Narramapping...
Narramapping...
Chapter 1.39 R
Ryoka travels back to Celum while reflecting on the geography, history, and major political powers of Innworld. She formally meets Sostrom Reidez, who uses magic to fix her iPhone, while Ceria realizes she made a dangerous mistake with Ryoka's potions.
Ryoka Griffin returns to Celum by cart. During her travels and while searching for work at the Runner's Guild in other cities like Wales, she contemplates the extensive history and geography of the Innworld. She learns that the current historical era is known as The Waning World. Ryoka reviews the various continents and their major powers, including the Blighted Kingdom's eternal war in Rhir, the infighting Kings and Queens of Terandria, the dominant mercenary companies of Baleros, and the Minotaur King in the House of Minos. She also considers the icy limits of the world, known as The Last Tide, and the various sapient species like the aquatic Drowned Folk.
Upon returning to the Runner's Guild in Celum, Ryoka interacts with the Horns of Hammerad. The male mage of the group formally introduces himself to her as Sostrom Reidez. Ryoka presents her heavily damaged iPhone 4 to him, and Sostrom uses a [Repair] spell. The magic perfectly restores the broken device's physical condition, impressing Ryoka.
Meanwhile, Ceria comes to a sudden and alarming realization. She discovers that during a previous exchange, she accidentally gave Ryoka mana potions instead of the health potions she had intended to provide.
Ryoka reflects on the geography and major political powers of the Innworld, learning about The Waning World and various continents.
Ryoka travels by cart, visiting cities like Wales to look for work before returning to the Celum Runner's Guild.
A half-Elf mage belonging to the Horns of Hammerad who offers Ryoka a taboo alternative for her leg.
aka Ceria, Springwalker +1
A guild in Liscor, likely for couriers or messengers.
aka Street Runners, The Guild +2
An independent city-state located near the High Passes.
The male mage of the Horns of Hammerad formally introduces himself to Ryoka as Sostrom Reidez.
Sostrom casts a [Repair] spell to perfectly restore the physical condition of Ryoka's broken iPhone 4.
Ceria realizes that she accidentally gave Ryoka mana potions instead of health potions.
A popular, passive-aggressive senior Runner who attempts to dictate which jobs newcomers can take.
aka Fleetfoot Fals
One of the [Mages] in the Horns of Hammerad.
aka the wispy-haired [Mage], the [Mage] Sostrom +2
A scarred warrior member of the Horns of Hammerad.
aka the armored warrior
A rival runner whom Ryoka suspects holds a grudge.
aka Miss Persua, a fellow City Runner
A large, competent Silver-rank adventuring party led by Calruz.
aka The Horns, Silver-rank team +2
A large city thirty miles from Remendia with good inns and its own Runner's Guild.
A receptionist is a class responsible for greeting visitors and providing information, exemplified by Selys at the Adventurer's Guild.
aka The female receptionist, The receptionist +3
A sturdy, friendly Runner who carries massive loads and persistently tries to befriend Ryoka.
aka Garia, Miss Garia +1
A male receptionist at the Runner's Guild in Wales.
aka the receptionist
A Street Runner who acts as one of Persua's sidekicks.
A receptionist at the Celum Runner's Guild.
aka female receptionist
A wealthy and cheerful Human noblewoman known for her eccentric taste in the color pink.
aka Lady Magnolia Reinhart, Lady Magnolia +7
A spell capable of fixing physical damage in objects.
The Human vice-captain of the Horns of Hammerad.
aka the vice-captain, vice-captain of the Horns of Hammerad +2
“Ryoka—”
“…Third Runner we’ve lost so far. Pestrom.”
“What? No. He was an experienced City Runner—Level 19! I—I saw him just the other week. I thought you said no one went—”
“I didn’t know he was going. He talked about it, and I thought I talked him out of it. I guess he wanted to go in secret. We wouldn’t have known what happened if that [Shepherd] didn’t find his pack. Damn it. The Guild has to take down that request.”
“But he had an enchanted shortsword. He wasn’t an adventurer, and I know that’s not high-level compared to a Courier, not by half—”
“None of that matters in the High Passes, Garia. The monsters there—you’d need fighting skills or insanely high levels—something above Level 30 probably to get out unscathed. I told Pestrom that when he brought it up and he told me…I guess he didn’t take me seriously.”
