There was darkness. There was stone. And there was a pickaxe. Lit by a plum glow, the dusty steel head rose. The pair of hands gripping it lifted it up and back. For a moment, it was at the apex overhead. Then it swung forwards, an arc gathering speed and weight.<\/p>\n
Momentum. The tip of the pickaxe struck the wall. The stone cracked<\/em>. The sound sent little bugs scurrying. Rockmites. But the green arms paid no attention. The head stayed where it was.<\/p>\n Up the pickaxe swung again. A precise tool, for all its weight. A careless swing could be useless, a waste of energy. But the one who held the pickaxe aimed carefully at the wall.<\/p>\n Ahead and down. There was nothing special about the bend of wall where the miner stood. But he had been breaking into the stone for an hour now. Rocky fragments lay all around him, and he\u2019d cleared the ground around his feet twice. Ahead and down. The glowing purple light of the mana stone, plum in color, told him that. He lifted the pickaxe again and swung it. He was sweating in the darkness. But he felt good. He was working. Working. A novel concept.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was small, I learned to speak by stealing it. I stole words, hiding in the sewers of a town. Far, far north of here. Goblins can live in sewers. We can live everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue\u2019s voice echoed slightly in his ears. No one replied to him. The Goblin didn\u2019t pause as he swung again, digging out the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cHumans lived above my head. Fighting, arguing, laughing\u2026living. I watched them, sometimes. There was a place right outside the Mage\u2019s Guild. Outside of other guilds too\u2014I would listen there. But it was the Mage\u2019s Guild where I learned all the big words. Sometimes they would argue or gossip about secrets where they thought no one could hear.\u201d<\/p>\n Again, the pickaxe swung. The stone glowed; was it brighter? Numbtongue thought it was, but if so, the glow had changed without him noticing. Slowly, like memory changed in the head with time, sneaking up quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cI learned to speak because I thought it would make the Humans listen. That if only they knew I could talk, they would stop hunting us. They knew we were in the sewers. Just not how many. One day, they swept the sewers with every adventurer they could muster. [Guards] and [Mercenaries] too. Even [Militia]. Trying to kill us for good.\u201d<\/p>\n Who was he talking to? Himself? That was a waste of breath. Like tears. No proper Goblin would waste air like that. But Numbtongue was a [Bard]. And though there was no one to hear him, he imagined he was telling Erin. As if she were sitting on the ground, trying to pet one of the Rockmites, listening. Just listening.<\/p>\n \u201cI spoke to them, then. Then I shouted. Pleaded and begged. It only made them come after me. I survived. There\u2019s nothing else to say. That was how I met Garen Redfang. He rode down out of the hills. Before he had made the High Passes his permanent base, his tribe roamed until we were too strong to hide and the Gold-rank teams were following us. He saved me and those that fled. That\u2019s how I became a warrior.\u201d<\/p>\n Maybe he was practicing. Trying to tell the Erin in his head before the real thing. Because Numbtongue was still afraid of talking.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I don\u2019t talk even though I can. Because Goblins are dumb. We do not talk. I didn\u2019t need to with the others. Now I speak\u2014but it\u2019s still hard. Because I fear\u2026I\u2019m afraid no one will listen.\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue turned his head. In his mind, the imaginary Erin smiled at him. But he saw only darkness. The Hobgoblin stood in the cave, feeling sweat sting his eyes. He wiped at his forehead. Shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cGoblin. Better not talk. Better talk like Goblin. Stupid talking to self.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Bard] grunted to himself. That sounded better, somehow. More like a proper Goblin. But was he behaving like that because that was how the world expected him to be? If Headscratcher were here\u2014<\/p>\n Numbtongue closed his eyes. If he were here, he would have poked Numbtongue in the side and grimaced. And that silent gesture would have been enough. It would have said to Numbtongue\u2014no. Don\u2019t do that. You can speak differently. Better. So do it. Don\u2019t pretend to be someone you\u2019re not.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThis is why I am a [Bard]. A Goblin of words and music.\u201d<\/p>\n The guitar lay on the ground, out of range of the rocky fragments as they fell to the ground. Numbtongue said nothing more after that. He was saving his words. To talk to Erin. To talk to her tonight, maybe. If she had time. Maybe while she and he had a drink at her bar. At night, when no one else was around. His words were for her. He didn\u2019t feel like sharing them with the others, adventurers, even Lyonette.<\/p>\n That was all Numbtongue wanted. A quiet chat at night around a table. A few minutes, an hour to speak with Erin. If he had that, he could be happy. And he could tell her too, if she invited him. His past, his fears\u2026<\/p>\n And that he thought chess was really boring. She would laugh or be angry, and that would be\u2014<\/p>\n Chink.<\/em><\/p>\n The sound as the tip of the pickaxe rang was different from all the other times Numbtongue had swung. It was louder. Higher-pitched. He\u2019d hit something different. Instantly, the Goblin stepped back. He stared among the broken pieces of rock and dust. What had he\u2026?<\/p>\n Translucent, white\u2014no, grey. Oozing from the stone, a pale ashy glow. <\/em>Numbtongue sprang back in alarm. Then he caught himself. It wasn\u2019t a monster. And it wasn\u2019t dangerous. He realized what it was as the memories in his head identified the liquid.<\/p>\n Mana sludge. The liquid slowly ran out of the gap in the wall his pickaxe had made. A slow, dripping substance as thick as paste. But It was semi-translucent and had an odd, inner sparkling quality. As if little motes of light were caught in the liquid.<\/p>\n Numbtongue stared at it, entranced. But if he\u2019d been Pyrite, the older Hobgoblin would have just sighed and shook his head. Mana sludge. Not good. No one touch. Or drink.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cRaw mana. In stone. Bad stone?\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue muttered to himself, figuring out how Pyrite would have phrased it. Mana sludge was the Hobgoblin\u2019s word for it. He was well aware the stuff was magical, but to him it was about as appealing as dirt; hardly worth the effort of collecting. A failed mining expedition, in short.<\/p>\n But Numbtongue wasn\u2019t so certain. He studied the raw mana sludge as it dripped to the ground. Some of the Rockmites scurried closer and then backed away, probably sensing the magic the stuff held. So did Numbtongue. He reached out and felt the slightest<\/em> tingle in his fingertips as his fingers were bare millimeters away from the surface of the glowing stuff. He tried to recall all that Pyrite knew of it.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see. Can\u2019t eat. Will make Goblins horribly sick\u2014goes straight through system. Comes out as\u2026ergh. Touching not too bad, but depending on the color can be dangerous. This is\u2026fine. Tastes like\u2014did he eat everything he ever found?\u201d<\/p>\n The Hobgoblin shook his head. He prodded the mana sludge and found it was neither warm nor cold. Eerily so in fact; it felt strange on his fingers too. Absolutely none of the mana sludge would stick to his fingers. He could feel it, and it almost felt like incredibly smooth stone on his fingers. But unlike water or other liquids, it stuck to nothing but itself. Numbtongue thought Mrsha would love to play with it.<\/p>\n He summed up Pyrite\u2019s notes in his head. Mana sludge. Inedible. Could come in other colors, but generally this color. Useless to Goblins\u2014children would play with it, but mana sludge was hardly better than actual mud, and given the dangers of eating it compared to mud, Pyrite kept it away from them. He\u2019d found no other uses for it. But he did know of its potential.<\/p>\n Yes, potential. That was why Pyrite left it alone. Give the mana sludge years or decades and it would slowly condense, crystalizing. Into mana stones<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cAh. Name makes sense now.\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue nodded. He stared at the vein. He must have tapped into the top of whatever amount of mana sludge there was, because it had already stopped leaking from the hole. And there was clearly more. He frowned.<\/p>\n Yes, if he came back here in a few years, the mana stone would harden, crystalizing into a vessel imbued with magic. The air would take care of that. But given that there was no other mana source about, it would probably turn into a vein of lightly magical quartz-like mana stone. Plentiful, but hardly potent in terms of mana.<\/p>\n Numbtongue didn\u2019t have years to wait, and Pyrite regarded the quartz varieties of mana stones as cheap anyways, so leaving it there didn\u2019t appeal to him. What should he do with it, then?<\/p>\n \u201cScoop some up. Take it to the [Mages].\u201d<\/p>\n Yes, that was the right choice. Because while Pyrite hadn\u2019t seen much use for the mana sludge before now, he hadn\u2019t ever thought of using<\/em> it. Mining had been his hobby, and a fairly useless one in his mind until right before his passing. What would he have thought of the stuff now? How might he<\/em> have used it?