Ostrog (from Wells)

Buy the gnome statue in the image above at: https://www.homebase.co.uk/garden-gnome-go-away_p398011

First time at this blog? Check out Home for details on the project and the Character Index for an overview of the projects and characters.

Ostrog (15)

Project: Television mini-series (“Wells”)

Known as: Ostrog

Real name: Ostrog

Group affiliation: None

Physical description: Ostrog is a gnome. He’s around three feet tall, portly, with short arms and legs. His fingers, however, are long and dexterous. His beard is dark brown but with blond highlights that almost look like gold embedded in rock. He is totally bald, and never wears hats.

Personality: Ostrog is determined and can be fierce in the pursuit of his goals. He is an ends justifies the means sort, and feels almost any act can be justified by the fact that he and his people have been mistreated. He wears his “champion of the gnomes” (a self-given title) sobriquet like a badge of honor, but in truth he is extremely selfish. In his mind, his best interests are all gnome’s best interest and if he is elevated above other gnomes that is fair given his efforts, no?

History: The gnomes of Serpent Vale were a happy group. Local legend had it that their valley had been formed when I friendly, enormous snake settled itself into a large U shape to take a nap. This nap lasted for millennia and mountains formed on the snake’s back forming the dale. While comfortable and happy, the gnomes looked forward to when the Sleeper (as they named the snake) would wake as they believed their mighty patron would lead them to an even greater land of increased prosterity.

For centuries, the wizards of the White Council had a contract with the gnomes of Serpent Vale. The council provided protection and choice magical knowledge in exchange for the gnomes using their exceptional craftsman abilities to create magical artifacts for the wizards. The wizards then kept choice pieces for themselves but sold much of it for a handsome profit.

At first this was a mutually acceptable arrangement. As time passed though the White Council became more and more impressed with its own importance as a bastion of goodness and magic. The members felt it was reasonable to ask more of the gnomes as the council not only was of tremendous benefit to the gnomes, but the world at large. Eventually the wizards realized they could spread more good magic in the world if they had the gnomes produce many simpler magical objects (e.g., glowing amulets) rather than the slow to create exquisite artifacts that the gnomes loved to make. The fact that this was more profitable was a happy side effect.

As the White Council’s benevolence continued to swell, they decided they should provide for the gnome’s basic needs (food and clothing and the like). Again, a side benefit: the gnomes could focus more on their crafting. The wizards even provided extra security and hired guards to make sure no thieves would attempt to steal their wares. The wizards even found that the guards were an inspiration to the gnomes to increase production still more.

The gnomes saw the situation differently (and honestly, more clearly). Them raising with the White Council that they were being mistreated fell on deaf ears (“We shall think on it and decide what is best for all.”). More strenuous objections got them treatment like unruly children. While revolution was contemplated by the gnomes, the wizards were powerful entities who had placed guards in the community. Many lamented and dreamed of the Sleeper awakening.

One gnome, Ostrog, was a little different from his brethren. More determined, angrier, and with more vision. He began to lead a group of the gnomes he could convince into some mild forms of rebellions (e.g., those glowing amulets didn’t glow for long). In secret, he and some others began creating and stocking magical items of a decidedly more martial variety. He sewed seeds of discontent and waited for his opportunity.

It came when he, another gnome, and a guard were checking stores. The other gnome accidentally pulled a stack of crates down upon himself and was killed. Ostrog, knowing that the guard had a reputation for anger saw his opportunity. Ostrog cried for help, and when others came accused the guard of pushing the crates on to his fellow in anger. The guard denied by also bristled at Ostrog’s accusation and his anger seemed to lend credence to Ostrog’s story. A line and a shouting match formed between the guards and gnomes.

No one knows who struck first. But soon the guards were fighting the gnomes surprisingly armed with magical weapons. The guards were unprepared, both numerically and tactically, for the sudden savage attack of the gnomes. Soon several guards and gnomes lay dead, while the remaining guards were driven off.

Ostrog became the leader of the newly liberated gnomes, and quickly began to fortify their community and moved all new manufacturing to weapons. The White Council was split on what action to take. Some said that on principle the gnome’s ingratitude and murder could not stand and argued for reprisal. A few sided with the gnomes; those that had been harboring reservations about their treatment of the gnomes.

Ultimately the most pragmatic group won out. This group suggested that they did not really need the gnomes’ craftsmanship for the more basic magical items that had become most profitable. Those skilled in creating golems and other artificial lifeforms thought they could make some that might repeat endlessly the steps in creating these simple devices. This not only alleviated the need to go to war, but actually gave the wizards a still more profitable alternative. They sent word that they would respect the gnomes’ independence but warned the gnomes would one day regret their choice.

The gnomes were at first ecstatic and Ostrog was a hero. But problems emerged. The gnomes did not have the necessary reserves of food and had not planted crops and no longer kept herds of animals. They feared that in the absence of the White Council some other group might attempt to subjugate them. It was Ostrog that realized that their stores of magic items had value and proposed selling and trading them for the resources the gnomes needed.

This saved the gnomes, however this would not last forever unless new items were crafted. Ostrog told his people that they would craft again but this time to their own benefit. The gnomes began to craft again with a renewed sense of pride.

Unfortunately they found themselves in competition with the White Council, so Ostrog called on his people to toil at greater levels. Ostrog promised them that one day they would again craft the most extraordinary items, but during their moment of crisis they still needed to produce the most profitable. The government would provide them with the food that they needed, so they could focus on their work. To protect his people, he created group of armed soldiers who stood watch. These soldiers also addressed any conflict among the gnomes and helped make sure each gnome was doing his or her part. Ostrog himself, carrying the burden of leadership, did not craft and had some comforts others lacked.

Many lamented and dreamed of the Sleeper awakening.

One day the gnomes though the Sleeper, while still slumbering, aided them as Ostrog simply vanished. This time the gnomes managed to return to the simpler times before the White Council had first made them a deal.

As you might have guessed, Wells had written a story (“The Sleeper Awakens”) to bind the gnomes’ magic to science. While he thought the gnomes themselves were gone, he hoped some of their magic items might still be about. Of course, when Wells came forward in time Ostrog was caught up in the spell explaining his disappearance.

Now Ostrog is in modern times. He still has his knowledge of crafting magical weapons, and there is a certain witch tied to a local crime organization

Role in the narrative: The social/class commentary here is probably pretty obvious here (see Inspirations for more). Ostrog will also spread magic weapons around that will cause more problems for Morgan. Ostrog will resent the stuffings out of Baba Yaga, seeing her as a modern White Council. Basically, Ostrog is a wild card that can cause issues for any of the other characters, and make seek to exploit and manipulate them.

Abilities: Ostrog is a skilled magical craftsman and talented at communicating and manipulating. All gnomes are unusually long-lived.

Inspirations: You might think Animal Farm is an inspiration here (the revolutionaries ultimately becoming indistinguishable from the oppressors). However, take a look at H. G. Wells’ “The Sleeper Awakes” and you’ll find that the theme is there (Ostrog was a revolutionary that ultimate exploits the working class in that story). BTW, the White Council were the oppressors in that story as well (how nice for a move to a fantasy retelling, no?).