Rumplestelt was the gnome who helped Zivelina onto the throne of Metinna. In exchange, she promised her firstborn to him. However, when Rumplestelt came for the child, Zivelina used magic to banish him. After a while, both the queen and her firstborn died of the plague. Rumplestelt's story is counted among the examples of the Law of Surprise, of the consequences of trying to deny Destiny, and it is referred to in the short story A Question of Price.