<\/p>\n Absently, Numbtongue felt about in his belt pouch. He pulled something out. The light in the caves changed, growing brighter. The purple glow of the mana stone was a consistent light, but it was dim compared to the bright glow of the bright, blue, almost viridian stone Numbtongue held in his hands. He stared at it.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not a mana stone. This<\/em> is a mana stone. No. That not mana stone. This<\/em> is mana stone.\u201d<\/p>\n He smiled as he thought of Pyrite\u2019s reaction to the mana stones used on Erin\u2019s door. He would have called them \u2018cheap\u2019. The Hobgoblin only kept the most brilliant of mana stones in his collection, and this one, the brilliant blue stone, had been the one Numbtongue had taken from his mouth. The Hobgoblin studied it.<\/p>\n Pyrite had even known how to cut gems. This one had six facets; it was no perfectly symmetrical stone, but a lopsided gem that nevertheless sparkled, cut cleanly on all sides and polished. Pyrite had enjoyed cutting stones; he\u2019d even done art or made dice out of rubies. A tiny emerald marble for a childhood friend that eventually became part of her necklace. She had died. Numbtongue could remember her smile.<\/p>\n The Hobgoblin dropped the glowing blue stone and pressed his hands against his forehead.<\/p>\n \u201cStop.\u201d<\/p>\n He could remember the young Goblin\u2019s nickname. He tried to push it away, but the memories flooded into his head. Too many, too fast to repress. Stickhair. She always had sticks in her hair. She was a [Scavenger]. She\u2019d been part of Tremborag\u2019s tribe, one of those sent to scavenge or steal as opposed to raid.<\/em><\/p>\n Back when he\u2019d been young, Pyrite had been press-ganged into serving as both [Warrior] and [Scavenger]. Later, he\u2019d become a permanent scavenger when they\u2019d found he had a nose for finding pretty gems. The Goblin hadn\u2019t seen the value in the gems that Tremborag loved so much and his lieutenants adorned themselves with, but he\u2019d squirreled one away and carved it into a gem for Stickhair. And she had smiled, and he\u2019d been struck with that.<\/em><\/p>\n They\u2019d had sex on a day in the middle of fall. She\u2019d jumped on him, and he, young and passionate, had wanted the same thing. They were still both growing, and both became Hobs around the same time.<\/em><\/p>\n The emerald marble was given a small hole for a necklace she wore, and each time Pyrite brought her a new stone, she would smile and sometimes that led to warm nights. Other times, she or he would find someone else. They were young. But Pyrite remembered the smell of her teeth, plucking a twig from her\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cStop!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue shouted. The cave rang with sound, and the memories stopped as he pounded his head against the wall. His head burst with pain, and Numbtongue staggered back. But it stopped the memories.<\/p>\n Panting, the Goblin sat down. He stared blankly ahead of him, still remembering another Goblin\u2019s life. His hands shook uncontrollably as he felt at his head.<\/p>\n \u201cToo much. You gave me too much.\u201d<\/p>\n He whispered at Pyrite. He wasn\u2019t angry at him. But that rush of vivid experiences had been too real. The [Bard] sat there, panting, until the soft glow of the two gems and the mana sludge calmed him. He stared at the glowing liquid, felt around on the ground, and picked up the now slightly dusty blue mana stone. Numbtongue stared at it. Then he popped it into his mouth and chewed.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOw.\u201d<\/p>\n After a few seconds, Numbtongue spat the mana stone back out. His teeth hurt<\/em>. The mana stone was way tougher than your average rock. How had Pyrite ever eaten the damn things?<\/p>\n The memories were his gift. The experiences with Stickhair, knowledge of the earth, even information about what everything tasted like and how badly it would mess up your poos\u2014all of it was Pyrite\u2019s gift to Numbtongue. But it was the knowledge of gemstones that the Hobgoblin Chieftain had considered too important to be lost.<\/p>\n What Pyrite had known before his death was this: you could use magic without being a [Mage]. With gemstones. He had consolidated his [Mining Chieftain] class into a [Magestone Chieftain] one. He hadn\u2019t found out the potential of the class, but he had entrusted Numbtongue with the knowledge.<\/p>\n But Numbtongue feared he wasn\u2019t the Goblin that Pyrite was. He didn\u2019t think as deeply. He had not lived as long. And he had no idea how to use the powers of the gemstones, even if he could figure out a way to crunch this one with his teeth.<\/p>\n How would a [Bard] use magical gemstones? How would anyone?<\/p>\n Numbtongue sighed. He wiped the saliva-covered blue gemstone on his clothes, spat out the dirt in his mouth, and had a thought. Maybe\u2026he was doing this wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cPyrite ate gemstones. But Pyrite was a big eater. I don\u2019t eat rocks. Anymore. So\u2026what do I do?\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue\u2019s eyes went to the guitar lying on the ground. A Rockmite was investigating it. The Hobgoblin stood up, and the insect fled. He picked up the guitar and ran his claws down the strings.<\/p>\n A guitar. An instrument made by Gnolls, but very similar to the ones in Erin\u2019s world. In fact, he recalled Erin comparing his guitar to one she was familiar with.<\/p>\n \u201cExcept, instead of an electric guitar, yours is actually<\/em> electric, Numbtongue! Uh, don\u2019t play it close to me. I don\u2019t like static electricity.\u201d<\/p>\n He smiled a bit and played a simple chord, plucking the strings with his long fingers. His nails were untrimmed, but Numbtongue had carefully bit them shorter on his playing hand because it made a better sound. Unlike Drakes, Goblins had something closer to Human fingers. Numbtongue had no idea how a Drake would manage a string instrument with their claws and very reptilian nails. He was impressed Gnolls could play, but then, their paws were actually quite dexterous.<\/p>\n \u201cHmm. Song. Song\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue stared blankly ahead as he searched for a proper tune. Then he had it. His random strumming became intentional. He began to play a quick, snappy tune. And the sound that came from his guitar changed.<\/p>\n [Electric Chords]. No [Lightning Melody] because Numbtongue didn\u2019t want to call down lightning in the cave, even if he could. But the sound the guitar gave out crackled, and the chords changed to something almost approaching the crackling of thunder.<\/p>\n The silent cave filled with sound as Numbtongue began to play faster. It was a self-taught riff; everything he played was self-taught, actually. He\u2019d learned a number of songs from Erin\u2019s home, but he\u2019d had to come up with the melodies based on her vague humming. Numbtongue played low on the chords, an echoing beat.<\/p>\n He was trying to call on the power of the stone resting on top of the guitar. Numbtongue could see the gemstone glowing, a bright viridian. But was it glowing brighter? Was he calling on the magic?<\/p>\n Time to really play. The Hobgoblin\u2019s fingers danced faster. And a different kind of light began to fill the cave.<\/p>\n Flashes of bright lightning. Sparks of electricity shot from the frets as Numbtongue played them, lighting up the cave in flashes of light. The simple strings flashed with blue lightning, lighting up the guitar. The Rockmites in the area scurried away in alarm.<\/p>\n Numbtongue grinned wildly. The cave rolled with sound for a minute. Then five. His playing reached a fever\u2019s pitch. He began the most complex solo he knew, and the sound roared. And the gem\u2014<\/p>\n Did nothing. Numbtongue stopped, looking at the blue gemstone with a miffed expression. He prodded it hopefully.<\/p>\n Nothing. Okay. Well, that was a new piece of information. Music was not<\/em> the answer. At least, music from his guitar wasn\u2019t doing anything to the stone. Numbtongue sighed and looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe just ask the [Mages] what the mana stones do. Why didn\u2019t I do that earlier? Oh. I don\u2019t like Pisces. Or Falene.\u201d<\/p>\n Too much sniffing and rolling of the eyes. And that superior tone. Numbtongue grumbled to himself. He actually liked Revi, though. Moore scared him. Ceria was\u2026attractive. Anyone who knew what bugs tasted like was attractive to Goblins. But Numbtongue, er, liked her dirty blonde hair, it not being a color among Goblin hair. As for Typhenous\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cGah!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue\u2019s foot suddenly encountered a jolt<\/em> and went numb. He leapt backwards, swearing, and stared at what his foot had just touched. What was\u2014<\/p>\n The mana sludge? The mana sludge had shocked him! The Hobgoblin stared at it. The little puddle of liquid had just given him a jolt of electricity! Why? And\u2014was it\u2026yellower?<\/p>\n Yes! It was! In fact, it was now a very light yellow, and Numbtongue could swear the little lights caught in the liquid were now moving faster. Almost as if\u2026he squinted, keeping his face back from the liquid. Almost as if there were tiny jolts of lightning running through the stuff now.