\u201cBaking soda.\u201d<\/p>\n
Krshia shook her head. Once more, she stood at her shop counter, this time sharpening a knife with a whetstone\u00a0as a product demo. She was selling whetstones and knives. She seemed very familiar with both; there wasn\u2019t much chance she would cut herself as she applied more water to the whetstone.<\/p>\n
Erin hadn\u2019t known you sharpened knives with, well, a stone.<\/em> Or that you got it wet. Hence the name. Krshia had laughed the entire time\u2014until she realized Erin was serious. And when the Human girl described the idea of the ingredient she needed, the Gnoll rested her chin on her paw and frowned mightily.<\/p>\n \u201cI know not what that is. I have many things which can be baked, but none of this \u2018soda.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Erin groaned. She felt she shouldn\u2019t be surprised, but she still hated being surprised.<\/p>\n \u201cHow about baking powder? Everyone has baking powder!\u201d<\/p>\n Again, Krshia shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is this powder supposed to bake, Erin Solstice?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCookies.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what are these \u2018cookies\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin gaped at Krshia. She gestured with her hands.<\/p>\n \u201cCookies. You know? Small, round, brown things?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you talking about cow leavings, Erin Solstice?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Furiously, Erin grabbed at her hair. She immediately let go. Her hair was not as hygienic or as clean as she was used to it being.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you\u2014this world doesn\u2019t have cookies?<\/em> How is that fair? How!?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stopped ranting and pounded her fist lightly into her hand.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026How about ice cream?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is this ice\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thirty minutes of Krshia laughing and snorting at her later, Erin Solstice was walking back to her inn. She kicked at the clumpy grass, too mad to even admire the orange tint to the patch she was walking through. She was mad.<\/p>\n \u201cStupid worlds that don\u2019t have ice cream. Stupid Gnolls who act nice and look at me like I\u2019m insane. How does anyone live<\/em> without ice cream and cookies?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin grumbled to herself as she trudged back to her inn. She kicked the knee-high grass and wished she had a lawnmower the size of a skyscraper. Maybe then her legs wouldn\u2019t itch so much after walking\u2014<\/p>\n Clickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclick\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n A familiar sound across the plains. It made Erin\u2019s blood go cold. She stopped, listened, and then saw it.<\/p>\n A gigantic, grey, craggy rock seemed to be levitating across the grasslands. But that was only an illusion. If you looked closer, you\u2019d see many legs churning up the soil underneath the rock. But Erin had no intention of getting that close. She knew what was making that sound and what was living under that rock.<\/p>\n It was a Rock Crab. Erin froze and then turned to run. But it wasn\u2019t coming at her.<\/p>\n Instead, the gigantic rock was propelling itself across the grasslands quite quickly. Its rapidly shuffling legs tore up the earth as it ran. But it wasn\u2019t chasing anything. Was it running away? From what?<\/p>\n Erin got her answer as a bunch of much smaller figures surged over the crest of a hill, chasing the Rock Crab. Goblins.\u00a0<\/p>\n Goblins? Chasing a Rock Crab?<\/em><\/p>\n What a ridiculous statement. Erin was amazed to see the same group that had been around her inn when the Chieftain\u2026her smile vanished, but it came back when she saw the silly sight.<\/p>\n A huge Rock Crab, half as large as a house, was scurrying across the grass, surging down a hill as little green figures, short and waving weapons, pursued it. Erin had been in that situation, but she hadn\u2019t weighed\u2014what\u2014thousands of pounds? Yet the crab fled the tiny group of eight, and Erin wondered if the Goblins had scared it with seedpods. That was the only thing she could think of.<\/p>\n At first, Erin grinned at the sight, but her smile faded as more and more of them appeared. First there were eight. Then ten. Then twenty\u2014forty\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n Yiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyi\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n That was a lot of them. <\/em>Erin\u2019s smile vanished as she heard that familiar, dangerous sound. The Goblins were screaming a warcry of their own as they chased the Rock Crab. The crab seemed to sense them behind it and sped up, but it was still too slow. As Erin watched in amazement, the first Goblin leapt and managed to cling to the Rock Crab\u2019s shell.<\/p>\n Instantly, it swung around and threw the Goblin off. From underneath the Rock Crab\u2019s shell, a large claw appeared and snapped<\/em> at the Goblin. Erin covered her mouth as the Goblin screamed<\/em> and held up a bloody stump of an arm.<\/p>\n But even as the Rock Crab surged towards the injured Goblin, more Goblins leapt at it. It swung around, trying to knock them away, but although it knocked several Goblins flying, many more dodged its claw and charged at the Rock Crab, screaming wildly.