Codexing...
Codexing...
Chapter 1.41
Erin discovers The Wandering Inn has been ransacked and travels to Liscor to buy weapons. Finding real weapons too expensive, she buys acid jars for defense, and Pisces animates a Level 1 Skeleton Warrior to guard the inn.
Erin Solstice returned to The Wandering Inn to find that a thief had broken in and ransacked her belongings. Realizing her vulnerability, she decided she needed proper weapons and security to protect herself and her business.
She traveled to Liscor and visited the Adventurer's Guild, where she encountered Selys and a yellow-scaled Drake adventurer named Ylss, who loudly complained about the Guild's low payout rates for monster parts. Seeking armament, Erin went to a weapon shop run by a burly Gnoll Shopkeeper. She inquired about purchasing a sword or a high-quality crossbow from Noelictus but quickly discovered that real weapons were entirely outside her budget. Needing an affordable defensive alternative, Erin purchased acid jars—makeshift grenades filled with harvested Acid Fly juice.
Meanwhile, Rags navigated her own survival challenges as she dealt with her Goblin tribe and the Chieftain.
Back at The Wandering Inn, Erin discussed her security problem with Pisces. The Necromancer offered an unorthodox solution by animating a skeleton to serve as a permanent guard. Surprisingly, upon its creation, the undead minion immediately gained a class and became an Unnamed, Level 1 Skeleton Warrior. Pisces assigned the skeleton to protect Erin, providing The Wandering Inn with a tireless new defender.
Erin Solstice returns to her inn to discover that a thief has broken in and ransacked her belongings.
Seeking protection, Erin visits a Gnoll Shopkeeper in Liscor but finds swords and crossbows too expensive. Instead, she settles for purchasing acid jars.
A young woman from Earth who stumbles into a fantasy world and takes refuge in an abandoned inn.
aka Erin, the traveller +58
A small, child-like Goblin who attacks Erin out of grief and is spared by her.
aka the small Goblin, the ragged Goblin +5
The skeletal remains of a person that Erin discovered in an upstairs bedroom of the inn.
aka the skeleton, a pile of bones +7
Pisces provides Erin with security by animating a skeleton to guard the inn. Upon its creation, the skeleton surprisingly gains a class and levels up into a Level 1 Skeleton Warrior.
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 +27
A newly discovered ancient dungeon near Liscor.
aka ancient dungeon, the Ruins +4
A skill that grants a minor increase in physical strength.
aka [Skill – Lesser Strength obtained!], [Lesser Strength]
An organization that records and combats monstrous threats.
aka Guild, Adventurer's Guilds +3
A class held by merchants who run stalls or stores.
aka [Shopkeeper], [Shopkeepers]
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 spell that renders the caster unseen.
aka Invisibility spell, Invisibility Spell +2
A species of which Erin Solstice is a member.
aka Humans, smooth skin +3
A sapient reptilian species dominant in regions south of Liscor, generally unfriendly to Humans.
aka lizards, giant lizards +3
A species of tall, bipedal hyena-like humanoids covered in fur.
aka hyena-people, dog-people +8
Small green humanoids with red eyes and sharp teeth that chased and slashed at Erin.
aka Goblins, little green things +13
A Human mage from Wistram Academy, specialized in Elementalist and Illusionary schools, who admits to necromancy.
aka the mage, Mister Mage +30
A city adjacent to the Floodplains, culturally aligned with Drakes and not friendly to Humans.
aka City of Liscor, the city +8
A friendly and helpful Drake who works as a receptionist at the Adventurer's Guild in Liscor.
aka the female receptionist, the she-Drake +10
A yellow-scaled senior Drake adventurer who complains about the Guild's payout rates.
aka senior Drake adventurer
A burly Gnoll who runs a weapon shop in Liscor.
aka burly Gnoll, Gnoll shopkeeper +1
A leadership class common among Goblin tribes, granting authority and advanced capabilities.
aka [Chieftain], The Chieftain +8
“Money~!”
“Just don’t spend it all in one place, okay, Erin?”
“Sure, sure. I’ll just spend it on important stuff. Like—fancy dust rags! Or alcohol! Or…a dress?”
“How about a weapon? You could probably afford a good one with that much money.”
“You could have gotten a far better deal selling the spiders’ bodies elsewhere. Probably half again as much, especially if you went right to the right merchants. The Guild charges far too much for its service.”
