Gnome Boat War

"It's not enough." Zempert Grillmott snapped. "We need that space for the Great Ship project." He glared around the square table of his most senior family advisors, who all nodded in agreement. "There is only one yard big enough to handle it."   "We could build one, expand the-," Lemwik's suggestion was cut off as Zempert snapped.   "That would take too long. We need the Kreegan shipyard. And we need it now."   "But-."   "We need to take the shipyard now, or they will take this project to Kreegan themselves. That will be the end of this family!"   Suddenly sickened faces stared back at him as a silence stretched beyond awkward.   "How?" Lemwik finally asked in a shocked whisper.   "I have a plan." Zempert's grin widened their eyes with a terrified hope.

  The Gnome Boat War in Swenik, the realm of the coastal gnomes, was not fought on a battlefield with armies and death, but in society with back-handed deals, lies, and trickery. It all came about when the Nilmerk, the grand council house that ruled the Swenik from their capital in Triamon, decided they needed to make a flagship for their navy. This ship had to be the greatest ship ever built by gnomes, and capable of leading a victorious assault against any KarNodge ship, which were all suspiciously built in human shipyards. The fact that, at this time, all "bigger folk" ships were built by humans was not worthy of consideration.   In Triamon, there were two shipyards: Grillmott Cove and Kreegan Sound. The biggest one was Kreegan. The Nilmerk decided against asking them to handle the building of their flagship, as it would have been costly. All the berths at Kreegans were currently full, and tradition demanded that a recuppance be paid should the Nilmerk insist on their project taking over a berth. So, they turned to Grillmott.   Desperate to finally be seen as the greatest shipbuilders, the Grillmott family launched a campaign of false rumors against Kreegan begun by well-paid gossip mongers. Shameful ones like: "Did you know they keep a dowager aunt locked up under a hill?" and "The Kreegans shave their coins, so what other things are they shaving?" This was followed by sabotage and falsely planted "evidence".   At first, the Kreegans fought back. As the rumors and sabotage continued, so did the costs. Grillmott had stronger ties within the Nilmerk, which meant it would be even more costly. Faced with having to nearly deplete their family coffers for a fair chance of winning, the Kreegans decided to make a very different choice. Years ago, a cousin had started a riverboat building business within the human kingdom of Miribex. It was nothing more than a hobby shop, but the allowance he gifted to the family every year was impressive.   Correspondence had been sent and, on the eve of the Gnome Boat War reaching the end of the first year, the cousin's reply arrived. He had agreed to allow the family to join his shop and expand it into a much grander business. The Kreegan's immediately prepared, packing up everything in secret. Then, on the day they sailed away from Swenik, they delivered the deeds to the Nilmerk and papers declaring the Kreegan Sound Shipyard was a gift to all Swenik. They also stated it was to be managed by the Nilmerk itself. They also publicly announced it, setting the citizens of Triamon rejoicing in the streets.   The Grillmotts were devastated. They had expended nearly everything to get the Kreegan shipyard, only to have it become a public works. Grillmotts were hired to design and work at the Kreegan Sound, which became the first naval shipyard. This, however, did not bring in the great wealth they had fought for. The Grillmotts are now considered the best shipbuilders, but not the most beloved. That honor goes to the Kreegans as their wonderous gift continues to be celebrated in a great festival every year.   Meanwhile, the Kreegans have taken to building river and other freshwater boats. KorilloKreegan, the brilliant cousin, has designed magically driven boats, a concept the rest of the Kreegan family is determined to expand from boats to ships. It is an ongoing process of experimentation that the family is fully invested in. The sales of these small, magically moving boats are funding their bigger, and still secret, builds. Someday soon, they will be ready for launch!