<\/p>\n The Goblins swarmed the Rock Crab. Erin watched, open-mouthed as the giant land crustacean snapped and struck out with its claws. Three Goblins fell away, severely cut and bleeding. One was missing a hand, but the others\u2014<\/p>\n They swarmed over the rocky shell, bashing it with clubs. They ducked underneath it as well, biting, stabbing, tearing<\/em>.<\/p>\n Erin couldn\u2019t see what was happening as more and more Goblins crawled underneath the Rock Crab\u2019s shell, but she saw it spasm. It clicked<\/em> rapidly in pain and swiped at the Goblins, but they were too close for its claws to grab at. A baby blue liquid seeped from beneath the shell. The giant Rock Crab collapsed, and slimy, blue Goblins dripping in entrails and crab shell emerged from underneath.<\/p>\n Erin backed away slowly. Her heart was pounding a million times per second. She imagined what would happen if one of the Goblins glanced over at her. They\u2019d rush her and cover her in an instant.<\/p>\n But they were all intent on their kill. The Goblins were ripping the Rock Crab apart, hungrily scarfing down its guts. It was a sight to make Erin nauseous, but her stomach was already clenched tight from fear.<\/p>\n Eventually, she thought she was far enough away. Erin turned and ran.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Most of the other Goblins didn\u2019t see the departing Human. They were too busy cracking the Rock Crab\u2019s hard shell and scooping out its slimy entrails. They feasted.<\/p>\n But a few Goblins did notice the Human. One with ragged clothes, the smallest of the tribe, stopped biting into the Rock Crab\u2019s bitter flesh to watch the young woman leave. The Goblin gripped something in her pocket tightly. Soon. It would be soon.<\/p>\n The ragged pouch of coin jingled softly as the Goblin shook it. The littlest looked around quickly, but the other Goblins were too busy gorging themselves to notice the small sound. The female Goblin stowed her pouch of coins among her ragged clothes. Then she went back to eat as much as she could.<\/p>\n The warriors let her pass. They were grunting, tearing bits of raw crab off to eat. There was no Chieftain. The Chieftain was dead\u2014the tribe might have fractured or fallen apart, but they would eat well today, and they might have lots of food till later.<\/p>\n All because they\u2019d hunted a Rock Crab. Without the Chieftain!<\/em> The tribe hadn\u2019t been certain it would work, but\u2014the Chieftain had never run fast enough to kill the crabs anyways. If they could do it with him just shouting for them to \u2018run faster\u2019\u2014why couldn\u2019t they try to do it one last time?<\/p>\n That was what the littlest Goblin had suggested, and the warriors had taken her suggestion because everyone was hungry. Now, they glanced at her and let her grab a juicy bit of the crab\u2019s stomach. The littlest Goblin didn\u2019t like whatever it was\u2014it was wet, slimy, and bitter. But she felt her pouch full of shiny coins.<\/p>\n Soon.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n When Relc and Klbkch tried the door to the Wandering Inn, they found it was locked. Only after Relc had knocked twice did the door open a crack. When Erin finally let the two in, she bolted the door as soon as they were inside.<\/p>\n Relc raised one non-existent eyebrow and flicked his tail idly at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s gotten into you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGreetings, Miss Solstice. Is something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin looked warily out the window, but felt better with Relc and Klbkch in the building.<\/p>\n \u201cGoblins.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGoblins?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc laughed as he and Klbkch sat themselves at one of the tables.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, are they throwing rocks at you again? If you want, I could\u2014um, scare them. But Goblins? Seriously? After you killed their Chieftain, what\u2019s there to worry about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow about a group of Goblins that can kill a giant rock-crab-thing in seconds?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin snapped at Relc as the Drake laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the scariest thing I\u2019ve seen. Some kind of raiding party swarmed over the crab and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA raiding party?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc sat up in his chair and grabbed for his spear.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere, and how many? Come on, Klbkch. We can head them off\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He jumped to his feet. Erin waved her hands frantically.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no! There\u2019s way too many of them. Besides, I don\u2019t want you to kill them! That would be\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Relc interrupted Erin as Klbkch watched her silently. The Antinium\u2019s hands were on his weapons too.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, if there\u2019s a raiding party out there, we need to take care of it. I can ignore a few Goblins, but a few hundred of them roaming around? That\u2019s a threat.