Who are you?

I am your uncle, Holben Burdock, famous explorer and treasure-seeker. Well, that was in my younger days. Now I'm a farmer, but I have a stack of great tales to tell. Why, did I ever tell you about the time when I met the King of the Ogres? It....

Who are we?

We are Kender. We are the eyes and ears of the world. Why, there isn't a thing that misses us. Did I ever tell you about the time when I found a magic ring just lying there in the grass? I....

What makes us great?

Are you kidding? Everything makes us great! We are tough, we are brave, we like stories and jokes and laughter. Every race on Krynn loves the company of Kender. The King of Kalaman once told me that he would replace all his courtiers with Kender if he could, because then he would know true joy.

Where do we live?

We live wherever we want to. Here in Goodlund is our homeland and where you will find the most Kender. Across the other side of the world is a Kender land called Hilo. Once, a whole bunch of our people got on board a flying castle which carried them there, and that's where they stayed. Of course, you are just beginning to feel the stirrings of Wanderlust, which will drive you to explore the world. Many Kender choose to stay wherever they are when Wanderlust leaves them, and of course they are welcomed in by the local people.

How do we live?

Oh, we farm a bit, hunt a bit, even just gather the fruit of the forest. Goodlund is kind to us, and so it is not too hard to get by. Sometimes non-Kender come to trade, or to explore the Ruins, but they do not stay long because they cannot stand to be so happy. Trade is a strange thing anyway - it implies things can belong to just one person. How can this be? Surely everyone has an equal right to anything they want?

What is important to us?

Everything is important to us. I know you are curious just like myself - always wanting to see what's around the corner, what's inside the box. I've always said if you want to find out, see for yourself. The non-Kender like to fight and argue over lines on a map, or gold or other silly stuff like that. They're pretty stupid really, as they haven't figured out that they can't hang on to it forever.

Who rules us?

Hmm...good question. I think it's Kronin Thistleknot at the moment. If he can still be bothered, or if anyone still listens to him.

What makes a person great?

Ho! I would have to say if you made the biggest and best map ever, you would be the greatest Kender on Krynn!

What is evil?

That's a tricky question. Are you sure you haven't been hanging around with elves? They like thinking about silly things like "What is good?", "What is evil?". Well, on my travels I saw a lot of things, and some of them weren't too nice, I can tell you. Folks can be pretty unpleasant to one another, so I guess I'd have to say that was evil.

What is my lot in life?

Soon I expect you'll be off to see the wide world, and then who can say what'll happen to you. Keep your hoopak handy and your wits about you and you'll be fine. Make sure you come back and tell your old uncle all the things you've seen.

How do we deal with others?

I found that walking up to them and saying "Hello, I'm Holben Burdock" was the best way. Except with goblins - I think it's probably best to give them a few choice insults and then stick 'em with your hoopak. They just ain't polite. Oh, and watch out because a lot of the folks out there really have this funny notion about things "belonging" to them, like I said just now. They get all antsy if you borrow things from them, even accuse you of being a thief. I know, how rude! Just try not to let them get you upset, they don't mean it.

Who are our enemies?

Enemies are folks that don't like you, and everyone loves us, so we have no enemies. Well, maybe the goblins have got no sense of humour (so it's great to tease them! Did I ever tell you...? I did? Oh well. Maybe another time). Anyway, we have no enemies. Watch out for Forest Trolls though. They aren't our enemies because they eat anyone, but be careful.

Who are our gods?

Well, the gods have never really paid much attention to us. SkyBlade the Eagle made the world, along with Sky Mistress the Dove. But they are kept busy with making the sun rise and set, the trees grow and that sort of thing. Song Master, who sometimes appears as a Cricket, sometimes a Frog and sometimes a Nightingale, he is our friend. Song Master released fire for everyone and he tricked the wicked Dragon Woman into eating her own tail, he told us how to make hoopaks and how to tell stories. In honour of him, we tell stories of all his deeds.

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