<\/p>\n Slowly, curiously, Numbtongue reached out. He hesitated, but he\u2019d already touched it once. So, carefully, he brought his finger closer, closer\u2014<\/p>\n About two inches away from the mana sludge, Numbtongue saw a blue bolt of electricity arc out of the stuff and hit his finger. He jerked his hand back, swearing. It was electrified! He\u2019d just gotten another jolt!<\/p>\n Shocking stuff. Numbtongue sat back, rubbing his ironically numb finger and foot and thinking. Well, he\u2019d just turned the mana sludge into another variant Pyrite was familiar with. If the mana sludge was different colors, it had different effects. For instance, the Hobgoblin had once found a red variant of the stuff that had been so hot he could set fires with it. He\u2019d had a wonderful time using it as an impromptu fire starter until an unfortunate incident with a forest\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cElectricity. Guitar. [Electric Chords]. Mana sludge.\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue stared at the stuff. He stared at his guitar, and the strings which no longer sparked with lightning. Then he stared at the mana sludge. He grinned. He was going to need a jar. And\u2026gloves.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The tavern was called Tails and Scales. Or maybe it was a pub. Erin wasn\u2019t one for socializing in either, so she had no idea what the difference was. Nor did she like beer, a fact that had vaguely offended some of her friends. And her father. But Erin liked the drink in front of her. It was some kind of rum mixed with a sweet, chilled liquid that was separate from the rum. Every time Erin took a gulp, it ran down her throat, burning and sweet.<\/p>\n A bit of food went in her stomach as well. Bits of chicken, breaded and glazed, sprinkled with bits of crunchy pork. Each bite was delectable, and Erin felt it warming her up. But the food didn\u2019t settle in her stomach or weigh her down; if anything, she felt more awake with each bite.<\/p>\n It was probably thanks to a Skill. And the drink was doing something to Erin\u2019s mood as well. Each gulp made her feel better. She looked across the bar at a Gnoll with black fur streaked a bit with grey. He was a [Bartender]. Rufelt. And sitting next to Erin was Lasica, a [Chef]. The two were a married couple. They\u2019d dragged Erin about the city before revealing they owned a very popular establishment. In the same business as Erin.<\/p>\n And they\u2019d called her a rookie. Erin was half-fixated on that, half-frowning over something she\u2019d realized, and a third half was listening to a commotion outside. Someone was shouting\u2014several someones, actually.<\/p>\n \u201cWait, rookie?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Erin looked at Rufelt. The Gnoll grinned at her, baring his teeth in a Gnoll\u2019s smile.<\/p>\n \u201cOops. Lasica my dear, you might have offended Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing offensive about speaking the truth. Give me the bright pink stuff with that Balerosian white you did up last night.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake woman looked unconcerned as she pointed across the bar. Rufelt fetched a proper wineglass out, filled it with a white wine, and then added a shot of a vibrant pink liquid from a glass container. Erin blinked. The glass container had a spigot, also made of glass. And it was one of a row of similar vessels, all containing different liquids. All probably alcoholic. Some were glowing. One was resting on the top<\/em> of the container, and it had been flipped upside down.<\/p>\n \u201cHere you are. A Jungleblood Sunrise. I wish you\u2019d remember the names.\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica shrugged. She snagged the glass as it spun down the slick counter past Erin. The white wine (which was in fact slightly yellow and green, in defiance of proper sense) and pink liquid were spinning together. The Drake rolled her eyes as she drank half and sighed, visibly relaxing.<\/p>\n \u201cAncestors, that\u2019s nice. But you know I don\u2019t remember any of the silly names you and your bartending friends come up with. Can I get another? Iced?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin opened her mouth to protest. Several things, in fact, but Rufelt was faster. He snagged another wineglass from behind him as he spun, filled the glass with pink stuff in the same motion, and then pulled open a drawer behind the bar. Erin blinked. Ice cubes, or rather, ice chunks<\/em> since they weren\u2019t nearly as tidy in form as cubes, appeared in the wine glass. The white wine poured on top, and the glass spun past Erin again.<\/p>\n Literally spinning. She watched as the pink liquid swirled up and the wine swirled downwards, forming a vortex around the ice. The glass came to rest perfectly in front of Lasica, contents still spinning in a miniature vortex. She did not look impressed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it with you and spinning your drinks recently?\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt looks like a lot of fun. And it is! And it\u2019s not my \u2018bartending friends\u2019, love of my life. It\u2019s all<\/em> [Bartenders]. I didn\u2019t invent the name; a Balerosian [Bartender] came up with Jungleblood Sunrise herself. A pity, because I would have called it something less confusing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMm. Why do<\/em> they call it that? This is hardly the color of blood.\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica pointed to the pink and greenish-yellow liquid.<\/p>\n \u201cUh, excuse me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Erin broke off, because she wanted to know the answer. Rufelt shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cApparently, it\u2019s not referring to blood, but a type of flower. You see, it weeps its\u2026what would you call the stuff in flowers? Nectar? Yes, the wet stuff. Anyways, it weeps it in the morning, so when the sun rises, it catches the light and looks quite similar to that. Pink on yellow and green.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFascinating. Also, completely pointless.\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica drained her first glass and started on the second. Erin stared between her and Rufelt as he sighed. She waved a hand, and both looked at her. Rufelt grinned sheepishly.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me, Erin. We sometimes get lost in ourselves. We\u2019re not used to company before the bar opens.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, no problem. Uh\u2014a few questions. First, rookie?<\/em> Second, I\u2019m not used to people being nice to me and feeding me. That\u2019s my job. Third, we call putting alcohol in ice \u2018on the rocks\u2019 where I come from. Do you do that? And fourth\u2014is that stuff floating upside down? <\/em>Is\u2014is it antigravity alcohol? I\u2019m fine with any of these questions being answered, by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Rufelt and Lasica looked at the upside-down liquid Erin was pointing to. They paused as they considered Erin\u2019s questions. Rufelt eyed his wife. She eyed him back, and her tail wagged a bit, although her lips only moved up slightly. Rufelt stroked his chin thoughtfully.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the rocks? Hm. I like that. I think I\u2019ll use that from now on. It has a\u2026good sound to it, yes? And that is one of my magical liquids. I\u2019m not sure about, er, anti-gravity, but it floats! It\u2019ll go straight up, and it\u2019s a devil to mix with drinks unless you can do it right. Want a taste?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan<\/em> I? Wait, how do I drink it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s find out, shall we?\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica rolled her eyes as Rufelt snagged another tumbler. She leaned over to Erin, smiling a bit. She still had quite a presence, and Erin wondered if all middle-aged Drakes were like that. Tekshia was certainly intimidating, although she was even more no-nonsense and somewhat abrasive, too.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t intend to drag you around, Erin. I apologize again for that, but we had good cause. We did want to meet you\u2014that was always part of the plan. As for taking care of you, well, why not?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s my job.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin protested weakly. Rufelt was mixing two liquids in the tumbler before he approached the upside-down stuff. He paused there and took a breath. Lasica watched him with Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cSo? We see someone in distress, we usually invite them in for a drink. Especially if it looks like they\u2019re having a bad day. Like you. I could practically sense that you needed some of my pick-me-up food. Have another bite, by the way. It\u2019s [Comfort Food], designed to help. But save your appetite; I\u2019ll make you a splendid lunch. Rufelt, you\u2019d better not spill that! What was it, eight gold per fluid ounce?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEight\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared at the liquid in horror. But Rufelt only glared mildly back at his wife.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for reminding me. Just give me one second. And here\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n His hand blurred. Erin saw the tumbler go up, and the half-filled liquid turned upside down. But before gravity could take effect, the spigot opened and a splash, just a splash <\/em>of the upside-down liquid (bronze, semi-transparent, and quite quick), came flying upwards. It mixed with the other liquid, and Rufelt twisted the tumbler right-side up.