Chapter 1.08
1.08
A young mage named Pisces tries to intimidate Erin Solstice into giving him food using an illusion, but she knocks him unconscious with a frying pan. After a tense negotiation, she feeds him in exchange for payment and learns his name just before he departs. A strange new acquaintance is formed.
Summary
While working in The Wandering Inn, Erin Solstice is interrupted by the arrival of a young Human man. The stranger, a mage, attempts to intimidate her by casting an Invisibility Spell, demanding food while threatening her. Unimpressed by the simple illusion, Erin swiftly knocks the mage unconscious with a frying pan.
After waking him with a bucket of water, a tense confrontation ensues. The mage is arrogant and indignant, but Erin maintains control by threatening him with her pan. She sees through his bravado, correctly identifying his spell and calling him out on his foolish attempt at robbery. The mage, humbled, admits he is starving.
Despite her annoyance, Erin takes pity on him but refuses to be a victim. She forces the mage to trade some strange, pale Amentus Fruit in exchange for a proper meal. While he eats, their conversation becomes less hostile, and Erin learns he is traveling to Liscor.
After he finishes his meal, the mage prepares to leave. Before he departs, he formally introduces himself as Pisces. Erin invites him to visit The Wandering Inn again, on the condition that he behaves, signaling the beginning of a complex new relationship.
Major Events
A Mage Attempts Intimidation
A young Human mage enters The Wandering Inn and casts an Invisibility Spell in an attempt to intimidate Erin Solstice and demand food from her.
Erin Overpowers the Intruder
Seeing through the flawed illusion, Erin Solstice knocks Pisces unconscious with her frying pan. She wakes him with water and uses the threat of the pan to control the situation.
A Barter for Food
After a heated argument, Erin agrees to feed the starving mage, but only after she forces him to pay with the Amentus Fruit he carries.
Pisces Reveals His Name
As the mage prepares to leave for Liscor, he introduces himself as Pisces. Erin extends an invitation for him to return to the inn under more peaceful circumstances.
Major Appearances
A Human mage from Wistram Academy, specialized in Elementalist and Illusionary schools, who admits to necromancy.
aka the young man, the mage +5
Small inn where Erin is present; currently occupied by her. Noted by the Watch as having been abandoned years ago but Erin is using it; the Drake and Klbkch enter here to investigate.
aka the inn, Abandoned hilltop inn +13
A young woman from Earth who stumbles into a fantasy world and takes refuge in an abandoned inn.
aka Erin, the young woman +31
Minor Appearances
The geographical region surrounding Liscor that periodically floods.
aka Floodplains, the Floodplains
A class focused on running inns, hospitality, and tending to guests and establishments.
aka [Innkeeper], Innkeeper (class) +2
A high-tier magical ability that relocates a target instantly.
aka [Teleportation], [Teleportation] spell
A species of which Erin Solstice is a member.
aka Humans, smooth skin +2
A spell that renders the caster unseen.
aka Invisibility spell, Invisibility Spell
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 +6
Entities by Type
Quotes
“What the—”
“Oh really?”
“One more insult or stupid little invisibility spell and I’ll break something.”
“You’re sweating.”
“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.”
“Where are you going?”
“Are you aware that, ah, this fruit is poisonous?”
“Shall we just say I accept your word? I wouldn’t dare question your authority on the subject, good Mistress, it’s just that—”
“How rude. My advanced lexicon and diction is merely a result of my education, not a façade that—”
“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?”
“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.”
“It’s not mine. I just found it and somehow became an [Innkeeper] by cleaning up around here.”
“Like pretending to be a horrible monster?”
“Um. Thank you.”
“…Huh.”
“Hey, stop that!”
“You—you could tell it was an invisibility spell?”
“Am I? Terribly sorry. Let me just, ah…”
“Would, ah, this do?”
“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—”
“Poisonous?”
“Oh come on.”
“Stop it. You sound like an idiot.”
“You truly didn’t? Well, well. A traveller who doesn’t know anything about where she is…teleportation spell? Amnesia magic?”
