Sherry-By-The-Bend.

Dylan tossed and turned in his cot fitfully. He was grateful that Clive and the halflings didn't throw him and Alban out, yet. But he sure did wish they had something else for him to sleep in. At least back at the hub he and Alban could sleep within their workshop. Which was warm, dry, and something they had all to their selves.

All of that was something the shabby tents that he and Alban had been given lacked however. Grateful? Yes. Enjoyed? Not quite, Dylan thought as he decided that sleeping in longer was useless as the cot was doing more harm to his body than good at this point.

So with great reluctance, he arose and turned to the tent that was a decent sized for one of the smallfolk, especially a gnome that was a good deal leaner than the portly halflings were. But it was still a might bit cramped even for him. He didn't even want to think how Alban slept.

His morning, or perhaps it was evening now? He wasn't sure. The time seemed strange in this world compared to their own. Like the days were shorter. Anyway, his morning routine was quite quick and simple. He slept in his clothes since the threadbare blanket that was "generously" provided to him for was little better than the air around him. So he merely patted the dust and whatever else accumulated upon him in the tent that seemed to have a few more holes in it than yesterday.

He then gazed at the closed flap to his tent. He could hear the comings and goings of the halflings as they went about their day. He knew that would change the second they saw him and thus his hesitancy in venturing forth. But he also heard the amazing contraptions that were working away nearby! He had seen but a glimpse of them when they first arrived but he was so excited to get to know how they worked!

The dwarves weren't ones to let him poke at their works. He was sure the halflings wouldn't be so thrilled either. But from what he saw the labor force that operated them was largely human! Local humans at that! He had so many questions to ask them and even Clive when they get back to work on the mana capacitor!

This excitement is what finally gave him the boost of courage he needed to finally part the tent flap and step into yet another new world! Yet that excitement was quickly smothered as the nearby halflings seemed to immediately turn their eyes upon him. They were not friendly eyes either, he noted as he gave them a fragile smile and a polite wave.

But whatever friendliness and hospitality that the halflings offered to him was done and gone with it seemed as they merely huffed or grumbled at his presence before departing on with their day and whatever activities that it entailed.

No matter, Dylan thought as he made his way over to Alban's tent. Wouldn't be the first time that he's walked out to a populace that weren't exactly thrilled with his presence. Though usually it took a bit more time for them to grow tired with their many, explosive, failures before finally deciding that being polite wasn't worth the effort.

He pushed aside the flap and found Alban sleeping away effortlessly on his cot that was just a touch too small for the dwarf.

"At least someone is getting some sleep."

With a sigh he walked over to the dwarf and shook him awake. Alban blinked and looked around with an irritated look before turning a critical eye towards Dylan.

"Come on, Alban! We have much to do today!"

His adopted brother grunted in an annoyed tone, but still made to rise as Dylan looked around at the dwarf's tent. It would seem that the halfling's short measure of hospitality wasn't quite extended to Alban as Dylan noted that his tent was in far better condition than his own. Even the dwarf's blanket could at least be called such.

Not like he should've expected anything different, Dylan thought. Halflings and gnomes never get along. He was sure that if it wasn't for Clive vouching for him he would've been thrown out before he could even blink!

Instead he now had to live in a place that was unfriendly and completely absent of comforts. Nothing new to him at any rate, Dylan thought as Alban finished getting dressed and followed the gnome back out into the halfling colony. The response to Alban's presence was leagues apart from his own. The halflings at least acted like they were pleased by the dwarf's presence. Which ended when they saw Dylan.

Again. Nothing he wasn't used to, Dylan thought as he and Alban made their way over to where their things had been stored. Which was a patch of cleared ground by a tree next to the river flowing nearby. Though stored wouldn't be the word he would use as he saw the rather indelicate state of the crates and other storage containers. He wasn't sure if they got that way because of the laborers back at the hub or the halflings. He wouldn't put it past either group to be honest.

"Well. We have to start somewhere, eh Alban?" Dylan declared with an affirmative grunt from the mute dwarf.

So the two artificers got to work unloading their bits and bobs and gadgets and gizmos and setting them someplace out of the way so they could take stock of what all needed to be replaced, what can be rebuilt, and what they had to work with after their less-than-smooth transition to their new home.