<\/p>\n \u201cMixing.\u201d<\/p>\n He had a strange metal rod about the size of a thermometer in his paw. He stirred the drink vigorously and then placed it on the bar and slid it towards Erin. She stared at the liquid\u2014the drink was close to black.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s basic, strong, and a bit sour. You don\u2019t have to finish it, but mixing sugary stuff with the Dwarfrain isn\u2019t something I want to do. But if you\u2019re going to take a sip, make it quick.\u201d<\/p>\n Rufelt advised Erin. She stared at him and then realized the liquid in the cup was rising up!<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s floating!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, what did you expect?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut how do I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Erin didn\u2019t bother to wait for a reply. She lifted the cup, and the rising liquid floated up towards her lips. She sipped the stuff, made a face because it was strong and bitter, like one of those stupid lagers that Bevussa liked, and then gagged.<\/p>\n \u201cItsh!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKeep swallowing. Don\u2019t let it win! It\u2019ll give up after a second.\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica laughed as Erin\u2019s throat tried to force the liquid down and it kept coming back up. At first, Erin was horribly reminded of throwing up, but then it was actually sort of fun\u2014until the liquid lost whatever was keeping it floating and it went straight down her throat. She began coughing as Lasica patted her on the back.<\/p>\n \u201cFun, isn\u2019t it? Rufelt has a collection of these silly drinks. He\u2019s not just a [Bartender], after all. He\u2019s got an advanced version of the class.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAgh! It burns! What do you mean, advanced version? What class is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be telling, I\u2019m afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n Rufelt snagged the tumbler and took a drink of the liquid threatening to float past Erin\u2019s head. She let him have it; one sip was enough.<\/p>\n \u201cTelling classes is a bit too personal for people we\u2019ve just met. Even an [Innkeeper] in the same line of work. But I\u2019ll tell you for nothing that both he and I have\u2026rare versions of our class. The kind you only get past Level 30. And so do you, I imagine. Rookie.\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica offered Erin a sip of her drink. Erin took it, coughed again, and sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good. I\u2019m not a rookie! Am I?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou might have a lot of levels, Miss Human. But you seem like one to us. And it\u2019s not about levels. Here. I know you can probably drink anything I serve all day and all night\u2014my [Bartender]\u2019s senses are telling me you\u2019re probably immune to my alcohol\u2014but have this.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin blinked at the next cup that appeared in front of her. She sniffed it, tasted it experimentally, and found\u2026it was water. She began drinking it down as Lasica offered her another peanut butter and chocolate ball.<\/p>\n \u201cSnack?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s chocolate. Where\u2019d you get that? No one I talked to knew anything<\/em> about it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake blinked in surprise. Rufelt glanced over as he cleaned the finished cups.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know about chocolate? Well, color me impressed. This came right from Baleros. A new thing\u2014well, relatively. We\u2019ve had cocoa for ages, but some [Chef] over there started experimenting, and, well, I got some with my latest shipment. We\u2019ve a deal that sends goods straight from a [Merchant] in Baleros to the city. One of the things you need to acquire. Rookie.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin peered at Lasica. She opened her mouth, and the Drake popped a piece of her breaded chicken in there. Erin chewed, at first with mild outrage, but then she realized Lasica was treating her like a kid. Rather than make her mad, it was almost pleasant. There was something affectionate in Lasica\u2019s teasing tone. And she was twice Erin\u2019s age. Then Erin thought about what she\u2019d said.<\/p>\n \u201cWait, a trade route from Baleros? That has to be\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThousands of miles? Difficult to get someone to regularly ship from the ports all the way to Pallass? Expensive? If your answer was all of the above, that\u2019s only half of the problems. Whenever the Drowned Folk start raiding ships, or there\u2019s a war, we get cut off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich is why we have a huge store of everything Lasica and I need in a part of Melinni\u2019s private warehouse. The one we didn\u2019t show you and not many people know about. That\u2019s something else you need. I\u2019d say a warehouse or some kind of area with runes of preservation first, right, Lasica? Connections second.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, agreed. Here\u2019s what most [Innkeepers] we know agree on, Erin. The ones who\u2019re actually smart, anyways. First, you need to lock down a healthy supply of food. Not just enough for next week, but for months<\/em>. Enough rare ingredients to weather any storm. Of course, you\u2019ll expand your inventory slowly\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Rufelt held up a cautioning paw.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014don\u2019t rush your rare ingredients. We did that once and sold for far too little. Focus on, say, a basement with runes of preservation and basics like milk, grain, meat\u2014enough for six months based purely off that. It is vital in case the supply of food plummets.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin couldn\u2019t imagine that happening in a city like Pallass, with huge storehouses full of preserved food. Lasica grimaced.<\/p>\n \u201cEasier than you think. Melinni\u2019s got runes of preservation, but they don\u2019t stop insects. In fact, fresh meat makes it worse. You can still contaminate food\u2014it just stays preserved, which means entire batches of meat we thought were good can be off if, say, the cattle were all sick. And in times of plague or general famine\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPallass can feed itself, but with millions of mouths, it still has to ration. And it does not<\/em> open its gates to other cities. It couldn\u2019t if it wanted to. There are simply too many mouths out there. I wish we had more storehouses, but Melinni and Pallass\u2019 [Quartermasters] are working off of centuries of investment. So food first. At the very least, you won\u2019t be short of meat or so on during the winter. Oh, and stock up on firewood. I hear that\u2019s an issue around Liscor.\u201d<\/p>\n Rufelt sighed. Erin looked between him and Lasica. The shouting from outside was still going on. Someone was calling for the Watch.<\/p>\n \u201cUm. I have a basement full of corpses, so I don\u2019t know about the basement thing. But I have a [Field of Preservation] around my inn\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica shot up in her chair. She stared at Erin and then at her husband. Rufelt\u2019s jaw dropped open. The next moment he was glancing at the door. He leaned forwards, and Erin leaned back a bit at the expression on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cA word of advice, Erin? Don\u2019t mention that again. There are people who would target you for that Skill alone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cField of\u2014that is such a cheap Skill\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica groaned and covered her face with her claws. She looked at Rufelt.<\/p>\n \u201cImagine how much gold we could have saved with that! And how many accidental\u2014the number of times we\u2019ve had a rune scratched and not noticed it, I can\u2019t count!\u201d<\/p>\n Rufelt nodded. He looked at Erin seriously.<\/p>\n \u201cI appreciate the trust, but I don\u2019t think that was trust so much as naivet\u00e9, Miss Erin. Be warned; we could have been the wrong couple to tell that to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. I\u2019m sorry. I didn\u2019t realize.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin blushed. Rufelt was scolding her, albeit gently. The Gnoll nodded, still half-frowning.<\/p>\n \u201cNo other mention of Skills, either. I\u2019d hate for a wagging tail or tongue to reveal something truly important.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBasement full of corpses?\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica had caught onto the first bit Erin had said. She stared at Erin. The [Innkeeper] gulped.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not a serial killer! I, uh, just have a Selphid guest\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014and she wants to store bodies in your inn. That\u2019s fairly ingenious. Melinni actually had a similar offer, but she wasn\u2019t about to have dead bodies lying next to her merchandise. But in an inn? If you were in Baleros, I\u2019d first ask how much you wanted to be the Selphid-only inn. But if you were fine with that, you could make a fortune just renting your place out to dead bodies. But that\u2019s a specialized type of [Innkeeper] I don\u2019t think you want to get into.