\u201d<\/p>\n He went for the door, but Erin dragged him back. Or rather, tried to. Her feet slid uselessly across the ground, and he didn\u2019t even seem to notice her weight.<\/p>\n \u201cExactly how many Goblins were in this group you observed, Miss Solstice?\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch interrupted Erin\u2019s futile struggling as Relc paused by the door.<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Erin had to think.<\/p>\n \u201cNot more than forty, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc blinked and stopped unbolting the door. He looked back at Klbkch and then down at Erin. Slowly, he walked back to his chair. Then he sat down in it and started to laugh.<\/p>\n Erin gaped as Relc chuckled and then transitioned into full-scale guffaws of mirth. He covered his face with one claw and pounded the table with the other.<\/p>\n \u201cJust what\u2019s so funny?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA raiding party, she says! Hah!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI fear you were under a slight misapprehension, Miss Solstice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yeah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah!\u201d<\/p>\n Relc finally managed to get his laughter under control when Klbkch stepped on one of his feet. He wiped tears out of his eyes and grinned at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just the local tribe. Forty Goblins? Please. I could take out half of them without breaking a sweat. Between me and Klbkch, we could kill all of them\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He broke off and cleared his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cNot that we would.\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite their competency, a Goblin tribe is no threat to any but lone stragglers, Miss Solstice. On the other hand, a small raiding party is usually comprised of at least three hundred Goblins. Larger groups have been known to exceed a thousand individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin gulped.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not a raiding party. That\u2019s an army.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot if you\u2019re a Goblin.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc\u2019s expression became serious as he leaned back in his chair.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, like Klbkch said, a Goblin tribe isn\u2019t dangerous. Maybe to you\u2014but you killed their Chieftain, so I doubt they\u2019d be brave enough to attack this place. Besides, if you lock the doors and windows, they\u2019ll have a hard time getting in. But when Goblins start appearing in numbers? That\u2019s when things get nasty.\u201d<\/p>\n She heard the silent cue and took it.<\/p>\n \u201cHow nasty?\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch leaned forwards over the table.<\/p>\n \u201cExtremely. Although Goblins are considered a minor threat by most settlements of any size, when they do appear in numbers, they are fully capable of wiping out villages, cities, and even nations in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is quite true, Miss Solstice.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard stories of the Goblin Crusades. And witnessed one myself. The last time one occurred, multiple armies of Goblins rampaged throughout the north and sailed across to the Human continent, Terandria. There were at least a hundred thousand Goblins in each army, and their King had a million Goblins at his back when we pushed his forces out of the south. The Bloodfields.\u201d<\/p>\n He stopped talking for a moment, and his arm tensed around his cup.<\/p>\n \u201cBastard. The north got him in the end. But it felt like you couldn\u2019t see anything but smoke everywhere you looked. I heard the north was ash in some parts of it. They nearly took First Landing.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin felt like she needed a history class or at least a map. Yet Relc\u2019s face was suddenly set and Klbkch was quiet. She hesitated\u2014but she had to ask.<\/p>\n \u201cBloodfields? What\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc snapped out of his fugue and blinked. Then he looked amused again.<\/p>\n \u201cOh come on! You don\u2019t know about\u2026? Even if you\u2019re foreign, the Bloodfields are famous! It used to be a battlefield. Well, it still is. Lots of armies fight there, and so much blood has been spilled that the entire place has changed. The entire area is full of Blood Grass. Very nasty. Drinks blood and eats people if they\u2019re not careful. I fought there twice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin felt like she should say something else, but Relc\u2019s expression had grown uncharacteristically serious. She searched for something else to say.<\/p>\n \u201cThen\u2026the Goblin tribe isn\u2019t that dangerous?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc flicked his tail dismissively.<\/p>\n \u201cNot to me or Klbkch. Just don\u2019t walk into them, and you should be fine. Most people can outrun a tribe unless they get trapped anyways.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut they killed a Rock Crab!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, what\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, that giant thing that hides under a rock? It goes clickclickclickclick\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, that<\/em>. Is that what you Humans call it? We just call them Hollowstone Deceivers. What\u2019s a crab?