Unfortunately, it would seem progress on the mana canisters would be on hold even longer, Dylan thought with a sigh as he noted the dented tanks and cracked glass. They could maybe do a single test if they really wanted to push their luck. But other than that they would need to either requisition more materials from the dwarven clan, see if the halflings would be willing to help them out, or find some way to manage on their own.

Really they only had one option as the former two would likely only happen when the stars fell upon them. If even then. Then there was the matter of a new workshop. He doubt the halflings would assist them. Maybe the humans could spare some materials? Possibly for a workshop as well as for their experiments even, Dylan thought as he realized that the humans of this world would more than likely be their only source of contact. Friendly contact at least, Dylan thought with a sigh as he and Alban secured what was still good and then sorted the rest between stuff that was salvageable and what was nothing but scrap and refuse.

There was more of the latter than he would like to admit. But hopefully the humans of this world could assist him! First things first though, he had to see Clive and break the bad news that their work on the mana capacitors would be on hold a while longer. Though he was sure Clive would know what to do! He seemed to know much about how things worked in this world and would no doubt be a great assistance to them!

With a plan in action, he and Alban made their way back into the colony. Ignoring the looks and grumbles of the halflings as they muttered rude remarks about his gnomishness. Saying it didn't bother him would be a lie. But he was used to it by now that the barbs didn't stick quite as easy as they did once upon a time ago.

They still hurt though. Who would willingly stay in places where their presence wasn't wanted? Where they were treated as little more than burdens at best and unwelcome pests at worst? But Dylan wasn't going to let that get between them and their journey of making the world a better place for the average person!

Though he did wish that the halflings were at the very least willing to answer a simple question like where Clive was instead of huffing and turning their noses up at him. Due to Alban being mute he wasn't much better at getting answers from the halflings either.

So when finally someone did answer his questions he wasn't at all surprised to find it was a human.

"Sure. Him and his lil girlfriend left for Thanksgivin'."

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Thanks-given?" Dylan asked the man who was in the dress of a laborer. Though from the clothes he wore Dylan would peg him as a local rather than someone from Daele.

"Yeah. Should be back in a couple hours." The man explained and tipped his hat before heading off to work on whatever project he was working on.

Well, guess that was one conversation that he need not deal with at the moment, Dylan thought as he and Alban stood within what looked to be the main market square of the colony as halflings bartered, traded, and sold wares and produce.

He had heard that halflings had a gift for farming and gardening, but with this cold he doubt that even they would be able to grow such ripe fruits and vegetables. So where did they come from. he thought as he took a couple of curious steps towards a large red fruit that appeared to have come from a vine of sorts.

"Oy! Back you!" The vendor cried out and shooed away Dylan before he could come within an arms length of the fruit that was bigger than his hand.

"Oh?! Sorry!" Dylan apologized and shuffled back as many halfling eyes turned towards the commotion.

"You should be! Nosey gnome!" The halfling spat and glared at Dylan until he and Alban were well enough away to satisfy him.

He heard Alban rumble angerly as they left. He took the mistreatment of Dylan worse than the gnome did. Then again, dwarves were always ones to look after those closest to them. Alban being Clanless by dwarven standards didn't mean that the sense of clannishness didn't just disappear.

He was also the only one of the two that could exert any sort of physical threat against any would-be bullies to the gnome. But when you made enemies wherever you went it just wasn't practical to be defensive all the time, Dylan had told Alban one day. After than Alban had been less inclined to stand up to bullies except in certain cases when they tried to get physical against him. But it still bothered the dwarf, Dylan noted.

Dylan was about to say something when Alban tugged on him quickly and pulled him back! Dylan yelped and glanced at what it was that had Alban reacting so, and saw several humans marching past him carrying boxes and crates of materials!

But he wasn't sure if they were locals though, they worse strange green clothes and marched like soldiers in an army rather than the laborers. Though he also noted some people from Daele were also among their kind as they also hauled and carried supplies and materials as well.

"Quick! Follow them Alban!" Dylan cheered as he hurried away after the humans with Alban rolling his eyes before following after the gnome.

