Chapter 1.08
1.08
Erin Solstice confronted a mage using invisibility to scam her, knocked him out with a pan, and made him pay before feeding him. Over a meal of safely prepared Amentus Fruit, they discussed Liscor, Drakes, Wistram Academy, and the possibility that Erin arrived via teleportation. Pisces admitted an interest in necromancy and left, leaving a wary, transactional understanding between them.
Summary
At her inn on the Floodplains of Liscor, Erin Solstice faced down a hungry mage attempting to extort a meal with magic. He appeared with tricks and used invisibility, but Erin struck him with a pan and ended the threat.
When the mage, Pisces, recovered, Erin demanded restitution for his behavior before serving him food. She enforced the deal firmly, shifting the encounter from hostility to a controlled, transactional exchange.
Erin prepared Amentus Fruit, identifying it as edible but hazardous if the core was not removed. She safely carved away the poisonous center, noting she had learned the proper method from Goblins.
While eating, they traded information about the area and themselves. Erin’s status as an Innkeeper came up, and the inn’s location near Liscor was clarified, including that the city and the lands south were Drake-aligned and generally unfriendly to Humans.
Pisces named Wistram Academy as his school and discussed magic. Teleportation was raised as a possible explanation for Erin’s unexplained arrival in the region, though nothing was confirmed.
As their tense meal concluded, Pisces revealed his interest in necromancy, paid what he owed, and departed. The chapter ended with Erin and Pisces holding a wary understanding after their confrontation.
Major Events
Mage’s Invisibility Scam Exposed
Pisces tried to intimidate Erin Solstice for food using magic, including an invisibility spell. Erin struck him with a pan, ending the attempted scam.
Erin Forces Restitution Deal
After Pisces recovered, Erin demanded and received payment for his misconduct before agreeing to serve him a meal.
Amentus Fruit Safely Prepared
Erin identified Amentus Fruit as edible with a poisonous core and prepared it safely, using a method she learned from Goblins.
Liscor and Drakes Discussed
They clarified the inn’s location near Liscor on the Floodplains and noted the Drake-dominated culture’s hostility to Humans. Erin’s Innkeeper role was referenced.
Wistram and Teleportation Revealed
Pisces named Wistram Academy as his school and discussed magic, including teleportation as a possible explanation for Erin’s arrival.
Necromancy Confession and Departure
Pisces revealed his interest in necromancy, finished eating, paid Erin, and left. They parted with a wary understanding.
Major Appearances
A Human mage from Wistram Academy, specialized in Elementalist and Illusionary schools, who admits to necromancy.
aka the young man, the mage +2
A young woman from Earth who stumbles into a fantasy world and takes refuge in an abandoned inn.
aka Erin, the young woman +20
Minor Appearances
A spell that renders the caster unseen.
aka Invisibility spell
A magical discipline focused on death, the dead, and related energies.
A sweet, blue-colored fruit that grows on trees near the inn, serving as a primary food source for Erin and the Goblins.
aka Blue Fruit, Amentus +5
Referenced
Entities by Type
Quotes
“What the—”
“...Huh.”
“What—who dares—?”
“So. You're gonna hurt me if I don't give you food, huh?”
“You struck me? Me? How dare you! I will have you know I am a mage of great power, and I will not be—”
“This. This is a pan.”
“In fact, good Mistress, that is in point of reality—”
“If I say it's a pan, it's a pan. The important part is that I'll hit you with it if you try anything.”
“Oh really?”
“Hey, stop that!”
“Behold my p—”
“Ow!”
“Try that again and I'll hit you harder.”
“Now look here, there's no need for violence, Miss. I can see that you are no ordinary plebian fool but an extraordinary plebian. Believe me when I say that is a high compliment from a practitioner of the arcane such as I.”
“I know what plebian means.”
“Ah.”
“One more insult or stupid little invisibility spell and I'll break something.”
“You—you could tell it was an invisibility spell?”
“What else could it be? I've played D&D.”
“How astute. She's quite intelligent for an [Innkeeper].”
“Ahem. Well, I shall be going. I am—terribly sorry for all that. It was just, ah—a spell which I—desperate times make fools of us all. And clearly, not you. Which is why I shall depart and not trouble you again.”
“My apologies, good [Innkeeper], for all these misunderstandings. Please accept this recompense for your wasted time.”
“So. You're paying me for trying to scare me and steal food?”
“Harshly put, good Mistress. But yes, I would like to make amends. Let us be quits with no further unpleasantness! Or violence. And I am sure this payment is quite acceptable, is it not?”
“You're sweating.”
“Am I? Terribly sorry. Let me just, ah…”
“Some people don't like being threatened by a giant skeletal monster from hell.”
“I-I see?”
“Some people would take violent offense to being scammed.”
“Ah, this is understandable. But may I remind you that traditionally those who practice magic are beings of great power that should not be crossed?”
“Yeah, and they have fragile bones. I'm sure mages are really scary when they're far away, but wands aren't good at blocking frying…pots.”
“Fair point. Let me just amend my fee.”
“I, uh, hope this is sufficient, good Mistress. I am of course willing to pay any dues to—to make amends, but I'm slightly low on coin at the moment.”
“Would, ah, this do?”
“You know, I just wanted to see what would happen if I kept on staring at you.”
“Ah. Of course. Well, as a practitioner of the mystic arts, I feel it is always wise to be…generous.”
“Um. Thank you.”
“It would certainly save time. And you know if you paid for everything, you wouldn't have to try to scare people to get what you want.”
“Uh huh. And you provide that by threatening people with illusions?”
“Where are you going?”
“Come back here and I'll feed you.”
“Ah. Am I supposed to eat this?”
“And I suppose if I don't, you hit me with that pot, correct?”