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA creature that lives in the sea, I believe. The name is quite apt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever. It\u2019s not that tough.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin blinked at Relc.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not?\u201d<\/p>\n He waved a hand at her dismissively.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, we\u2019ve got a lot more freaky monsters living around here. Way more dangerous. They\u2019re just all sleeping or somewhere else this time of year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr underground.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, or that.\u201d<\/p>\n That didn\u2019t sound good to Erin at all.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t seen any of these other monsters. Just the dinosaur birds.\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is appropriate for the season. At this time of the year, the Floodplains contain few creatures besides the Goblins. Aside from grazing herds, most animals\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHerds? You guys have herds?\u201d<\/p>\n Again, Klbkch nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are usually confined in villages to the north of Liscor. The city hosts many pigs, sheep, horses\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Relc nodded and smacked his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cDelicious. They\u2019re great if you eat them half-raw. Speaking of which, got any food?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, right. Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin got up and mechanically began placing dishes on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cDinner will just be a few minutes while I warm everything up on the embers. Uh, what other creatures haven\u2019t I seen yet?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc scratched his head.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat else? Um. What about Shield Spiders? They\u2019re probably hiding in their tunnels right now, but they\u2019re still around\u2026watch where you step or you\u2019ll fall into a nest.\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch twitched as Relc mentioned the spiders. Erin twitched too, and her skin crawled at the thought. Relc grinned at both and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry. It\u2019s not the right season for them. You\u2019ll see a lot more wildlife around here when the new year begins. This is the quietest time of the year, actually. Once the rains start, you\u2019ll see a ton of weird creatures, and then when it stops, all the animals that travel come here to graze. And in the winter, it gets really<\/em> dangerous. There\u2019s these things called Winter Sprites, which are a pain in the tail\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWonderful. I bet everyone comes here to see all the monsters who want to suck your face off.\u201d<\/p>\n It might have been that Drakes were impervious to sarcasm. Or it might have just been Relc\u2019s natural obliviousness. He nodded happily as he licked his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cWe used to get a lot of travel down south. But that all stopped when the damn Necromancer appeared.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNecromancer? You mean Pisces?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat weakling mage? No. I mean the bad Necromancer that nearly destroyed the city about ten years ago. Is the food ready yet?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot yet. So that\u2019s why you guys hate the undead?\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch shook his head as Relc glanced longingly towards the kitchen where good smells were beginning to waft out.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe the Necromancer did not help public perception, but the undead have always been considered a threat, Miss Solstice. It is said that the three most dangerous things to Liscor are rain, the undead, and war.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can see war, but why rain and the undead?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBah. They\u2019re the real threats. War? Huh. We don\u2019t fear war<\/em>. Our army fights in wars\u2014far south of here! They send back loot, but no one attacks Liscor! We\u2019re too far, and the Bloodfields are in the way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is true. Most residents of Liscor do not fear war. I personally deem this unwise given the volatile nature of conflict between nations on this continent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHah! Even if all the northern and southern cities burn, Liscor will never fall!\u201d<\/p>\n Relc slammed a fist on the table and then looked at Erin beseechingly.<\/p>\n \u201cCan I at least have a drink? Blue fruit juice?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, of course. Just a second.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin hurried into the kitchen to grab glasses and the pitcher of freshly-squeezed juice. When she got back, she heard Klbkch and Relc arguing.