Of Gizmos and Gadgets - Basic Gadgeteering (Niell)

[Niell]

Month of Ioannes
Early Summer
Era X

Heavy panting and breathing drew its way around the corner of the Zerdargia Institute of Technology's (pleasantly abbreviated as Zits) corridor. One would of that it to be coming from some sort of giant, the heavy breaths circulating out of his the scarlet confines and bristling past the chilled stone walls. For Zerdargia being known as such great stone cutters - their dwarven craftsmen were famous Empire-wide - the buildings they built certainly put on a frightening appeal to the smaller creatures of the world. The Gnome - only standing a mere foot tall - scurried his way towards his class, staring upwards at the ceilings and archways over stone doors. How could such a people build such wondrous things? The fact that the whole building towered over the small creature was enough to amaze him, but the adorned magnificence and precise stonecutting of each building block (which of course, the Gnome could clearly examine) was what astounded him more.

The small statured man heaved up the fringes of his emerald cloak and stomped his way down the hallway, making slow progress compared to the various humans and whatnot that walked around him, or more frighteningly, over him. A man could be severely hurt, perhaps even dead, if one was to accidentally step on him! A pale slender hand ran through the dark gray shades that played throughout his black hair, ruffling them backwards in a smooth manner as the would-be Gadgeteer continued to stride forward in all his glory. Puzzling hazel eyes stared curiously at the stonework, as well as the numbers on each door. The woman had said his class would be at the end of this hallway, but the corridor seemed to be soooo long, at least for the lack of vision a foot tall figure was given. Oh well, there was only one more thing left to do! Keep walking!

Ten minutes later and the Gnome found himself at the opposite end of the hall. He had passed by a numerous amount of objects, not only doors leading into separate classes, and some into various corridors and hallways, but also past candelabras, cabinets, armoires, he had even carefully navigated past a descending stairway! And now here he was, staring at a much smaller hallway, with much smaller doors, and much smaller objects. Obviously, this was where all the smaller creatures of the world were sent.

Niell continued to walk on, his leather boots plodding along the long royal-blue carpet that was sprung out between each wall. He gave a cheerful Serale to a Sprite he saw glide his way, then took a sharp left to his doorway. Room 6E. This was where his gadgeteering class would begin, this was where his future would await for him. Niell reached forward and grasped the bronze doorknob, and with excited vigor, gave it a twist and walked in.

[Shard]

And there it was! All of his hopes, his asperations, everything he had lived for, his destiny, his greatest dream, *cough cough. (Sorry, let me try that again...)

And there it was! All of his hopes, his asperations, everything he had lived for, his destiny, his greatest dream, Gadgeteering Class! (that's better, eh?) And what a class it was indeed, full of students all at their own desks and of all sorts and sizes. Even the room itself was magnificant! Purple paint decorated the walls which displayed various technicle drawings and plans, all in gold frames, no doubt famous inventions from the class' teacher. The desks were even a clever device and as Niell stepped into the room, he noticed they were twenty in number, all filled with students and no two alike.

The only open desk in the room was one in front, directly in front of the teacher's desk. To the right of the desk was another gnome a tad older than Niell, and beyond him sat a skinny red-headed human with an odd nose. Behind him sat a number of other humans and a dwarf child, all pointing and laughing at his nose. In the back of the room sat a noble looking half-giant next to a Saurid, an odd but lovely combination of a class. "Come, sit, do sit young Niell," said a lovely old woman behind the teacher's desk.

She had pale skin and white hair, the kind that could be brought on only by wisdom of the finest degree. She was no doubt the teacher, although not exactly what most students would think a gadgeteer would look like. She reminded most more of a grandmother sitting on her porch with a bit of knitting. "Do come master Niell, we must begin."

[Niell]

Lips parted, jaw dropped, pearly white teeth on clear display to the entire class, Niell's puzzled and yet all the while curious hazel orbs studied the classroom intently, their gaze flicking from one student to the neck. apparently he had been mistake for the outfitting of smaller creatures, it just seemed that the whole hallway on a hole had been smaller. Or perhaps he had gotten more comfortable, and in doing so was less afraid of the looming objects previously on either side of him? Only he could tell...