“Are you aware that, ah, this fruit is poisonous?”
“Highly. The core of the Amentus Fruit causes painful death within hours if eaten. While the outer rind is safe for consumption, the inner seeds are toxic. You are aware of this, right?”
“I see.”
“Do I have the option to refuse?”
“Here. Totally non-poisonous food ready to be eaten. Happy?”
“You're hungry, aren't you? Well, eat this.”
“So, if I might inquire, what is a delicate flower of effervescence doing in such a locale?”
“How rude. My advanced lexicon and diction is merely a result of my education, not a façade that—”
“Fine. I suppose there's no use attempting to impress anyone who actually has the rudiments of an education. But my question remains: what's a young g—woman like you doing out here alone?”
“Lost? It takes quite some skill to wander this far into the Floodplains. Or are you a local? I very much doubt you are, though.”
“This area is known as the Floodplains of Liscor. It's because of a lovely natural phenomenon of the geography and—but you aren't from here, if you don't know about this area. But I would have guessed as much since you are Human. As far as I can tell.”
“The locals don't like Humans that much. Which is a fact anyone in a hundred miles would know. This is the border to the Drake lands to the south. But you…didn't know that, did you?”
“How'd you guess? Actually, you're only half-right, but how'd you guess?”
“They grow that big? No; don't tell me. I don't want to know. But you're right. It was a teleportation spell. Or something. It didn't feel like a spell, but…”
“I'm not. But I'll just bet those kinds of spells make a flash of light or a weird sound, right?”
“And anyways, I didn't see any idiot in robes waving a wand around and shouting 'abracadabra'. And there aren't wizards where I—I mean, I'm sure it wasn't a…I just turned the corner and here I was.”
“Yeah. It's been fun and games ever since.”
“Fascinating as in 'I know what spell that was?'”
“Me?”
“It's not mine. I just found it and somehow became an [Innkeeper] by cleaning up around here.”
“Thanks, I guess. But if it's so lousy—and it is, I totally know—why are you here?”
“Yes, you. I told you why I'm here. What's a raggedy mage doing scaring people for food?”
“Just answer the question.”
“Like pretending to be a horrible monster?”
“I suppose one does. Does it make you feel good, stealing from innocent people?”
“Maybe not. But then again, the only two I've met were quite polite, paid for their meal, and didn't try to threaten me when I first met them. Whereas the first Human I met was you.”
“Here.”
“Ah, but money is so…mundane. Where would the enjoyment in life be without variety?”
“Only on occasion. And I quite understand your irate feelings. However, since I believe all is settled, I shall just…”
“Well, if you have no further need of me…I did pay for my misdeeds, after all. Rather handsomely, I might add, given that no harm was actually done except to my person. So I won't intrude any fu—”
“Here. Blue juice and some blue fruit. I've also got pasta, but I need to warm that up first.”
“Yeah. It's food.”
“What are you talking about? I'm giving you food. Are you allergic to the color blue or something?”
“Poisonous?”
“Um. I am now? I mean, I figured that out earlier. These ones are good. I've checked them.”
“...Want one?”
“Look, it's safe. I've eaten tons of them. Just eat around the core and you'll be fine, okay? I figured out how to check for good ones. See?”
“I suppose the toxicity would be acceptable if it were just the fruit. Well then.”
“My thanks.”
“Are you trying to sound impressive or do you actually talk like that?”
“Stop it. You sound like an idiot.”
“I got lost.”
“Floodplains? What are you talking about?”
“I am completely, 100% Human, thanks. And why does that make a difference?”
“You truly didn't? Well, well. A traveller who doesn't know anything about where she is…teleportation spell? Amnesia magic?”
“It's common. Well, not common exactly, but it's the only explanation I can think of. Back in the Academy…it was not an unheard of phenomenon. I suppose you could have also been carried off by one of the local avian species, but they tend to drop their prey and chew their bones.”
“And you're an expert on [Teleportation] spells? I see.”
“...Perhaps.”
“Really? You just turned a corner and you were in a completely different place?”
“Fascinating. That has to be a very high-level phenomenon or artifact. Seamless teleportation without any visual cues and even sensation at that range? Not even our Archmages could…fascinating indeed.”
“No, no. I have no clue what kind of magic would be capable of that, if any. That sounds like a spell which—well, suffice it to say I know of only a few living mages who might even attempt such a feat. But if you were the target, it still makes no sense. Why would anyone waste such a powerful spell on someone as mundane as…as…”
“Yes, well. I see you've established yourself quite nicely. This is—is quite a lovely establishment you've founded. Very quaint.”
“Indeed. That is quite often the case. However, you seem to have taken to it well. This area is inhospitable to most Humans.”
“Me?”
“My physical appearance has nothing to do with—”
“I, ah, came here to expand my horizons. This part of the continent—well, the local collection of city-states are quite hospitable to those people trying to avoid undue attention. Besides, food is plentiful if one has certain skills.”
“One does what one must to survive.”
“You would not be so quick to judge if you knew more about the people you're defending. Especially this city.”
“I see I've overstayed my welcome. Well, your meal was quite adequate, good Mistress. Please accept my heartfelt gratitude.”
“Me? Oh, I'm Erin. Erin Solstice. And you are?”
“Take them. You look thin, and maybe if you eat them you'll stop bothering other people. Thank you for your business. Come by again and I'll feed you. Try to scare me and I'll hit you harder next time.”
“It occurs to me that I never asked your name.”
“Pisces, practitioner of magic, student of Wistram Academy, specialized in the Elementalist and Illusionary schools of magic with additional competencies in multiple spell schools.”
“...Necromancy.”
“Oh come on.”
“Good for you. Got a hobby?”
“Shall we just say I accept your word? I wouldn't dare question your authority on the subject, good Mistress, it's just that—”