They didn't have to follow long however as they soon reached their destination, though they could tell as much by the increasing sounds of work in the area as they neared. Dylan was completely silent as he beheld the tools the humans used to work with! Nails that were straight and smooth were pushed into pieces of wood by some sort of pressurized gadget and nails that were threaded with grooves were pushed by another.

But that wasn't all, Dylan noted as he saw wooden boards being cut up by some sort of self moving saw that cut through the lumber with such ease that it was scary. He turned his head when he heard a great hammering noise and saw a human picking away at a large boulder in the ground with some sort of large pick that seemed to chip away at the stone like a woodpecker does to bark!

Yet the noise grew more and more intense and if it wasn't for Alban he would've been squished by a truly impressive marvel to behold! It seemed to be similar to the horseless carriages that the humans of this world used. But it was larger and louder and had an arm with a large metal bucket attached to it as it dug away at the ground and carried it away! He was almost sure it was some sort of golem if it wasn't for the pane of glass revealing a human operator within to tell him otherwise.

"Hey watch it kid!" One of the men in green barked and marched past Dylan while carrying a spool of what appeared to be wired copper.

Alban was quick to extract Dylan from the area as it quickly got more and more busy as humans continued to tear away at the ground while filling it in with metal rods, piping, and a strange stone-like paste.

Alban didn't stop dragging the gnome until the sounds of human construction was in the background. Only to be replaced by a low hum from nearby instead. Dylan and Alban turned to look at the source and found a large building made of glass and metal. The glass was heavily fogged up and even from this far away they could tell that alot of heat was coming from the building.

"What is that?" Dylan asked.

Alban gave a curious grunt since he was the only one that would bother to answer Dylan it seemed since any nearby halflings did little more than glare at the gnome before departing on their way. Dylan however was more fascinated by the large structure and slowly inch towards the obvious door in the front of the building.

The warmth grew greater and greater as he and Alban neared. It was a welcome compared to the chill air around them and Dylan would LOVE to know how it was being made! They neared the door and could hear muffled voices from the other side as well as more humming from somewhere nearby. Whatever was making it was either inside or near the building if Dylan had to guess.

But curiosity as to what laid within was greater and so Dylan reached for the lower half of the door and pulled on it. The door swung open easily and the artificers were bathed with a warm humid air that rushed out. The two of them peered within and saw exactly where the halfling produce was coming from!

"It's a greenhouse!" Dylan exclaimed.

But how could it still be running when it was so cold, Dylan wondered. The sun certainly wasn't providing enough heat to trap, he noted as he looked above at the cloudy sky that hung ever present over them. So then something else must be making it, Dylan wondered as he walked into the pleasantly warm greenhouse and beheld the verdant array of fruits and vegetables that were growing about the place!

None showed signs of wilting from the cold or hardship from being in pots and garden boxes. Dylan also noted the light above was quite intense, while warmth did come from them, it didn't seem to solely come from the strange light above them. Yet more things that fascinated Dylan in this world.

But his fascination was interrupted far too soon as the halfling gardeners within turned and spotted him and Alban.

"'Ey! Get outta 'ere you!"

"But how is the air so warm?! How are the plants growing when it's this cold?!" Dylan asked excitedly.

"That'd be 'Enry it is." One of the halflings declared.

"Quiet you! Bad enough tha' folk 'round 'ere are buyin' inta tha' nonsense without spreadin' it ta others!" Another halfling chided the first.

"But you saw-"

"It were jus' tha air blowin' is all it were!" The halfling exclaimed.

"Blowing from where?!" Dylan blurted out and seemed to remind the halflings that they were there.

"Oh no you dinnae! Out!" One of the halflings declared and moved to vacate Dylan and Alban from the building.

"But-"

"No buts! Dinnae be needed some gnome pokin' 'is fingers somewhere important! Out with you!" The halfling declared and shove him out, with Alban following behind since the halflings weren't strong enough, or temperamental enough, to force out the dwarf on their own.

"Nosey gnome." The halfling spat before slamming the door closed on the two artificers.