His gaze rested soulfully upon each student, describing them mentally to his mind, trying to hint at possible friendships, or possible enemies. Niell was like that, always cautious, yes very very cautious. One could never be too cautious. In fact, that was his motto, and he lived directly by it. His piercing gaze flicked on over to the Half Giant and Saurid, if there were to be any bullies in this class, it would be them. It was not until the elderly mother spoke up to him that his ears perked and his attention snapped upon her. Skillfully did he examine the pale skin, the white hair...what was she, some sort of Ghost? Wouldn't that be nifty...having a dead person teach the class! "Urm...yes, sorry Ma'am," Niell spoke in a quiet tone, but loud enough for his voice to be carried across the room and into the woman's already-failing hearing.

Niell shuffled at the doorway for a minute, before turning around and grasping the bronze knob behind him. He tugged on it for a few seconds before it finally came to a close. Spinning on the ball of his foot, he turned around and stalked off to his desk, mildly admiring the goldenly framed pictures of previous inventions. Or was it bronze? One could never be too sure in a University, bunch of cheap skapes they were! Quickly he walked and took a seat next to the Gnome, hastily dropping his backpack beside him and pulling out a piece of parchment and his quill. Always take notes. Always.

"Serale," Niell whispered to the Gnome beside him as he held out a hand in greeting. Must make friends. Must. After a basic introduction was complete, the Gnome swiftly turned his attention back to his instructor. "Excuse me Ma'am, if I may," Niell spoke in a very polite and acceptable tone, not having to raise his voice quite as much since he was only sitting directly in front of the woman. "But may I inquire your name please?" he added on calmly, twirling the quill in front of him with ease as he studied her intently.

[Shard]

"Shut it or I'll shut you!" came from behind Niell with a violent tone. Niell turned to see a snotty-nosed halfling in his seat performing a gesture with his hands that wasn't fitting of a classroom environment at all. Niell must have been completely astonished. "I believe Curtan has made a good point, please do shut it and sit down master Niell," the old woman said to him, or rather his back. Astonishment took over Niell, but not the rest of the class, who seemed to be used to this sort of thing. Was he in the wrong class?

"Welcome to your first class in gadgeteering," the woman said while standing and walking to the far wall. "I am your instructor, Madam Jules, formally of the Imperial Navy where I invented various gadgets still in use today." She walked and spoke with a sense of arrogance, but there was something overwhelmingly arrogant about her. It was as if she knew she was arrogant, and she was arrogant about that as well. Strange, very very strange. She pointed to one of the framed drawings and spoke, "This was my first prized invention..."

It was as if she was about to continue when she turned and looked directly at Niell. "I'm sure many of you will have such inventions, even mister Niell" she said laughingly as Niell looked at the drawing. The class roared with laughter, all looking at him, all pointing with dirty fingers. "Now class, I have your first assignment." She smiled at each of them and returned to the front of the class. As she sat at her desk, she began to give the assignment. "I want each of you to go to hell. Straight to hell." She looked down at her parchments and then back up quickly, "move along class, I'll be waiting."

[Niell]

Niell turned around, startled out of his wits as he stared at the rather rude and impetual halfling behind him. He was even moreso startled by the childish gesture the man seemed to make. What was he? A babe? Niell looked around, studying the people around him. They were all adults here, weren't they? What was wrong with these people? Even more so astounding - the teacher agreed. 'Shut it and sit down...' Niell let the words ring through his mind, quietly abashed at the situation he had been thrown into rather unwillingly. Then again, he had asked the stupid question. Right then. Riiiight.

Niell settled back into his seat, throwing a rather casual glare and yet wolfish grin over to the Halfling. Flicking his attention back to his teacher, he idly began to wonder if this had been such a good idea he originally thought it to be. The teacher seemed to be intoxicated or on some sort of drug, wonder how many mugs of ale she downed before deciding to come to class today. And the devilish imp behind him, that Halfling boy, Chump wasn't it? He was a piece of work. Oh boy.

Niell began to jot down notes from what 'Madam Jules' was saying. He quickly scribbled down her name and that she was from the Navy. Circled the Navy. That would explain and answer any later questions he had about this woman. He discreetly rolled his eyes in her arrogance. Ignorant fool. Yet still Niell pretended to listen, ignoring her insolent ramblings and studying the portraits of her inventions more primarily. Such things began to pop into his head, ideas and inventions. Yes...some would work out quite nicely. Others had obvious flaws.

He ignored the entire class laughing at him, pretended they didn't exist. Because in reality, they wouldn't. Keep it up, and he'd find a way to kill every last one of them, it all depended on how they treated him. Oh, and Madam Jules. She'd have to go, sadly, and what a coincidence! It would be on the last day of his lesson, yes.