“You’ve got to do something about it, Fals. The reward’s gone up to eighty gold. Eighty! A bunch of the new Street Runners—they know it’s dangerous. But for that kind of money…”
“Stenei, don’t let any Runners take that open request. Spread the word to the other Guilds. Anyone who tries to take the High Passes request will die. We need it off the requests board.”
“We can’t take it down, Fals. You know guild policy. Even with the new Guildmaster—it’s still a request.”
“I know. But you could, ah, suggest to other Runners not to take the request, right? Believe me, it would save lives.”
“We already do that. I’m sorry about Pestrom, I really am.”
“Then…what if this request just happened to be hidden below other ones on all the boards in the other guilds? It happens. Organization can be bad. It’s not against any rules, is it?”
“I could ask about that. Let me just pen a [Message]…I think you’re right, Fals.”
“In that case, Garia and I will tell the other Runners to spread the word and let everyone know what happened to Pestrom. Thanks, Stenei, you’re a lifesaver. Literally.”
“There’s no need for flattery, Fals. Anyways, don’t you have a lot of work to do?”
“I always have time to chat with a lovely lady. How’re the kids? Are you—”
“Hey. Got a request for me?”
“Ryoka! You’re on your feet!”
“Garia, put me down—Garia!”
“Ryoka. It’s so great to see you! Your legs are healed—that’s incredible! That’s impossible!”
“Did Magnolia Reinhart do it like she said? She’s so generous!”
“Totally unlike the rest of her family, no matter what they say about her.”
“You done?”
“Sorry—I’m just so glad you’re well. Where did you go? Tenbault?”
“No, Liscor.”
“Liscor?”
“It’s a long story. I had help from some adventurers, not the Healer of Tenbault. They fixed me up.”
“Wh—really? There’s a high-level [Healer] in Liscor?”
“Something like that. Anyways, I just got back. Any interesting running requests around?”
“Ryoka, this is so great. You have to tell me what happened! Let’s get a drink—or visit my home! I mean—you’re well! And guess what happened to Persua and the Guildmaster?”
“Oh, yeah. Did you hear about that, Ryoka?”
“I may have. Persua’s a Street Runner now? Oh, that’s terrible. What happened? Did she get her just desserts? Or did someone realize she’s nowhere near a City Runner’s level?”
“So you did know what happened.”
“I heard it on the way here. What, is it a problem? Us runners have to stick together, so if Persua needs some guidance—I’m sure I can give her tips.”
“Nah, Ryoka. I think it’s all sorted, right?”
“Hey. I’m back.”
“Miss Ryoka! It’s wonderful to see you on your feet.”
“Thanks…uh, Stenei, right?”
“Correct! How can I help you?”
“Um—contracts. Any big ones for City Runners? Or me specifically?”
“Actually, Miss Griffin, we have several open contracts for you.”
“Wh—really?”
“They’re all for Lady Reinhart, and they list you as the only Runner. If you’d like to take a look.”
“Pass.”
“But Miss Griffin, these are urgent, and the Guild—”
“I don’t want a delivery for Magnolia Reinhart. Anything else for me not from her? No? Okay, I guess it’s regular deliveries, then.”
“But Miss Griffin, it’s very, very lucrative and not that difficult—”
“Nevermind that. I’ll just take this one to Remendia and—”
“Miss Griffin, I am so sorry, but the Guild would like you to take Magnolia’s requests. Before you take another one.”
“What’re you talking about? This one is open. I’m free. Put me down.”
“I can’t do that, Miss Griffin. The Guildmaster has orders—and the other Guilds do too. Here’s a quick delivery to Lady Reinhart. Sugar from the north. You can pick it up right in the city.”
“No. Put me down for…”
“Miss Griffin? It’s not hard to do it. Just one quick delivery and I’m sure we’ll be allowed to give you all the ones you want.”
“Yeah, I’m sure. Forget about it. I’ll try another Guild.”
“It’s been four days.”
“And you’re telling me that there are no requests? Except of course for Magnolia.”
“We don’t want to get in your way, Ryoka—”
“Oh really? Then stop taking all the delivery requests.”
“We’d love to. Really. But Ryoka, it would be best if you took one of Magnolia’s requests first.”
“Why?”
“Lady Magnolia’s refusing to take any other requests until you deliver something in person. That’s hurting Runners in every city around here.”