Alban glanced down at Dylan. Today has been rough for the gnome. Well, these past few weeks has been, the dwarf noted. Seeing those tools that the humans were using appeared to be something like the plans that he and Dylan had drawn up and even built some rough prototypes for. But theirs seemed like something cobbled together with scrap in comparison to the sleek and efficient tools that the humans used. Even the strange thing that they rode in to move the dirt made their plans at a golem seem amateurish.

Alban made to place his hand comfortingly on Dylan's shoulder when the gnome exclaimed loudly and pulled some charcoal and paper from his pocket and began to scribble and draw plans and notes aplenty at lightning speed as it seemed inspiration had struck the gnome. Then again, Dylan wasn't one to let things bother him as much as it did Alban. Where Alban saw failure of their work, Dylan saw another step in the road to progress. Where Alban saw better versions of tools that they had spent months even years in designing and building, he saw inspiration for yet more projects to work on.

The dwarf wasn't at all surprised to hear Dylan talking so fast he wasn't sure if he was even breathing. He was almost sure he wasn't when Dylan finally paused to breath, long enough to point behind Alban and mutter.

"Oh no."

Alban turned around and saw three halflings staring at them. All three walked with an air of authority and carried with them clubs. The lead halfling's was tucked in a loop on his belt while the other two carried theirs in their hands. The rest of the halflings seemed quite friendly in comparison, Alban noted as he made to stand between Dylan and the three.

"You tha gnome e'eryone's been fussin' 'bout?" The lead halfling asked as he leaned to the side to cast a wary eye on Dylan.

"Yes?" Dylan squeaked, uncertain if perhaps there was another gnome here as well but he was highly doubtful.

The halfling didn't seem much intimidated by Alban's presence and sauntered over to the dwarf and peered up at him.

"I'm takin' it tha' yer 'is protector?"

Alban grunted and stared down the halfling who nodded in return.

"Well then I'll get straight ta it. Thin's 'round 'ere are mighty tense as is with tha mayor gone fer a bit. E'en when he returns it's likely not ta be gettin' much better. So, do us both a favor, 'nd keep tha gnome outta trouble, ya ken?"

Alban grunted and continued to glare at the halfling as Dylan shuffled nervously behind the dwarf. The halfling merely smiled and tipped his hat to him.

"Good. Keep yer nose clean boyo's 'nd we'll not be seein' one another."

With that warning/threat delivered, the lead halfling departed while whistling a tune while the other two followed along while glaring at Dylan and Alban. He looked familiar, Dylan thought. But he wasn't very liked among the small halfling population of Daele either and he certainly wasn't on first name basis.

But Dylan wasn't going to let a moderate amount of unfriendliness stop him from diving back into all the exciting thoughts he had! All the plans that seemed to strike him like a bolt of lightning after seeing all the tools and strange contraptions the humans used! He was also sure that the heated greenhouse was also of human make as well.

Speaking of, Dylan thought as he hurried to the side of the building with Alban close behind him. From the side he spotted what might be the source of much of the heat. He believed it was called a gen-or-rater. At least that's what the humans of this world called it when he overheard some explaining it to the dwarves and the other laborers back at the hub one day.

It hummed monotonously and it took Alban pulling him back before Dylan could even think of taking a closer look at it. Curiosity killed the gnome after all, Alban thought as he dragged Dylan away before he potentially tinkered with a vital part of the halfling's home.

If Dylan was hurt he didn't show it, instead he seemed more than content and distracted as he continued to mutter and scribble as ideas and plans and future projects rushed to him as they returned to the open patch of ground that was to be their workshop for the time being. While they may not have done what they set out to do, at least they learned something from the venture. At the very least they learned that the humans of this world were a mark more friendly to them and were a possible source of materials if they asked them. Though payment might be a concern, Alban thought as he watched Dylan pick apart the piles of parts in search of something fitting to bring his ideas into the physical plane.

If they were back at the hub then parts and materials were given to them on account of them being subsidiaries of the dwarven clan. But since it seems that their affiliation with the clan is a bit foggy at the moment, he doubt they could rely on them until they showed progress in their mana capacitor.

Perhaps they'll have to return to making tinker toys after all, Alban thought as Dylan got to work on some sort of project, completely unbothered with such thoughts and left such worries for Alban to, well, worry about.