Niell was stunned and confused by the woman's statement though. What was hell? Was it some sort of place the big people went? Maybe it meant lunch...yes, lunch would be good right now. Casually Ver'drak played out the familiar and overly used role of dropping his quill. Quickly leaning down to pick it up, he would watch for his class's reaction and follow suit.

[Shard]

The desk chairs began shuffling and everyone got out of their seats. Niell watched this happen, but it was up to him to follow along. "Very good class, off the hell with you and then you can come back." Most of the students seemed quite thrilled at the chance, while the others were simply willing. The hobbit, Curtan looked over at Niell on his way out and smurked, "Yeah, come along little guy." He laughed, as did rest of the class. Niell was just about to head out of the class when the teacher spoke once more.

"You there, gnomish bratt, you stay while the others go." She stood and walked over to him as the last of the class trickled out the door, "I believe you have something to tell me." She stood over him sternly but it wasn't long after that she began to laugh hysterically. She turned and moved toward her desk once again. She sat in her chair, still laughing, her breathing sparatic at best. "Come on Nielly boy, tell me..." she said, screaming in laughter, tearing at her hair and throwing her glasses to the floor.

[Niell]

'What is this...some sort of joke? Is this lunch break - or something?' Niell asked himself hastily as his eyes darted frantically about the room. Everyone had already gotten out of their seats, the majority of them already out of the doorway and talking in rather loud and obnoxious voices. The Gnome's ears perked when they heard the taunt of the brutal bully of a Halfling. A sudden fear seemed to scramble it's way down the Gnome's neck, the very tips of the tiniest little hairs seeming to stand at a still in their forever locked position of attention. Was this Halfling, this complete stranger really that intent on causing harm to the little fellow? Were people just that cruel in the world?

A small sigh of relief escaped its scarlet confines and blew its way out of the Gnome's mouth when Niell heard the teacher intervene. Sure, it wasn't the most pleasant thing he had been called, but it still saved him from being bullied over or beat up by that one Halfling wench. Now he would only have to hide from him, that was, if the Halfling was not already waiting outside the doorway intent to listen upon their conversation. Niell stood patiently beside his desk, craning his neck as he stared directly upwards at her towering obeast figure. Something to tell her? What did he have to tell her? She seemed quite stern with all of this, before laughing hysterically. Was she really a madman? No. What? What do you mean by no...how could she possibly not be classified as one when she's standing their tearing at her hair and throwing around her spectacles? What else do you call them? Just think...

The Gnome often had these dicussions with himself, it was like his right side of his brain giving advice to the opposite - completely weird, and obviously unusual. Ever since he had been a young boy he had developed this talent, and it was often this talent that seemed to allow him to check over his work and allow him to achieve the success he so deeply wanted. Think...
And suddenly it came. This was obviously not the Gadgeteering class he had signed up for. No...it just couldn't possibly be. The fact that such tall creatures were in a small room had already seemed unimaginable to the young Gnome, and the fact that the Zerdargia Institute of Technology would have employed some mad woman...well, this was not exactly what he would specify as "correct". No...something was aloof, and already had he begun to guess what.

"Quit playing," the words cooly left his lips as he stared across at the vision before him. Already he was beginning to guess it was not real, or was he going mad? "I came here for a Gadgeteering Class, and I'm more than happy to start," Niell continued, his eyes narrowing into ice as they stared at the mad figure before him. This was all a dream. All an illusion.

It had to be.

[Shard]

A split second later, the teacher stopped laughing and looked at him with a quaint smile. "As am I young Niell," she said, only this time in a much deeper voice. It didn't seem to fit her at all, the voice, and she smiled as her skin slowly began to fade away into nothingness. In fact, everything in the room began to fade away until Niell realized he was sitting on a small bucket, not a desk. The students, as they rushed out the door also dissipated like steam from boiling water starting to cool, and the walls seemed to fade into a dull grey stone.

"You can go now Sharie," the dissipating teacher said once more and from an unseen corner walked out a small gnomish female, dressed in a long skirt and cloak. She left the room with haste and when Niell looked back, all he saw was the desk that was there before and a gnomish fellow standing atop it. "Very well then master Niell, I am Professor Gagde and that was Master Sharie, an illusionist by profession. I hope you don't mind this little test, but the scruitinizing glare of a gadgeteer is his most important attribute, he must be able to see through the clutter and complications. I see you have done that and figured this class false, very good."

The gnomish fellow was less than a foot tall, older, and sported a grey beard. He had a tiny pair of specs, but they didn't really do anything for his eyes, he just woar them to look a tad wiser. Of course, he didn't really need to, just by hearing him speak one could tell his intellect.

