felt the skill hit my soul and it felt like a wet blanket. I could have pushed back against it, but I didn't. My Danger Sense wasn't shifting at all which was a good sign. The curse skill latched onto me, but I could sense it specifically. A stain of Mana running through my soul that wasn't my own. I paid close attention to that feeling.
Of all the cursed skills, this seemed the most innocuous. I checked the skill as it appeared in my status.
Tier 4: Gnomish Silence(C)
But I could feel the cursed skill, unlike Experience Siphon.
"It has taken hold. Any issues?"
The first part Baldeenk said to his people, but the question was for me.
"No. Just confirming that it is what you said it is. The things. The tunnel. Weird," I muttered.
"That is the skill blocking you from communicating about us gnomes outside of our settlement or any area controlled by us gnomes."
"I can speak with you, but I can't say…why can you say that word?"
"We gnomes use a lower-tier version of the curse skill." There was the lie that I had been expecting. "Otherwise, communication would be too difficult once we left our home. But we also apply other curse skills to track our position and to know if anyone kills us.
"But I just get this one curse skill? Can I mention the curse skill?"
"Yes. You and your pet. We are peaceful people, but we are also secretive. As for the curse skill, you can mention it, but not what the skill is exactly."
I could let someone check my status and they would learn of it and ask questions, but I didn't mention that. It would be asking for more trouble.
Ozy had the same curse skill applied to him as well. I didn't like any of this, but these gnomes would not let this go. I could see why they had remained hidden for so long, with so many steps to ensure their secrecy.
"Let us enjoy the meal you have prepared in honor of our accord," Baldeenk said.
"Could you tell me about the history of your people?"
"Once we are at the settlement. There are spying skills out there. While unlikely, it is best to be careful. The horrors of this world are many, and we do our best to avoid their attention. I promise you I will answer your questions, and you are welcome to stay as long as you want."
"But once I leave, I can't return."
"Yes. We haven't had a visitor in over 1,200 years. I have met with others, but most refuse the curse skill and perish in the dungeon."
"That sounds…through."
"Indeed, it is. But we gnomes find peace is for the best. Your arrival will add a bit of excitement and knowledge, but we endure."
"The beastkin used that phrase as well. We endure."
"Horrible things, those beastkin. But ultimately foolish and easily misled. A shame we have lost some gnomes to them over the centuries despite our precautions."
Now I was truly curious about these gnomes.