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014The certainty of Drakes in the impregnability of Liscor seems unwise. My people have brought up the need for increased vigilance to your governing body, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the problem with the Watch, huh? You\u2019re part of it. You know we can take care of any monsters that appear. And if an army does come here, so what? There\u2019s only two ways into this valley. North and south. The mountains are practically impassable, and the Bloodfields guard the southern border. Even if an army comes through, the Floodplains will cut off any chance of siege. What don\u2019t you get about that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe north is still relatively unguarded. If the Humans were to unite under the Five Families\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuman cities?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin leaned over the table and nearly spilled juice all over Relc. She looked at the two.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are Humans around here? Where?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo the north. Duh.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc raised his eyebrows while Erin struggled not to throttle him. Klbkch glanced sideways at Erin and then back to his drink.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd? Um, what do the Human cities do?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc frowned as he poked at his claws with a fork as if testing how sharp it was.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWho knows? They\u2019re Humans. We have an okay relationship with them. They don\u2019t come over here and stomp on our tails, and we don\u2019t eat them.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin sagged slightly. Klbkch kicked Relc under the table, and the Drake glanced up at Erin. His eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Um, uh, like I was saying to Klbkch, Liscor would never fall! Even if an army did attack from the north, we could just recall our army. Unless they could breach our walls in a week or less, the army would come running right back and smash them. See?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs your army really that great?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc nodded proudly as Klbkch indicated his agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Liscorian army is famous. Don\u2019t you know? We fight battles for other cities, and they pay us to kick our enemies to shreds. We field two thousand Drakes and a few hundred Gnolls at any given moment with officer classes. Those are just the officers.<\/em> Now, we don\u2019t have that many soldiers per officer\u2014sometimes as low as two, but that\u2019s Liscor strategy. When there\u2019s a big battle coming, it\u2019s as many as eighteen per officer. Now, I know that sounds like a small army to you, but their average Level is 17. How about that, then?\u201d<\/p>\n She wasn\u2019t sure what to make of that. It sounded quite low.<\/p>\n \u201cUm. It\u2019s good?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood?<\/em> It\u2019s great! The average level of soldiers in other armies is Level 8. Eight.<\/em> They have low-level [Conscripts] or [Militia] who don\u2019t see battles. Ours are veterans. Get it?\u201d<\/p>\n She did. And when Relc put it that way, it was<\/em> impressive.<\/p>\n \u201cSo the, uh, Liscorian army is twice as strong as other armies?\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is not entirely correct. Levels cannot replace tactics or numerical superiority, or equipment, for that matter. However, it is still a potent deterrent to larger forces. That allows the Liscorian army to fight as a mercenary force without prolonged engagements.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly. Any army that runs up against ours knows that if things get serious, they\u2019ll bleed for every soldier they bring down. That\u2019s why we can earn so much money fighting abroad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo are they here? In the city, I mean?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNah. They\u2019re almost always out on some campaign. The Liscorian army fights wherever. I think they were in the east, fighting near one of the Walled Cities. Oteslia, probably. They\u2019re easy to siege.\u201d<\/p>\n That all made a sort of sense to Erin, although she was having a hard time thinking of a parallel with her world. That was also because she hated history class. But she vaguely recalled the Mongols doing something similar. Or was it the Turks? The Swiss? Now she had no idea.<\/p>\n But Erin did have one question. She raised an eyebrow at Relc.<\/p>\n \u201cSo your army goes out and fights for money? Isn\u2019t that dangerous if someone attacks here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly my point. If a stranger to our city can identify the weak spot so quickly, why is the populace so resistant to any suggestions regarding defense?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc shook his head at both Klbkch and Erin angrily.<\/p>\n \u201cLike I said, Liscor\u2019s got a lot of natural defenses. Besides, what army in their right minds would want to attack the one city with an Antinium Hive?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin sensed her food was nice and warm, but that last word bothered her. She lingered, her hands on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cA what? An Antinium Hive? Is that unique?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc opened his mouth to laugh in her face\u2014then he saw her genuine expression and waved his hand at Klbkch. As for the Antinium, he gave Erin a long look as Relc explained.