[Niell]

A happy smile shot across the small Gnome's face as he realized he was indeed correct in his calculations. So the idiotic teacher and her small class of miscreants would not die after all, since they were obviously already dead. That was, to the Gnome, of course. Yep, they were dead, dead in the lost remnants of some unknown corner of his mind, tucked away for safe keeping and hatred at a later date. He really would have to pay this Miss Sharie a visit, since Mysticism seemed to be one of the more interesting and appealing spheres of Arcana for the young Gnome. After all, he was, of course, a Gnome. Wasn't he...?

"Correct," the slender frame spoke as it heaved itself off of the rather embarrassing pail and gave it a quaint kick, before propping his elbow up against it. His puzzling hazel eyes stared soulfully upon the Gnome in front of him, this Professor Gadge of sorts. Seemed to be an appropriate name for such a instructor, unmistakably Gadge for Gadgets. It had to be. And a Gnome to boot, why go figure...amazing to see what such a small race could accomplish. Sure they were outlandish and a bit too creative when it came to styles and inventions, some females were even said to have gone into the fashion industry lately - but it paid off in the end. Without some of the inventions invented by Gnomes, Allerian Society would not be how it was today. Who ever thought of using windmills to grind grain, using the wind itself as a source of power? A Gnome! It had to be a Gnome, only a small creature with a tiny brain could think of something as simple as that. It was always the smallest of things that viewed the big picture, practically because they were living inside of it.

"You are correct in your statement professor Gadge," Niell finished his statement as he moved forward, right arm already loosening and coming upwards for the casual symbiodic handshake. "A pleasure to meet another Gnome," he spoke in a cheerful tone, ears poking out behind the mop of hair and seemingly wriggling behind him, a big cheeky smile lighting up his own features. After the handshake was complete, Niell shoved his hand into the shadowy depths of his pocket and glanced around, admiring the room around him. So this was it, this was where the real inventions took place. In a boring, nondescriptive room. No wonder Gnomes were the most common Gadgeteers. "So umm...when do we start? I'm ready to take notes," Niell spoke as he walked back over to his pail and collected his quill and parchment he had originally thought to be on a regular desk. He smiled cheerfully and waited for a response with the utmost amount of patience ever to be seen or experienced in this little part of Zerdargia.

[Rebecca]

Professor Gadge smiled and gave hearty laugh at Niell's eagerness. "There will be less notes than you have expected I'm sure." He let out another laugh and walked to the door of the room. "Come with me Niell, our real classroom is next door, the students are likely restless." With that, he and Niell took a walk down the hall another ten feet to the next room. The door was slightly cracked and he and Niell slipped righ in. This room was more of what Niell expected for sure.

The walls were white and splattered with oil and ink, the signs of both a classroom and lab. Small tables sat around the room and circled a large table in the middle of it. That is where the professor went and climbed a small stack of books to the table surface. Niell found his table, the closest to the door. There were five other students in the room, all gnomish except for one halfling named Goff. He seemed beyond nervous, tapping his quill in an extremely fast rythem on the desk surface. Sitting with Niell was another gnome named Quinton, a friendly chap of about Niell's age.

"Okay class, we shall begin, but first...are their any questions?"

[Niell]

Niell smiled winningly as professor Gadge confirmed his suspicions and began to walk towards the door. So this was indeed not their classroom, that was comforting. By the looks of it, it seemed to be something like a janitor's closet, the pail bucket, the sloppily arranged room, the end of the corridor. It seemed to fit the stereotype quite well. Maybe a little bit too well. Nonetheless, the Gnome was more than delightful to go to his real classroom. After all, this was a fake one, wasn't it? "No notes? Oh dear me..." the Gnome murmured in mock shock as his teacher walked past him. No notes...were going to be given. That didn't mean the younger Gnome could insure his quill and parchment did not go to waste, of course. Notes would be mandatory, at least for this would-be gadgeteer.

Quite cheerfully and promptly the younger foot tall man followed his predesscor, walking at a brisk pace - that was, for a Gnome. The doorway was cracked just enough for the two slender figures to slip through, and then with a hop and a skip they were standing within the classroom. Job well done, the Gnome thought to himself comfortably, and not too shabby on deciphering the image. Yes, he had done a good job. Like Professor Gadge had said, one of the more important aspects was the scrutinizing glare of a Gadgeteer. Or something like that, wasn't it?