“Really? You just turned a corner and you were in a completely different place?”
“Indeed. That is quite often the case. However, you seem to have taken to it well. This area is inhospitable to most Humans.”
“One does what one must to survive.”
“It occurs to me that I never asked your name.”
“What—who dares—?”
“Behold my p—”
“What else could it be? I’ve played D&D.”
“Some people don’t like being threatened by a giant skeletal monster from hell.”
“You know, I just wanted to see what would happen if I kept on staring at you.”
“Come back here and I’ll feed you.”
“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?”
“Here. Totally non-poisonous food ready to be eaten. Happy?”
“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?”
“How’d you guess? Actually, you’re only half-right, but how’d you guess?”
“Yeah. It’s been fun and games ever since.”
“Thanks, I guess. But if it’s so lousy—and it is, I totally know—why are you here?”
“I suppose one does. Does it make you feel good, stealing from innocent people?”
“Me? Oh, I’m Erin. Erin Solstice. And you are?”
“So. You’re gonna hurt me if I don’t give you food, huh?”
“Ow!”
“How astute. She’s quite intelligent for an [Innkeeper].”
“I-I see?”
“Ah. Of course. Well, as a practitioner of the mystic arts, I feel it is always wise to be…generous.”
“Here. Blue juice and some blue fruit. I’ve also got pasta, but I need to warm that up first.”
“Um. I am now? I mean, I figured that out earlier. These ones are good. I’ve checked them.”
“I suppose the toxicity would be acceptable if it were just the fruit. Well then.”
“I got lost.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Me?”
“You struck me? Me? How dare you! I will have you know I am a mage of great power, and I will not be—”
“Try that again and I’ll hit you harder.”
“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.”
“Some people would take violent offense to being scammed.”
“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.”
“Ah. Am I supposed to eat this?”
“I see.”
“You’re hungry, aren’t you? Well, eat this.”
“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. This is a pan.”
“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.”
“My apologies, good [Innkeeper], for all these misunderstandings. Please accept this recompense for your wasted time.”
“In fact, good Mistress, that is in point of reality—”
“I know what plebian means.”
“So. You’re paying me for trying to scare me and steal food?”
“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.”
“Uh huh. And you provide that by threatening people with illusions?”
“And I suppose if I don’t, you hit me with that pot, correct?”
“Do I have the option to refuse?”
“So, if I might inquire, what is a delicate flower of effervescence doing in such a locale?”
“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.”
“I’m not. But I’ll just bet those kinds of spells make a flash of light or a weird sound, right?”
“Me?”
“Just answer the question.”
“Here.”
“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.”
“Ah.”
“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?”
“Fair point. Let me just amend my fee.”
“Only on occasion. And I quite understand your irate feelings. However, since I believe all is settled, I shall just…”
“What are you talking about? I’m giving you food. Are you allergic to the color blue or something?”
“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?”
“Are you trying to sound impressive or do you actually talk like that?”
“I am completely, 100% Human, thanks. And why does that make a difference?”
“…Perhaps.”
“Yes, well. I see you’ve established yourself quite nicely. This is—is quite a lovely establishment you’ve founded. Very quaint.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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?”
“Ah, but money is so…mundane. Where would the enjoyment in life be without variety?”
“Yeah. It’s food.”
“…Want one?”
“My thanks.”
“Floodplains? What are you talking about?”
“And you’re an expert on [Teleportation] spells? I see.”
“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…”
“My physical appearance has nothing to do with—”
“I see I’ve overstayed my welcome. Well, your meal was quite adequate, good Mistress. Please accept my heartfelt gratitude.”
“…Necromancy.”
“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…”
“Fascinating as in ‘I know what spell that was?’”
“Yes, you. I told you why I’m here. What’s a raggedy mage doing scaring people for food?”
“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.”
“Good for you. Got a hobby?”
“You would not be so quick to judge if you knew more about the people you’re defending. Especially this city.”
“Pisces, practitioner of magic, student of Wistram Academy, specialized in the Elementalist and Illusionary schools of magic with additional competencies in multiple spell schools.”