<\/p>\n \u201cThis city. Liscor. It\u2019s home to a bunch of Antinium\u2014not the violent kind, the peaceful ones. But they live here, so that makes it a Hive. One of six in the world. The Black Tide, the Antinium from Rhir\u2014we are the only <\/em>city that allowed a Hive to be created. Because they helped fight off the Necromancer. \u2018sprobably why no one wants to visit anymore. But hey, it makes us special. And the Ants do help a bit. Right, Klbkch?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin turned to look at Klbkch. He nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a standing contract with the people of Liscor. In exchange for our presence, we provide services and goods to the city. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it was weird having the Antinium around, but it turned out to be a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyways, the bottom line is that the Ants defend the city if we\u2019re ever attacked and help out with construction and other jobs. They send some of their people to work in jobs, like Klbkch here. And in return, we let them stay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat doesn\u2019t sound too fair. What\u2019s in it for the Antinium?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc looked amused.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one kills them. You think the Hives would be allowed anywhere<\/em> else? All five of the other ones are in the Hivelands, and we\u2019d be at war with them if the Walled Cities thought they\u2019d win. This is the only city where Drakes, Gnolls, and Antinium mix. It\u2019s probably why we\u2019re not in the middle of a third Antinium War. To everyone else, they\u2019re the monsters who should be destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin looked at Klbkch. He didn\u2019t seem inclined to disagree, but she did.<\/p>\n \u201cThey seem pretty good to me. Although Klbkch is the only one I\u2019ve ever met. But he doesn\u2019t cause trouble or call Humans names or do anything bad. Unlike certain Drakes I could name.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Miss Solstice.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc glared as Klbkch bowed his head. He flicked his tail back and forth on the ground and growled.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, the Ants are great. They\u2019re quiet, they don\u2019t get drunk, and they\u2019re about as interesting as wood\u2014until one of them goes crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThe strain of madness has not been eliminated from the current generation. We have reduced the average instance of insanity by 14% per year, but we must remain vigilant.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Fourteen\u2026what?<\/em> Can you explain that bit to me?\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch nodded and opened his mandibles, but Relc\u2019s stomach audibly growled. He poked Erin in the side, which made her jump and earned him a foot-stomp from Klbkch, but he didn\u2019t seem to notice. He whined at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can talk about the crazy Ants later. But right now\u2026food?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Erin dithered, but relented at last at the desperate look in Relc\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, fine.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She went into the kitchen and began lugging out a pot of soup, a basket of warm bread\u2014a bit too dry from being near the embers\u2014and her standard pasta with sausage and onions. Relc began to salivate the instant he saw the food.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry it took so long. I wanted to tell you guys about the Goblins, so I forgot to heat stuff up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo problem, no problem. Just put it here and all is forgiven. And oh yeah, we\u2019ve got news too!\u201d<\/p>\n Relc rubbed his claws together eagerly as Erin brought out plates and bowls.<\/p>\n \u201cOoh, is that soup? And bread? And pasta! That\u2019s a lot of food!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, well, I was celebrating earlier. I cooked up a lot by accident.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCelebrathing? Celebrathing whu?\u201d<\/p>\n It was hard to understand the Drake as he spoke through a mouth already bursting with food. Erin politely averted her eyes as she replied.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you know. Not dying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2019S good! Good to celebrath!\u201d<\/p>\n Relc washed down his mouthful of bread and cheese with a cup full of blue fruit juice. Erin had other liquids for sale now too; regular apple juice and a refreshing minty drink, but the Drake had developed a taste for the sticky blue fruit drink.<\/p>\n \u201cI would like a bowl of soup too, if it would not trouble you, Miss Solstice.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin glanced over at Klbkch and remembered. She put a frown on her face.<\/p>\n \u201cWait a minute. Is soup another one of those things Antinium can\u2019t eat?\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch ducked his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI assure you, soup is completely palatable to my kind.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin glanced over at Relc, who nodded agreeably as he stuffed his mouth with pasta. She put her hands on her hips.