As Niell walked into the room, he took a few odd glances at the other students. All Gnomes. Perfect. Wait...nope! There was a halfling in the far corner from where he stood, seemed as nervous as one was when it came to judgement day. No worries, you couldn't exactly fail Gadgeteering, everyone had potential. They just had to discover it for themselves. Niell quickly took a seat in his desk, regretfully the closest to the door, but that would just mean he would be the quickest one out if something terrible was to happen. Turning to the Gnome beside him, he smiled and held out a hand in the traditional greeting, adding a quick Serale and introduction to it. Hopefully, he prayed, this would not be a replica of the last time he tried to be friendly. He placed his leather knapsack down by the table leg and scooted up his chair, before bending over and picking up his parchment and quill. He took a brief glance at some of the gizmo's on his desk, shrugged them off, and turned his attention to the Professor. He pondered for a few moments, thinking of any questions he himself had.

None. Unlike perhaps some of the other students in this class, he knew exactly what he had gotten himself into, and he was thrilled. With a quick grin and a wide display of pearly white teeth that shined through the cheeky smile, he affirmed a nod to his instructor and waited patiently for his first lecture.

[Rebecca]

The Professor nodded as no one in the class raised their hand or shouted out a question. The halfling in the back looked like he had a number of questions, but they were likely concerning bigger things in life, not gadgeteering, things his mother needed to deal with. "Very well class, then we shall get started. First things first, I want to show you all this..." With that, he walked over to a long wooden box with brass handles and opened the top. The box was gnomish in build and design, sporting both rigid and curly designs down the sides. When it opened, everyone in the class leaned forward or moved to the edge of their table tops to see.

"No need for squinting," Prof. Gadge said with a smile. He took from his tunic pocket a small pair of spectacles and placed them evenly on his nose. He then pulled over to him a large round piece of glass, twice his size. It was on tiny wheels and moved quite easily across the table. He took out a gnome size ruler and showed it behind the lense, enlarging it for all to see. "This is one of your many tools. In gadgeteering and inventing, it is very important to be familiar with your tools. Each and every one of you will have a personal relationship with your instruments before the end of this class."

He set the ruler back down and moved the lense away from him. "Machine Lore is just as important students. To know what current inventions could assist you on your own, and how they were made is a must, that is why beneath the top ledge of each of your tables I have put a small scroll with it written there." With that, he motioned for each student to reach under the table and find that scroll. They unrolled them and noticed a simple series of illustrations and explanations. They were all important inventions, including the pulley, gear, and windmill. "I want each of you to go home and study this parchment. Tomorrow you shall return and I will ask questions. Make sure you know the answers."

[Niell]

Niell nodded enthusiastically as his Gnome Instructor took out one of the older inventions. He had heard about this, the large oval rounded transparent glass slightly concave to magnify the object. It was exactly how his spectacles worked as well. Unconsciencely Niell's slender pale fingers brushed up against his cheeks and pushed the neck of his glasses further up along his nose line. His enigmatic hazel eyes studied each object ruthlessly, examining them scrutinizingly and mentally storing the information for later use. A ruler, in metric measurement, of course. Niell smiled, glancing downwards at his own knapsack and dawning the object professor Gadge had named a ruler. He had already received his Tool Kit from Jabul the Inventor prior to class, part of the incredulous tuition fee was actually the Kit. One of the many things that made Niell actually come to the Zerdargia Institute of Technology. That, and the fact he had nowhere better to go.

The young Gnome nodded a series of time to show he comprehended what his teacher was lecturing about, and hastily put the ruler back into the leather backpack he carried around. He would have to be introduced to more of his tools later, of course. As Niell listened to the last finishing statements that practically summarized his very first day of Gadgeteering, his hand reached underneath the desk and pulled out the scroll that Professor Gadge had been speaking about. Ahh...this must be it, Niell thought for a quick moment as he briefly scanned it over. Running a hand through his graying black hair, Niell quickly shoved the scroll into his knapsack and stood up from his desk. "Have a good day Professor Gadge," Niell called out in a polite tone, before finishing with a Serale. He quickly walked out of the classroom, down the overwhelmingly long hallway, and out of the Institute, straight to home.