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake [Chef] shook her head. Erin hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cWait, so what kind of [Innkeeper] do<\/em> you think I should be? Because I\u2019m\u2026er\u2026well, I can\u2019t say, but I\u2019m something.\u201d<\/p>\n Rufelt eyed Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cHm. A class consolidation? That means you\u2019re at least Level 20. No\u2014don\u2019t correct me.\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica nodded. There was a slight flush to her cheek scales, whether from excitement or the drink, Erin couldn\u2019t tell.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is all above-board advice, Erin. We like you, but we\u2019ve known you for about an hour. So let\u2019s continue down the list, shall we, Rufelt? First storage. You should invest in some runes of preservation. They\u2019re worth three or four times the gold you spend, even if it\u2019s a pain to get an [Enchanter]. And if some Ancestors-damned, lucky [Innkeeper] gets an entire field of\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She put her head down on the bar. Rufelt patted his wife on the arm and took over.<\/p>\n \u201cYou might have levels, Miss Solstice, but an inn, tavern, or any establishment like ours thrives on more than that. You need to be original. From what I understand, your magic door is a first step there, but you should cultivate some signature dishes. Lasica and I boast the widest variety of dishes in Pallass, mainly because of our Balerosian ingredients. Plus, alcohol and dinner being prepared by experts in the field is a tough combination to beat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEven if a certain [Innkeeper] can give his clientele a night worthy of any [Lord] in a Terandrian mansion for a fraction of the price.\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica grumbled under her breath. She sat upright, sighing.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I mean what I said about finding a connection. Ours was a chance meeting, but we sprang on the opportunity to have a highly-leveled friend in Baleros. And it\u2019s paid off for us\u2014and him. Cultivate friends. Your clientele is a good place to start, but there are always people looking out to make strong friends, and an [Innkeeper] as famous as you might start getting some offers. Be careful of whom you trust.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut don\u2019t turn down a good opportunity. We could have been affiliated with one of the largest Gnoll tribes in the continent if we hadn\u2019t let that opportunity slip us by.\u201d<\/p>\n Rufelt sighed. Erin\u2019s head swiveled from him to his wife. She felt like she needed to write this all down!<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s next, Rufelt?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSecurity? Guests. Hrm\u2026ah, investing money.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight! Security. You want\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere he is, officer! Walking around, just like that! Arrest him! It shouldn\u2019t be allowed! There are children on the streets! I don\u2019t care if he\u2019s\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n A loud voice from outside cut the Drake off. She frowned at the door then shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cAh. I think I know who that is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin peered at the door. There were glass windows, and she could see a crowd gathered outside. The loud voice had come from right outside the door, and Erin saw several of Pallass\u2019 [Guardsmen] escorting someone past them. Guardsmen<\/em> for a reason as it turned out. Erin saw a figure in the center of them, being pushed forwards. Two of the [Guardsmen] were holding a blanket up, but it slipped, and she caught a glimpse of\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cAw.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin and Rufelt recoiled, the girl in shock, the Gnoll in disgust. Lasica just raised her brows.<\/p>\n The Drake being arrested was very<\/em> naked. He had dusky yellow scales, and he was slim. Erin could hear him protesting loudly to the [Guardsmen].<\/p>\n \u201cI just misplaced my clothes! It was an accident! I would have put them on. Eventually.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Sergeant], or whomever was leading the group, glared at his ward, making sure only to meet his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, yeah. How many times is this? Come on, you\u2019re spending another night in the cells. Move it along, people! Nothing to see here.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a burst of laughter from outside, and the [Sergeant] flushed. A female voice\u2014a Gnoll, in fact\u2014shouted loudly.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s everything<\/em> to see! This is absurd! Disgraceful\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared as the nudist Drake was finally taken out of view. She turned to Lasica. She looked amused and resigned. Rufelt was just shaking his head.<\/p>\n \u201cWho was that? Or what was that? No, wait. My question is: is that normal?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly if he\u2019s about.\u201d<\/p>\n Rufelt grumbled to himself. Lasica nodded. With a mix of shame and twisted civic pride, she pointed at the door.<\/p>\n \u201cErin, that was our resident Named Adventurer who just got arrested. Saliss of Lights. I\u2019d explain, but\u2026okay, security. You want at least a few good [Bouncers], [Guards], or whatever. I heard a rumor you\u2019ve got Hobgoblins working at your inn?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014I did. I only have one now. But hold on, that was\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay<\/em>. Well, you want someone. Even if you have Skills, you want someone. That goes for staffing as well. Finding a good support [Barmaid] or [Barkeep] or someone<\/em> to take up the slack really helps. I suppose it\u2019s less pressing for you since you are an [Innkeeper]\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA Named Adventurer?<\/em> And he\u2019s a stripper?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat would imply he normally has clothes. Right. I don\u2019t know if you know this, Erin, but [Innkeeper] is a generalist class in a sense. You see, it\u2019s not like a [Bartender]. Rufelt has some overlap with your job, but his area of influence and tasks are more specialized. So he\u2019ll make far better alcohol than you, but he doesn\u2019t have a skill that affects the entire tavern. Or gives him a stupid field.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I can make some fantastic drinks. And some of them have effects. Like the one I gave you at the start. I can cheer someone up, make a drink that gives energy or knocks someone out, and I can even handle liquids that normal bartenders can\u2019t. For instance, a Level 20 [Bartender] couldn\u2019t even mix that floating drink I gave you.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared at both husband and wife. She looked at the door, pointed at it, and gave up. The Drake and Gnoll stared at her, friendly, helpful for no other reason than\u2026they were good people. And utterly determined not to answer any questions about the naked Named Adventurer. Erin sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. Fine. What about guests? And, uh, do you have a piece of paper?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026and a dedicated clientele is important. You can be open to all, like we are, but you\u2019d better be the best<\/em>. From what you\u2019ve said, it sounds like you want adventurers as your main revenue base, is that right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026I mean, it\u2019d be nice.\u201d<\/p>\n An hour later, Erin\u2019s head hurt, but she had two full pages of cramped and slightly blotched notes from all Rufelt and Lasica had told her. They were full of tips, and Erin had realized she was full of questions.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t know there was so much to know<\/em>. I mean, about being an [Innkeeper]. I just got my class from cleaning a room. In an inn, obviously, but still. I had no idea how much I\u2019ve missed.\u201d<\/p>\n Rufelt laughed lightly.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing you need<\/em> to know about being an [Innkeeper], Erin. That\u2019s why you\u2019ve done so well. But there\u2019s experience, tips from others. And somehow, we doubted the [Innkeepers] in Liscor or Celum had been helping you out.\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica nodded, absently reading over Erin\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cAdventurers travel about, which is a problem, but your door solves some of that. But you do need better security. And your golem idea is novel, I\u2019ll grant you, but it is a pricey investment. If you break one, that\u2019s a lot of gold gone in a moment. Just look into some [Guards].\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGot it. Maybe the Antinium?\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica and Rufelt shuddered. Erin looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re nice! Really!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI find that very<\/em> hard to believe. But then, I lived through the Antinium Wars. I do hear the Hive around Liscor is different from the rest. But let\u2019s just say I won\u2019t test that theory.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to bring Pawn through to Pallass someday. With Numbtongue. And Mrsha too, I guess. Uh\u2014okay, that\u2019s written down.