“So? Just do the deliveries yourself. She’ll take them if I don’t deliver anything.”
“We’d like to, really we would, Ryoka. But Lady Magnolia—no one tells her what to do, Ryoka. Take a look at her requests, won’t you? It wouldn’t even be that hard.”
“Hot peppers? Cabbages? She could get that in any market.”
“But she wants a Runner. You, specifically.”
“So until she gets one, I won’t get any other jobs, is that it? And I’m supposed to ask her to let other Runners take her requests, right?”
“We wouldn’t say that.”
“Oh?”
“If you’d—suggest to Lady Magnolia that she open up her delivery requests for every Runner, things would be—smoother.”
“Right. And you all get paid so everyone’s happy?”
“So until then, you’re all going to keep taking the requests.”
“Too bad I’m not a coward.”
“We’re just doing our jobs, Ryoka. But you’re right. We’re working together on this, Runners and the Guild.”
“I don’t like being pressured. By anyone.”
“Ryoka, I completely agree with you. But please, look at it from the perspective of the rest of us Runners.”
“We’re a team. Okay, sure we don’t all get along, but if every Runner was out for themselves, it’d be a mess. We work together to tackle hard assignments, and we share the wealth so everyone gets ahead.”
“We’re Runners. We might charge high prices, but we get the job done! And if some people don’t like that, it’s because they don’t understand how tough our jobs really are. We risk life and limb to help others.”
“So if we work together—if we help support each other—we’ll survive. Hundreds of Runners die every year, but the Guilds around here lost the least amount of Runners each year. We don’t take dangerous requests, and we team up if one of us is in danger. Sure, we might not earn as much as other Runners, but we know we can count on each other.”
“Nice speech. But you’re full of shit.”
“You want to talk about Runners and preach about playing nice and sticking together? Fine. But leave me out of your little party.”
“I’m a barefoot runner. If I cared about what people thought, I wouldn’t run at all. Runners run. We deliver stuff. It’s a job, not a calling.”
“I couldn’t care less whether or not you lot like me. All I’m here to do is deliver stuff and get paid. I don’t want Magnolia’s stupid requests. If you lot want to earn favor with her, deal with it and leave me out of it. You should want me to not work with her. You think I’m trying to be her special, personal Runner?”
“We’d like to believe you, Ryoka, but—”
“You think I’m lying?”
“I don’t lie. And I hate liars. When you make a promise, you keep it. When you speak, you look someone in the eye and mean every word. When I say I’ll do something, I mean it. If you want to do deliveries to Magnolia, take the damn requests. I don’t care about your politics.”
“But if you get in my way, I’ll kick your face in.”
“This one. I’ll take the request for the High Passes.”
“What?”
“That one’s—but you can’t—”
“Not a good idea, Ryoka.”
“The High Passes aren’t a place for Runners or even most adventurers. Whoever put that request in doesn’t know what they’re doing. You shouldn’t take it.”
“Why not? There’s nothing else for me to do.”
“Unless you want to do it? I’ll follow you out to make sure you get it done.”
“That’s what I thought. I’m doing the request.”
“You’ll die!”
“Ryoka, Fals is right. This is serious. Just take one of Magnolia’s requests! The High Passes—”
“I’ll survive. And I’ll complete the request even if it’s dangerous—not just for money. Apparently, that’s all Runners think about.”
“Persua. What’re you doing here? Don’t cause a scene.”
“Are you going to try and stop me too? Hi, Persua. I’d love for you to try.”
“I don’t need to do anything. You’re going to die in the High Passes.”
“Oh really?”
“Why do you think none of the experienced Runners take those kinds of requests? We’re smart enough not to risk our lives. We work together, not like you. You’ll die alone because you’re a fool.”
“You’re probably right.”
“If I do it your way, I probably would live long enough to retire. And maybe I’d even earn a lot of money, who knows? And if I kiss your ass long enough, maybe you’d even like me. If I were like the rest of you, I’d never take this request.”
“I’ll keep them off your backs if I can. But they’re angry. Really, really angry.”
“They’re pissed off because I told them what I thought of their little cult?”
“I didn’t—I don’t agree with everything Fals said, Ryoka, but I think he’s right in some ways. I think you’re right too, though. But you’re special. You—you can do deliveries by yourself, but some of us need to work together. Without the way the Guild does things, we’d get hurt way more often.”
