Gloomy Dungeon

You head into the darkness. As you are about to retreat again because of this desolate nothingness, a light appears just ahead. You rush the last few paces and find yourself facing a haggard looking being, reaching about your waist-height. Dimly you remember having heard about things like this.. ".. a gnome?", you gasp.

 

"Yeah, what'cher lookin' at?", he growls and turns back to polishing the shovel he is carrying. It takes you a few moments to recover from this surprise, but then you glimpse past the gnome. There, on the cupboard behind the gnome, you can see straw, pieces of dirty cloth and glittering trinkets, but most of all, you see five brushes neatly arranged next to a broken teacup!

 

You step forward. Immediately the gnome blocks your path with his spiny figure. "What'cher up to?", he asks, so you tell him your story. "Well, I see y'er needin' them brushes but I can't just giv'em to you. Belong to them squirrels." After you explain exactly HOW desperately you need them the gnome grunts and says: "Ah, you wanna take on the riddles, eh?"

 

Riddles? Why bother. The gnome is so small he probably can't stop you, if you force your way through. On the other hand, you did hear some riddles before and just maybe figure out the answer. Will you take the trial?