\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica squinted at the parchment.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you say so. Your handwriting is atrocious.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, I\u2019m drunk!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo you\u2019re not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026You\u2019re right. Okay, what about the innkeepers? Why wouldn\u2019t they help me?\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica and Rufelt exchanged a look.<\/p>\n \u201cOoh. She doesn\u2019t know, Lasica. In that case, we should probably introduce her later.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo the good [Innkeepers] in Pallass, at least. For another day.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin waved a hand in front of their faces. She didn\u2019t mind the husband-wife talk they did, or the fact that Lasica\u2019s tail twined around Rufelt when they stood together, but\u2014okay, it was obnoxious sometimes.<\/p>\n \u201cKnow what?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInnkeepers talk amongst each other. That includes tavern owners and people who manage hostels and so on, by the way. It depends on where you are and who you know, but I could, say, get in touch with someone in Celum if I had an issue that extended there.\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica explained matter-of-factly to Erin. Rufelt nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all informal\u2014nothing like the Merchant\u2019s Guild or Mage\u2019s Guild or so on\u2014but it does exist. In some cities, [Innkeepers] work together. Like in Celum.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLiscor\u2019s not like that. But they do share something. And we know this because both<\/em> groups don\u2019t like you very much. Celum especially.\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica sighed. Erin blinked at them. She remembered Miss Agnes mentioning there was a group of [Innkeepers] in Celum, but it had slipped her mind. Rufelt nodded sympathetically.<\/p>\n \u201cThey might cause you trouble, but you shouldn\u2019t worry too much, yes? You have a magic door and they don\u2019t. Just bear it in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGreat. Something else to write down. Thank you, by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin grumbled to herself. Lasica laughed lightly. She looked at Erin, then at the window.<\/p>\n \u201cHm. We\u2019re into early evening. Almost time to open up. And I need another drink.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWater for you. You need to cook Erin one proper meal, and one more drink would make you too tipsy for your best. Besides, we have a business to run tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Sternly, Rufelt handed Lasica a glass of water. She sighed, but sipped from it. Erin looked at the two.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, seriously. This is so helpful. Thanks for being so nice. And I\u2014I didn\u2019t do anything to deserve it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBesides save a city? Besides building your inn from practically nothing? Don\u2019t be silly, girl.\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica walked past Erin. She had a wet cloth in hand, and she was polishing something in the center of the room. Tails and Scales was very bar-focused, but it had a number of tables. And, Erin had overlooked this, one of the tables in the center of the room was quite strange. It had no chairs around it, and the top was flat and black. It was a solid block, not a table at all, in fact. Erin stared as Lasica checked something, opening a door in the side of the black\u2026whatever it was.<\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2014still. Thank you. No one\u2019s been so nice to me before. I should\u2014I mean, I can\u2019t pay you, but I\u2019ll return the favor\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stammered. She caught Rufelt looking at her oddly. Lasica just shook her head and turned to filling the door with something. Wait. Coal? But Erin was looking at Rufelt\u2019s odd expression.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cErin Solstice. We don\u2019t want money. And you may consider this a favor, but we would rather you didn\u2019t. We did this because we wanted to meet you. Even without that, if I had seen you crying on the street, I would have done just this. Do I need a reason to make you a drink?\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll looked at Erin. The young woman hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Of course not. It\u2019s just\u2026it\u2019s been so long since I met someone who just wanted to\u2026help me.\u201d<\/p>\n Rufelt\u2019s eyes widened a bit. He looked up, and Erin knew he was meeting his wife\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cHas it really been that long?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Yes. I\u2019ve met great people. Who helped me out a lot. The Horns, the Halfseekers\u2026but they\u2019re guests. The last time someone just\u2026helped me when I was in pain was\u2014maybe it was Klbkch and Relc?\u201d<\/p>\n A soft intake of breath from behind Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Slayer and the Gecko of Liscor?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin laughed at that. She felt incredibly sad and welcomed at the same time.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Just Relc and Klbkch! Klbkch was\u2014he gave me a healing potion for my hand. And Relc? He\u2019s a jerk and a good guy sometimes. And I think he\u2019s better. He killed the closest thing Numbtongue had to a father, and Klbkch is really mean to Pawn. But they helped me without asking for anything. So did Krshia, but that was back then. Since then, I<\/em> help people. I have friends.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you\u2019re the one who supports them most of the time, isn\u2019t that so?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin looked down at the bar\u2019s countertop. It was very smooth. Very beautiful wood. She heard a footstep and then felt a light touch on her shoulder. Lasica looked down at her.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what an [Innkeeper] is. They give shelter to their guests. The best ones do more. I\u2019ve never wanted the job. A [Cook] only has to do one thing. A [Barkeep]\u2019s job ends with their shift. I think you need a break, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do. I know.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared down at her inky, messy notes. A paw reached out and gently tugged them away from her. Rufelt put them behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Erin. Consider this an invitation. Whenever you wish, for whatever reason, you may leave your inn and come here. Don\u2019t worry about debts or payment. When you need someone to look after you, come here. You\u2019ll always be welcome in Tails and Scales.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat he said.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin looked up at a smiling Drake face. She saw Rufelt leave the bar. And her eyes overflowed. But they weren\u2019t bad tears. She was just a bit overwhelmed. Just a bit tired. So Erin cried at the bar as Rufelt panicked a bit, and Lasica found her a warm towel to wipe her face on. Then there was another comforting drink.<\/p>\n And the tavern opened. By the time the first Drake [Barkeep], one of Rufelt\u2019s apprentices, came in, Erin\u2019s tears were dried. Two [Servers], a Gnoll and Drake, joined the mix. All of them introduced themselves to Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is my apprentice, Usshi.\u201d<\/p>\n Rufelt introduced the [Barkeep], who gave Erin a smile that made you want to smile back. And the two [Barmaids]. People were already waiting at the door when the Gnoll [Server]\u2014a class for someone who was just starting out their career in that area\u2014opened the door.<\/p>\n \u201cErin Solstice. We meet again.\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman blinked at Maughin and several of his fellow [Smiths] and apprentices. She stood up to greet him, then Xif, and to Lasica\u2019s displeasure, Melinni. They\u2019d all come to talk more about the Pallass issue, but after a quick discussion where Lasica leaned in, they didn\u2019t invite Erin. They filled the tables, talking to Lasica as more Drakes, Gnolls, Dullahans, and even a Garuda couple came in.<\/p>\n Some were [Mages]. Others [Scribes], [Weavers], [Potters], and others that Lasica and Rufelt knew by name. There was even a [Hauler] who\u2019d reached such a high level that he\u2019d become a [Cargomaster]. The Garuda pair were [Aerial Dancers]. Erin met them all. Rufelt served drinks, some plain shots, others glowing, magical, wine and spirits and, occasionally, juice.<\/p>\n He did it quickly, with a flourish, sometimes suggesting a change in the order that was always accepted. He knew his customers. And he was flawless\u2014except for his fondness for spinning the drinks about. He only stopped that when Maughin complained about the third in a row.<\/p>\n And then Lasica started cooking some appetizers or an early dinner. She didn\u2019t go into the kitchen. Rather, the kitchen came to her. A [Line Cook] came in to learn from her, and Erin saw why.<\/p>\n \u201cA hibachi grill!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA hot plate table. Hands off.\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica corrected Erin. She had been throwing coal into the furnace at the bottom of the table, and now she lit it. Erin stared as she tossed some oil on the table and then some thin strips of meat. Almost at once, they began to cook, and she flipped them onto a plate.