“So we work together and drag everyone down who doesn’t agree with us, is that it?”
“I didn’t say it was perfect.”
“Pack mentality. And Fals thinks he knows everything. Are we dogs or gods?”
“We’re neither. We’re just people, Ryoka. And they’re not perfect, I know. But we can’t all be like you. Some of us have to work together to survive.”
“I’d like to be able to run like you. But I can’t. I’m too slow—I can only carry really heavy stuff instead of fast requests. If it weren’t for the way the Guild works, I wouldn’t be able to run.”
“…I know. But I won’t answer to them.”
“Couldn’t you—couldn’t you just talk to Magnolia? Would it be that hard to just ask her…?”
“In some ways, no. But in some ways, yeah. I’m not doing it either way.”
“I thought you’d say that. I told Fals you would.”
““When are you going to go?””
““Now. Fals and the other Runners will probably try to stop me if I don’t. I know Persua will.””
““Okay, okay.””
““Go. I’ll try and keep them busy for a little bit. And don’t die, okay?””
““Let me get this straight. You’re going on a dangerous delivery, and you need our help. And…you want us to take your belongings?””
““I’m going to be gone for at least a day, and the other Runners are probably going to trash my room while I’m gone.””
““Why would they do that?””
““If Persua’s anything like the other girls I’ve known, that’s one of the first things she’ll do. Good thing I don’t have any shoes so she can’t fill them with thumbtacks.””
““We’ll guard your things. Runners wouldn’t dare break into the Adventurer’s Guild, and we have our own storage space. But what’s this about help? We could escort you to the outskirts of the Passes, but Calruz isn’t here, and we’re understrength. And frankly, even at our best, we wouldn’t be able to go far into the Passes.””
““I don’t need an escort. I just need supplies. Healing potions—food—I’d buy it myself, but I don’t have any money. I’ll pay you back—double what I’m borrowing.””
““I’ve got some healing potions right here. And a few dry rations. Enough for four meals.””
““That’s enough.””
““Then take them.””
““These are better quality than you’d buy in the marketplace anyways. And you’ll need them.””
““Are you sure? I can buy some—””
““I thought you were broke, Ryoka. We still don’t have any contracts, and Calruz isn’t back yet. Take the potions, Ryoka. If everything I’ve heard about the High Passes is true, you’ll need them.””
““Thanks. Really.””
““I’m still not sure I agree with this. Are you sure you have to do this? If the Runner’s Guild is giving you so much trouble, why not seek work elsewhere?””
““I’m taking a delivery request. The reward is for eighty gold coins.””
““We could lend you—””
““No.””
““I’ll get my stuff.””
““Nice try. But she’s determined, isn’t she?””
““I never knew the Runner’s Guild was like that.””
““It’s the same in every guild. Ours is no different.””
““But—””
““Believe me, Gerial. If you look close enough, you see the same things repeated over and over. Humans are just like that.””
““Here.””
““Take care of this. It’s very fragile.””
““What is that?””
““A device. I’ll explain it if I get back.””
““Will it—will it do anything?””
““It’s broken. Just treat it carefully—don’t put anything heavy on it and don’t drop it.””
““If it’s broken, can’t you repair it?””
““No blacksmith or craftsman in the world could fix this. Trust me.””
““Then what about magic?””
““What?””
““Would you let me try a spell?””
““What exquisite craftsmanship. I can’t detect any faults, but perhaps the issue lies within? Regardless, if it is not of magical creation—””
““It’s not.””
““[Repair].””
““Done.””
““Sorry, I never got your name. Or maybe I forgot. What is it?””
““Sostrom Reidez, at your service, Miss Ryoka Griffin.””
““Sostrom.””
““I owe you a great debt.””
““It was nothing, really. Just a spell—””
““Not just a spell.””
““Not just a spell. Someday, you’ll have to teach me it. If I can do magic, it would be just to cast that. And now—those assholes aren’t going to know what hit them.””
““What an evil-sounding laugh.””
““What do you suppose that device was? Did it resemble anything you saw in Wistram Academy, Ceria?””
““I’ve no idea. Besides, that thing had no magic in it. How strange. But I can see why Magnolia is so fascinated by Ryoka and—””
““And—””
““Oh no. How could this happen? I swear I checked to make sure—””
““What? What is it?””
““The healing potions I gave her—half of them were mana potions.””