“The Guild pays a good rate for monster parts! If you’ve got a problem, Ylss, take it up with the guild master—or the council.”
“The Guild won’t listen, and the council won’t either. But I’ve been talking to the Human adventurers, and they say their guilds pay them far better than ours does.”
“That’s because Human adventurers go out and fight monsters instead of their city Watch. If you want to negotiate prices, go slay a Shield Spider nest yourself. Erin here—”
“Erin, are you going already?”
“So let me get this straight. You don’t mind monsters attacking you, but the instant someone steals from your inn, you want protection?”
“Yes!”
“But they didn’t even steal anything important. Some food and a few coins—”
“One gold coin and three silver coins!”
“Why didn’t you hide it better? Or put it under lock and key?”
“I don’t have a lock. Or a key!”
“We can buy a vault or an enchanted lock and key if you want. I know a good shop—”
“No. I want a weapon.”
“Suit yourself. Here’s a good shop the adventurers talk about.”
“Erin Human. Greetings.”
“Hi there.”
“I’m looking for a weapon.”
“For a friend of Krshia, I will do my best to oblige you, yes? Do you fight with any weapon besides your hands, Erin Solstice?”
“Um. No. No…in fact, I’ve never held anything larger than a knife.”
“We have many weapons for beginners and self-defense, yes? Daggers, clubs…these weapons would be best.”
“I’m not too sure a dagger would help against most of the monsters I see wandering around my inn.”
“…How about a crossbow? Do you have one of those?”
“Erin, those fire once. Ever tried reloading them? Not exactly fast—”
“But they are good for amateurs. I do not stock them, but Drake cities make use of them. We Gnolls—less so.”
“I can’t shoot arrows well. I’d like a crossbow. Would anyone sell them for…”
“They are pricier than a cheap bow, Miss Solstice, due to how they are made. Especially good ones from the House of Minos or Noelictus. For what you have, an ordinary crossbow is possibly out of reach, let alone an enchanted one.”
“Okay, no crossbow then.”
“You don’t have to buy a weapon, you know. I keep telling you our adventurers will guard your inn.”
“For eight silver coins a day per adventurer? And that’s for the lowest-level ones, right? No thank you.”
“Do you have any good short swords? Is that a shortsword? It looks short.”
“You know buying a sword won’t immediately give you any classes? You need weeks—months of practice before you’ll learn any Skills. And I wouldn’t try swinging it around by yourself Erin, I really wouldn’t.”
“I’m not stupid.”
“No, but—”
“How much?”
“For you, two gold coins and three silver.”
“That’s expensive. But it is good craftsmanship.”
“Fine steel. You will not find better in the city.”
“Okay, how about a shield? A, uh, buckler? Is that what they’re called?”
“It’s too small. Look, you need a larger shield if you really want to equip yourself. Which I still don’t recommend, by the way. And even if you have both, you’re not a trained warrior, Erin. I could beat you, and I don’t even practice.”
“I know what I’m doing, Selys. Anyways, it’s not for myself. How much for both?”
“We do not sell many bucklers. I will sell both for four gold coins, Erin Solstice, so long as you promise not to use either without first being instructed.”
“Deal. But like I said, these aren’t for me. They’re a gift. Or maybe a bribe.”
“A bribe? For who? Who’d use something as small as—wait. You’re not thinking of—Erin! No!”
“Why not? They’re cheap, I know them personally, and they live around my inn.”
“They’ll stab you in the back when you’re asleep!”
“They haven’t done it so far. Besides, these are the good ones. Well, sort of good. I already feed them.”
“This is a terrible idea, you’ll see.”
“No, it’s a great idea. You’ll see. And I could beat you in a fight, Selys. No offense.”
“Erin, you really couldn’t. I had to take [Soldier] training—every Liscorian citizen has to be at least Level 1 for the army. Plus, my grandmother and my uncle gave me lessons. You’re good in a fight, but no soldier.”
“That’s a joke, right, Selys?”
“Want to stop by the training grounds on the way to your inn?”
“No? Why not? Come on, it’s a great deal!”
“Look. It’s really simple, okay? I’ll give you these weapons and feed you guys as much as you want. In return, you guard my inn. Keep thieves and monsters away. It’s not a bad deal, right?”
“You don’t want the sword?”
“Okay, you want the sword. But you don’t want to guard.”
“Why? Is it because there aren’t enough of you?”