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s\u2014but\u2014how? That\u2019s from home! From my\u2026<\/em>how did you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Rufelt grinned at Erin\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there was ever a way to burn their food, Drakes would surely find it. Just be glad Lasica\u2019s not cooking flamb\u00e9.<\/em> And order what you want! She can cook you up a wonderful bowl of these noodles with some meat and fried vegetables\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cC-can I have an egg?\u201d<\/p>\n Lasica laughed. Erin had her egg. She had a lot of food, actually. Her stomach seemed to have forgotten its usual dimensions as she ate Lasica\u2019s hot, delicious<\/em> food greedily. And she found herself sitting next to Maughin, then Xif, and then others, talking to them. Not as an [Innkeeper] did to the guests, but as someone with all the time on their hands to pester Maughin about what was under his armor, or ask Xif about magical food, a topic he was only too happy to work with her on.<\/p>\n Erin laughed as Rufelt showed off at his bar, serving a flaming drink to a brave Gnoll, and then a crowd favorite\u2014an alcohol that turned the entire glass invisible too. They let him make six drinks and then searched for them. Erin found one, and it turned her tongue green as a bonus surprise.<\/p>\n Then the Dullahan walked in. Not one of Maughin\u2019s [Smith] friends. Her armor was ceramic, painted white and green, and very beautiful. And she held a cello.<\/p>\n \u201cAh. Our [Cellist]. I almost forgot we\u2019d asked her to come in tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Rufelt leaned over the bar. Erin stared as the Dullahan musician set up. There was a little stand for her head with a pillow, a stool, and she was ready. She sat at a corner of the tavern, almost like an afterthought.<\/p>\n Until she began to play. And Erin realized she had a Skill. There were other instruments playing with the Dullahan. But she was alone, and the song that filled the tavern was slow and beautiful.<\/p>\n It changed the atmosphere of the room. From energetic, the room grew thoughtful. And then Lasica abandoned her grill. She let the [Line Cook] take over, and Rufelt stepped out from behind his bar. They moved to a clear spot in the room and began to dance.<\/p>\n They weren\u2019t the only ones. The Garuda got up, and so did some other couples. Erin looked around. She saw the Dullahan [Cellist] play on as the tables, and chairs were pushed back. The Drakes and Gnolls danced slowly, not with skill for the most part, but just lost in each other. The music invited that kind of slow, quiet moment. Those who didn\u2019t dance just sat back, drinks in hand, or ate quietly, savoring the music.<\/p>\n On her stand, the Dullahan\u2019s eyes were closed. Her body played on. Erin envied the quiet, serene look on her face. And she envied the way Lasica and Rufelt smiled at each other as they occupied the center of their home.<\/p>\n \u201cDoesn\u2019t it make you jealous? As Gnoll and Drake couples go, theirs is one of the most famous in Pallass. Everyone knows of Tails and Scales. Normally, you have to be invited to come in by a regular.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin looked around. Usshi, the young [Barkeep], was serving drinks. She looked at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cA drink?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh\u2014what should I get? Uh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Erin didn\u2019t want to ask for something that would require Rufelt. Usshi waved a claw.<\/p>\n \u201cAsk me for anything. Rufelt has a Skill that passes on some of his talents to me. [Bartender\u2019s Gift] or something. I only hope I won\u2019t need it. And you don\u2019t need to pay anyways. How about something cold? Have you seen this?\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake pulled a tumbler out and filled it with some rum and juice before Erin could protest. Then she went over to a counter in the back of the bar. Erin stared as she placed the tumbler of alcohol on it. Erin saw the sides of the tumbler frost over\u2014the [Barkeep] took it off and quickly handed it to Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cIce-cold. And just wait\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed. To Erin\u2019s astonishment, the alcohol hadn\u2019t turned entirely to ice. Rather, it had become a slushy. Usshi handed Erin a spoon and wooden straw. Erin nearly cried again because it was from home. She stayed in the tavern, drinking, eating, talking. And for one evening, Erin forgot she was an [Innkeeper].<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Numbtongue eventually got the electrified mana sludge into an empty bottle with a big cork with the help of some gloves, a small spade to shovel the liquid into the jar, and a lot of patience. And some shocks. But he didn\u2019t mind the effort. He was pleased with himself. So pleased that on the way to the inn and back he didn\u2019t notice the change in the cave. But on his final trip out, he sensed it.<\/p>\n The Rockmites were agitated. They were scurrying up and down the walls. When Numbtongue passed through their main nest for the third time, they turned towards him.<\/p>\n The Hobgoblin froze. Too late, he realized that his performance with the guitar, not to mention the electricity, maybe even the mining, had upset the insects. They had ignored him earlier, but now they were registering him as a threat. They scuttled off the walls and onto the ground.<\/p>\n Run. Or fight<\/em>. If he could call down lightning here, he could probably fry them all if he didn\u2019t collapse the cave or hit himself. But as Numbtongue was reaching for the guitar and sword he carried, he hesitated. The Rockmites were agitated. But this was their home. Was he going to kill them? He had intruded here.<\/p>\n He looked down at the jar of liquid magic stone he\u2019d wrapped up as the Rockmites advanced on him. It was his. The Rockmites had no need for it. He\u2019d made this. In a way\u2014he\u2019d mined it out of rock with Pyrite\u2019s memories and the help of Erin\u2019s door and the Rockmites\u2014but even so, Numbtongue had stolen this from no one.<\/p>\n It was one of the first things Numbtongue had ever made without stealing. Besides that and music. Was he going to taint it by killing?<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n The word made the Rockmites hesitate. They were advancing in a rolling wave, preparing to surround the Hobgoblin, engulf him in one movement. They held back as he set his burdens down and lifted his guitar. But the strings did not flash with electricity. Numbtongue played slowly. The music was quiet, gentle, not like the hard thunder of earlier.<\/p>\n Because he was no thief. Not a killer. Not even scary. Not here. Not today.<\/p>\n The song that filled the cave was a soft tune at first. Soft, gentle plucking on the strings. So soothing that even the Rockmites sensed something was different. They held back, waiting, confused. And then Numbtongue began to sing.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a flash of white waving<\/em><\/p>\n We followed her together<\/em><\/p>\n Laughing as if we knew<\/em><\/p>\n My brothers came to rest in the mud.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The tune was slow to come out just right, the words painful. And he played to insects who knew nothing of him. But it didn\u2019t matter. They held still. Numbtongue sang, as he could only do when he was alone. To them, to himself.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBlood has long spilled<\/em><\/p>\n Now and then, again<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019m tired, so I\u2019m asking<\/em><\/p>\n When will we stop?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n They approached him and drew away. The Hobgoblin bent, and they scuttled back. He tried to make them understand. He was a [Bard]. If he couldn\u2019t play to all species, both monsters and people, what point was there?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI came here not to harm you<\/em><\/p>\n Or for you to hurt me, listen;<\/em><\/p>\n A Goblin asks for peace. Will you agree?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n They did not respond. How could they? Maybe they didn\u2019t even understand. But as Numbtongue kept playing, he walked forwards. He sang, and the Rockmites backed up.<\/p>\n The lyrics didn\u2019t match the tune on the guitar. The pacing was off. Numbtongue improvised the fourth verse. And the fifth. But it didn\u2019t matter. He knew this song by heart.<\/p>\n It was the same song as he\u2019d sung in the inn. It wasn\u2019t about the words. It was the message.<\/p>\n Peace. At least for the moment.<\/p>\n The Rockmites probably barely thought, and they might not even hear Numbtongue\u2019s words as such. But they listened, an audience as he sang a universal song. And they let him go.<\/p>\n If you were cynical, you could have said they were just confused by the music, wary of Numbtongue with guitar in hands. But if you believed, as Numbtongue did, maybe the music had meant something.<\/p>\n \u201cCould use more work. Needs better words.\u201d<\/p>\n He grunted to himself as he approached the door. The purple mana stone went on the door. He opened the door, scowled at the stone wall, and leaned against the cave\u2019s entrance. He closed his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cTomorrow I\u2019ll go higher.\u201d<\/p>\n And he played his song again.