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, but I\u2019m still mad about the pasta thing. So tell me\u2014and I hope to god this is true or I\u2019ll be really upset. Tell me, do the Antinium eat bugs or worms or stuff like that?\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch looked up into Erin\u2019s face and hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cI would not like to offend your sensibilities with a description of my diet, Miss Solstice\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOffend away, by all means.\u201d<\/p>\n Again, he hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cMy kind is fully capable of digesting most dishes eaten by humanoids. However, it is true that if offered we will eat creatures Humans and Drakes deem unsavory. We do not tend to consume such meals in public\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight, no problem! Just wait here!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin skidded into the kitchen and began banging pots and plates together. Relc and Klbkch exchanged a puzzled glance until she walked back into the room carrying a heaping bowl of black things as far away from her as she could.<\/p>\n \u201cWhath tha?\u201d<\/p>\n Gingerly, Erin set the bowl full of Acid Flies on the table. Relc looked at it curiously, but Klbkch leaned towards the bowl as if suddenly hypnotized.<\/p>\n \u201cThese are\u2014well, they\u2019re these flying acid bugs that I found. I wasn\u2019t sure if you\u2019d want it, Klbkch, but I thought it was worth a try and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch picked up a spoon and began shoveling the black insect torsos into his \u2018mouth\u2019. Erin shut up. She also looked away. As much as she liked Klbkch, the crunching<\/em> sounds and the sight of him eating the flies was hard to stomach.<\/p>\n \u201cLooksh good.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc swallowed his mouthful and reached out a hand. Without missing a beat, Klbkch slapped it away from his bowl. Both Relc and Erin stared in surprise at Klbkch.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, can I have a bowl too, Erin?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou want some? Oh, uh, do lizards\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Relc glared, and Erin amended her words hastily.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014Drakes<\/em> like bugs?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot as much as this guy, but I wouldn\u2019t mind trying some. I\u2019ve eaten worse on campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n Dutifully, Erin brought another bowl out. Relc tasted the bugs and munched a few down experimentally.<\/p>\n \u201cOoh, nice and crunchy! I didn\u2019t know you could eat these things. How\u2019d you manage to get rid of all the acid?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a long story. It involves blood and\u2014actually, I\u2019d rather hear your news. What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc looked blank. Then he snapped his fingers. Erin was surprised he could with his scaly hands.<\/p>\n \u201cRight, oh yeah. It\u2019s terrible news! Guess what? Some idiot found a bunch of ruins to the northeast of the city, and it\u2019s apparently some ancient dungeon! Now, every adventurer in miles is coming here to explore it!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that a bad thing? I thought finding old ruins and exploring them is what adventurers do. It\u2019s what happens in all the games I, uh\u2014well, it\u2019s what adventurers do, right? Doesn\u2019t Liscor have an Adventurer\u2019s Guild?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but they don\u2019t have many members. Not many idiots in our city bother becoming adventurers since there\u2019s not much to do around here. If you want to fight, you join the army or the Watch. It\u2019s Humans who are the stupid\u2014um\u2026uh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Erin pretended not to hear that.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t like adventurers, is that what I\u2019m hearing? Why? Don\u2019t they kill monsters?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, and they cause trouble. They pick fights when they\u2019re drunk, they run away from tough monsters, and they\u2019re rude to guardsmen.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc slammed his cup down on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cAdventurers. I hate them so much.\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch nodded. He dropped his spoon into his bowl with a clatter<\/em>. Erin blinked and looked down. The bowl she\u2019d filled was huge, twice as big as a soup bowl. He held it up to her, empty.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother serving, if you please, Miss Solstice. It is true such sites bring increased commerce to our city, but the negative effects of so many adventurers cannot be discounted.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin took Klbkch\u2019s bowl and headed into the kitchen. She refilled it with the jar of Acid Flies and accidentally spilled some on the floor as she ladled them into the bowl. After a moment\u2019s hesitation, Erin picked them up and tossed them in Klbkch\u2019s bowl. She figured it probably wouldn\u2019t bother him. The floor was clean, anyways. Flies were dirty things.