“Well—you could be tactical about it, couldn’t you? What if I got you a bow and arrow? That might be better than running around in a huge mob like you guys do.”
“Fighting in a huge mob just doesn’t seem that smart is all I’m saying. But what if you all had bows or something?”
“Oh, not strong enough? Really?”
“I get it. Small arms and small bows, right? Size does matter. Too bad you don’t have any crossbows.”
“I guess—well, yeah, anyone in armor wouldn’t be killed by a few arrows. But crossbows and longbows can pierce that stuff, right? But longbows—”
“Life is tough, huh?”
“Well, I guess I could return these things.”
“Stay there. And don’t steal the sword or I’ll flatten you, got it?”
“Hold it!”
“I’ve got an idea that’ll help us both out. And I’ll give you the sword and buckler, okay? I’ll put it on your tab.”
“You know what this is, right?”
“Dangerous stuff. And I don’t want it. But what if I gave you some smaller jars? You could sort of throw this stuff at people, right? Not on Shield Spiders, though. It doesn’t really work on them. But other things—yeah. What do you think?”
“I’ll sell you these acid jars, and you can pay me, okay?”
“Come in.”
“I said, come in.”
“I said—”
“Pisces!”
“That was most unkind to a faithful patron, good Mistress.”
“Jerk. What the hell is that?”
“I assumed my explanation would quell any questions you had.”
“What. Is. That?”
“It is a skeleton. An undead, animated skeleton to be precise.”
“And why is it here?”
“To protect you, of course. And to pay off my considerable tab.”
“Why is—why did—”
“Is it not what you’ve been seeking?”
“You’re lucky I don’t throw acid on your face.”
“Please, Erin. I am only acting in your best interests—and mine. Consider this undead warrior.”
“Affordable, competent protection that needs neither sleep nor sustenance. I would say it is you who should be tendering your gratitude to me, Erin.”
“It’s for me? What, does it obey orders?”
“Of course. I attuned it to you already. This skeleton will obey all commands and faithfully guard you and your possessions. Give it a command and see.”
“Go over there.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Why did you think this was a good idea, Pisces?”
“I have heard your repeated complaints about inadequate protection. And when I noticed the, ah, state your inn was in this morning—”
“Oh, yeah! Did you do that?”
“Not I. The culprit had already departed when I arrived.”
“Call it off.”
“You’re the [Necromancer], you do it.”
“I made it so it would only obey you. Call it off or I’ll have to dismantle it.”
“Hey, stop!”
“Don’t attack him. Unless I tell you to. Understand?”
“It is a competent warrior that will fight for you. And I do believe that is what you need, unless I am completely in error.”
“If it’s some kind of warrior, shouldn’t it at least have a sword?”
“Swords are expensive, Miss Solstice. And I am—regrettably—short on funding at the moment. Surely you could afford to equip your new bodyguard yourself?”
“Okay, fine. You’ve given me a pet skeleton. What does it do, exactly? Besides fight and scare me to death, that is?”
“Whatever you wish. It will obey any command you give it, but, ah, its capacity for thought is quite limited at the moment. That may improve with time. I have made several improvements over the traditional undead animation spells—”
“So it’s a special undead skeleton monster. Wonderful. And what happens if it breaks or goes nuts?”
“The spell will not wear out. The body might in the course of normal combat though, it is true. I would be happy to repair any damage done for a nominal fee—”
“Skeleton repairs. That’s how they get you every time.”
“And this is supposed to pay off your tab? All the gold you owe me?”
“Well, the price of an advanced reanimation spell such as this is traditionally worth—”
“I suppose a full repayment of my debts and some credit towards the future would not be too much to ask?”
“It might.”
“Okay, let’s say I accept this. Won’t the Watch get mad?”
“And this wouldn’t happen to be a body belonging to anyone in Liscor, would it? But no—it’s a Human skeleton. Except—”
“Hey, you didn’t rob a bunch of graves for this, did you, Pisces? Because if you did—hello?”
“Go over there!”
“Follow me.”
“Carry this. And follow me.”
“Give me that.”
“Clean this.”
“All of it. Clean it. Understand?”
“No! You take this—”
“—And clean up. See? Just like that.”
“Scrub harder there. No—don’t move the rag like that. A smooth, circular motion. Like this. See?”
“Good.”
“Don’t stop! Keep going!”
“See this? This entire floor. Clean it. Clean the floor, the walls, and the windows. Don’t stop until you’re finished!”