There, he studied over the notes as if it was his life line. It was his key to success - studying, that is - and Niell was not one to simply toss it around as if it were nothing. No, this was important, and would help him in future classes as well. That was if he passed this class, of course. Hazel brown eyes scanned over the words mechanically, perceiving them and taking them into mental note. Pulleys, gears, windmills, they all had similarities and differences, and Niell made sure to record each in his own set of notes. In fact, he had already copied the entire scroll into his journal, and was now finishing up his evening with a brief review. Though perhaps memorization was a bit overzealous, Niell had already logged the majority of the information, and especially the more important aspects, into the depths of his mind. The small Gnome fell asleep with the scroll over him, serving as a blanket. A blanket of hope...of dreams...of possibility.

~~~

Knock. Knock. Knock. Niell was standing directly outside of his classroom doorway, the next darkening. He was slightly early, by a mere five minutes, and the wooden oak door was closed, brass doorknob beaming in the light. Niell stood directly outside the door, shouldering his humongous backpack with both arms as he waited for the door to open. Slick black hair was combed neatly, then thrown into disarray as the small Gnome ran (in equivalent to a slow walk for a Human) to the Institute. He wore his dark-green emerald cloak with embroidered trimmings, beige tunic, and black woven pants. He had made an effort to polish the leather boots the previous night, but they were now already coated with a new layer of dust from the morning's walk to the Academy. "Professor Gadge, it's Niell..." the small Gnome spoke in a loud voice as he patiently waited for a response.

[Rebecca]

"Very good Niell, early I see," stated the professor, who was actually standing directly behind Niell. He had walked up behind him most quietly, a mark of Gadge that Niell would come to know of. "To open this big door, all you really have to do is twist the small nob at the bottom, it is attached to the larger nob via a long metal shaft inside the wooden door." With that, he stepped in front of Niell and gave the tiny nob a twist to the left. With it's turn, a clank was heard above and the door came loose. It was indeed a job to push it open though, something Gadge referred to as his daily workout. "Come...errr....on...in," he said, muscleing it open enough to walk through and wishing his halfling student had been early...he would have made an easier task of the door.

The Professor walked in the room, which was well lit through glass windows on the opposite door. This brightening though, the tables were arranged differently, all connected to eachother on one wall. On each table sat a long wooden box like that of Professor Gadge's tool kit, a piece of parchment, quill and ink, and an oil lamp. "Please take your seat," he said to Niell, but before he even got it out all the way, the other students began arriving, each taking their seat at a spot, leaving the largest toolbox for the halfling, who appeared last and a bit late. "Good to see you all here, now, ready your quills and prepare for an examination." He asked them all to turn over their parchment, which on the opposite side were three four questions, each with enough space to answer accordingly.

Name:

What is the most typical use for a pulley on a ship?

Name one simple use for a gear.

Why do you want to invent?

"You may all begin," he said with a serious look. It appeared that he was looking to possibly weed out the class a bit if the examinations were not to his liking. Of course, this could all just be in the mind of the students, but he did seem oftly serious. "You have five minutes."

[Niell]

Niell smiled and turned around as Professor Gadge spoke from behind him. "Oh...Serale Professor, I didn't see you!" the Gnome spoke in a cheerful voice as he watched the man circle around him. No crap you didn't see him...moron... the Gnome quietly ridiculed himself for the rather foolish comment, on his part. The Gnome listened intently as Professor Gadge explained his invention. That was rather clever...but like usual, most things in the world had already been invented by someone else. Oh well, that just meant he would have to think harder. "That's pretty interesting..." Niell voiced his opinion aloud as Professor Gadge made war on the door. At later dates, Niell was positive he would find out just how much strength it required to heave the blasted thing open. Similarities ran between the two Gnomes on the common thought of the Halfling.

Niell quickly hurried into the classroom and took one look at the way the desks were lined up. The word 'examination' flashed through his mind and disappeared as quickly as it come. Right...time to get ready, the Gnome thought disappointedly as he walked over to a desk and dropped his leather knapsack beside it. Hastily he took out a quill and ink bottle as the other classmates began filing in. It appeared Professor Gadge was about to discover who were the stronger points of the class, and who were the weakest. Niell could only pray he wasn't the latter, it would royally ruin his experience if he was. As soon as Professor Gadge stated he could begin, Niell went to work in a flurry, the whole timed aspect of this test not settling well with his stomach. Hastily, he wrote down his answers.

Name: Niell

What is the most typical use for a pulley on a ship?
-Hoisting and lowering Sails

Name one simple use for a gear.
-Mechanical drawbidge.

Why do you want to invent?
-Help improve Telath's current technology, make the world a better and easier place to live in for smaller races.

Niell checked over his answers quickly, enigmatic hazel eyes scanning over each loopy curve he made in his writing with precise accuracy. Afterwards, he re-checked them. It seemed the studying had paid off, he felt fairly confident in all of his answers. Yes...he would do a good job.

He hoped.