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, so this is big news. But why are they all coming here? Are these ruins that amazing?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc had pushed aside his bowl of Acid Flies for more pasta and soup. Erin caught Klbkch munching down on those as she slid him his refilled bowl of Acid Flies.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that\u2019s the thing. No one knows what\u2019s in those ruins. It could be nothing, but it also could be a ton of magical artifacts and treasure. It\u2019s that big of a dungeon, apparently. Most ruins, well, they\u2019re already explored or too dangerous to dive further into. A new spot like this is going to bring hundreds of idiots into Liscor, and guess who gets to watch them to make sure they don\u2019t cause trouble?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly! It\u2019s a pain in the tail, and we\u2019re busy enough as it is. Now\u2019s usually the time when we hire new recruits, so we\u2019re going to be understaffed and working overtime.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a troublesome predicament.\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch didn\u2019t stop eating as he spoke, which created an odd crunching<\/em> background to his words, which already had a clicking<\/em> nature to them.<\/p>\n \u201cNaturally, the influx of adventuring parties leads to more trouble. However, it will also bring in needed trade and many merchants who seek to do business. Thus, while guardsmen such as Relc and myself find the situation hard to manage, the city is far more positive about these findings. Also, may I trouble you for another plate?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin blinked down at the empty bowl.<\/p>\n \u201cI just refilled that. You really like those flies, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is\u2026surprising. I had not known the Acid Flies of this region were so\u2026tasty. Until this moment, I had never attempted to consume one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I\u2019ve never seen you eat like that, Klb! You\u2019re eating like one of those pigs! Or a Gnoll!\u201d<\/p>\n Relc laughed at Klbkch around a full mouth of food. Both Erin and Klbkch raised their hands to shield themselves from the splatter.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if you like it so much, I guess I\u2019m in business!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin grinned happily.<\/p>\n \u201cI had no idea it would be such a huge hit. It almost makes everything I had to do to get these buggers worth it. Almost.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWas it difficult?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery. But hey, if I\u2019m the only one who can catch these suckers, I can actually attract some customers! Klbkch, would you mind telling some of your friends about my inn? I\u2019d love to have some more business.\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch visibly hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you mean for me to bring others of my kind, Miss Solstice?\u201d<\/p>\n She shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Why not? If you liked the flies so much, I\u2019m sure your friends would love them too. I\u2019ve got a good system for harvesting them too\u2014make them explode before<\/em> you start carrying the glass jars around.\u201d<\/p>\n Again, Klbkch hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not sure that would be too\u2026wise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc was silent as he slurped down the last of his pasta, but he was watching Klbkch carefully from the corner of his eye.<\/p>\n \u201cMy fellow\u2026Workers are not as used to dealing with other species as I. It would be imprudent to bother you with their presence.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, if they\u2019re like you, I wouldn\u2019t mind it. And if they don\u2019t want to talk to me, I can just serve them more flies.\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch looked uncomfortable.<\/p>\n \u201cI would not want to put you to any inconvenience.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIsn\u2019t that what being an innkeeper is all about? Besides, I deal with Pisces. Come on. Bring a few of your friends, and I\u2019ll serve you Acid Flies until you explode.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, what\u2019s the worst that could happen?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc nodded. He slurped down his pasta and thumped Klbkch on the back. Jovially. Erin and Klbkch glared at him. Deliberately, Erin began knocking against the hard wood of the table.<\/p>\n \u201cHas no one here heard of Murphy\u2019s Law?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cBaking soda.\u201d Krshia shook her head. Once more, she stood at her shop counter, this time sharpening a knife with a whetstone\u00a0as a product demo. She was selling whetstones and knives. She seemed very familiar with both; there wasn\u2019t much chance she would cut herself as she applied more water to the whetstone. Erin hadn\u2019t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693081,349],"tags":[],"twi_volume":[11693130],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-13554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-1","category-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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