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Late in the evening, Erin Solstice walked back through her door into her inn. Her home.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not drunk! I just drank a lot of alcohol! But it\u2019s okay since it\u2019s me!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin protested as the surly Drake [Guard] shut the door in her face. She glared at the wooden door.<\/p>\n \u201cJerk.\u201d<\/p>\n She stuck out her tongue and felt happy about being so silly. She looked back at the door. She\u2019d gone to Pallass looking for\u2026something. Instead, the city had jumped out at her. Surprised her. Made her actually like it this time around. She sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay Pallass, you win round one. But next time? I\u2019m gonna rock your socks! \u2026Do Drakes or Gnolls wear socks?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin was caught up in that thought for a second. She wasn\u2019t <\/em>drunk, in point of fact. But she was happy. And excited to the point of being silly. No, she\u2019d remembered she could <\/em>be silly, and she was rejoicing in that fact. She was almost debating opening the door to heckle the Drake some more, then she remembered to set it to purple.<\/p>\n As soon as she did, the door opened. Erin jumped as Numbtongue strode through. He blinked as he nearly ran into her. She smiled up at him.<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Numbtongue. How was your day?\u201d<\/p>\n The Hobgoblin was dirty, sweaty, and looked tired. But he looked at peace. He hesitated, then gave Erin a half-smile.<\/p>\n \u201cGood. You?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin hesitated. Then she grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cI had a great day. But what happened to you?\u201d<\/p>\n The Hobgoblin hesitated again. He looked around the inn. There was some kind of commotion; everyone was gathered around Apista, and Lyonette was talking with Pisces, Ceria, and Falene for some reason. He shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cLater. Maybe tonight we can\u2026talk?\u201d<\/p>\n The hopeful look in his eye didn\u2019t pass Erin by. She nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cTonight. Over a drink? I learned a few recipes, although I have no idea how to make mine fly.\u201d<\/p>\n The Hobgoblin gave Erin an odd look. She laughed. Then she turned.<\/p>\n \u201cLyonette! Hey guys, what\u2019s up? Anything happen while I was away?\u201d<\/p>\n For some reason, that got her the oddest look. But Erin was too excited to wonder why. She waved her arms, trying to get their attention.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll never believe <\/em>what a day I had! Okay, first, I went through into Pallass, and guess what? I met this couple that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Erin paused. She stared at the gathered adventurers. They were all blinking at her. Erin\u2019s gaze travelled across them. She stopped on Pisces. He blinked as she pointed at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could use some abs. You too, Ceria. Typhenous is old so he\u2019s fine, and Moore\u2019s cool since he can lift cows, but the rest of you need to work out.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin turned. Her finger wavered as it went to the other [Mages] in the room. She wasn\u2019t drunk. Definitely not. She definitely hadn\u2019t<\/em> gotten drunk because she was immune to alcohol, right? Unless she\u2019d turned it off just to see what it was like. That\u2026sounded like something she would do.<\/p>\n The others stared at Erin. Revi opened her mouth, but Moore spoke up.<\/p>\n \u201cLift a cow?<\/em> How strong does she think I am? I could use a spell maybe, but with my arms? I\u2019d strain my back!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTake it as a compliment, Moore.\u201d<\/p>\n Jelaqua slapped Moore on the shoulder. She laughed, and Erin looked at Lyonette.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, did<\/em> I miss anything?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As Erin listened with open mouth to Lyonette\u2019s story about Apista, Numbtongue presented his mana sludge to Typhenous. The old [Mage]\u2019s eyes popped as he stared at the jar Numbtongue carefully held away from his body in gloved hands.<\/p>\n \u201cYou found that<\/em> in the mountains? Why, it\u2019s\u2014magicore!<\/em> Revi, come and see!\u201d<\/p>\n The other adventurers looked up, scenting something interesting or profitable. Revi walked over, frowning alternately at Typhenous, the jar, and Numbtongue.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? What did you say he found? It looks like yellow goo, Typhenous. Mixed with dirt. Is it valuable?\u201d<\/p>\n The old [Mage]\u2019s voice shook a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cI should imagine? To the right buyers, certainly. How much did you say you found, er, Numbtongue?\u201d<\/p>\n The Hobgoblin met Typhenous\u2019 eyes steadily.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n The old [Mage] paused. Then he coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, of course. I was just curious. You see\u2026it\u2019s just, this sample? It\u2019s raw magicore. That\u2019s the layfolk term for it. It\u2019s more like\u2026unrefined raw mana, in physical form.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIncorrect.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces and Falene both spoke up at once. They glared at each other. Pisces held up a finger, Ceria elbowed him and interrupted Falene as well.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not raw mana so much as mana-infused rock. Close enough, I know. Shut up, Pisces. Numbtongue, Wistram prizes the stuff. If you apply the right magics to it, you can turn it into a mana stone of unrivaled quality.\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue blinked at the magicore. You could? No, that made sense. But it wasn\u2019t something useful to Goblins. Typhenous was staring at it.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you were to place a monetary value upon it\u2026there is a difference in quality, but if there were <\/em>a\u2026a vein of it in the mountains, it might be worth\u2026might I inspect it, ah, Numbtongue?\u201d<\/p>\n The Hobgoblin studied Typhenous for a second. Then he shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cHere.\u201d<\/p>\n He offered it in one gloved hand to Typhenous. The [Mage] grasped for it greedily and then let out an exclamation of shock.<\/p>\n \u201cAh!\u201d<\/p>\n The jar tumbled from his hands as the [Mage] snatched his hands back. Numbtongue grabbed it on the way down. He chortled to himself as Typhenous shook out his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cYou ass. Typhenous, are you okay? That was hilarious.\u201d<\/p>\n Revi alternated between a glare of concern and an amused expression. Typhenous gave Numbtongue a reproachful look. Ceria blinked at the magicore.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh. I didn\u2019t see that. Looks like it\u2019s picked up some kind of focus. Electric, by the looks of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces sniffed. He opened his mouth, and Falene jumped in. The half-Elf gave Numbtongue a superior look and adopted a lecturing tone to the group.<\/p>\n \u201cNot nearly as valuable, then. Raw<\/em> magicore is free-form, transmutable. This now has an elemental quality; thus, its potential is shaped.\u201d<\/p>\n She tapped one finger against the glass jar, and Numbtongue noted with irritation that she didn\u2019t let it shock her somehow.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, any full<\/em> [Mage] of Wistram would know that. Now, I would take this and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Falene went to pluck the glass jar out of Numbtongue\u2019s grip. It didn\u2019t budge. The half-Elf stopped. Numbtongue gave her a grin with all his teeth,<\/p>\n \u201cMine. Not yours.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was merely making a point. If you\u2019ll let me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The jar didn\u2019t budge. Falene let out a slow breath. Ceria looked amused as she glanced at Numbtongue. Then she eyed Falene and jabbed her in the side.<\/p>\n The older half-Elf made a sound and jumped. She glared at Ceria. The [Ice Mage] had an innocent look on her face.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Falene. My hand slipped. But that is Numbtongue\u2019s jar. And he can do what he wants with it. We can\u2019t take it away from a fellow adventurer, can we?\u201d<\/p>\n She gave Typhenous a pointed look. The [Mage] coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, I just wished to see\u2026may I ask if that was the only sample found though? Please?\u201d<\/p>\n He gave Numbtongue an imploring look. The [Bard] hesitated, then relented.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Probably more. I just hit upper part of vein. Opened hole\u2014there\u2019s more. Raw. This is\u2026different. Made it electric.\u201d<\/p>\n He saw the way the adventurers\u2019 eyes changed at that. Falene glanced over her shoulder at Dawil, as if to signal him. The Dwarf raised a finger.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t mine! Up yours, pointy ears!\u201d<\/p>\n Typhenous licked his lips.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026How much<\/em> more? And Numbtongue, I might be forward in this, but if we could strike a deal for however much more you could find\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The Goblin bit his lip. He didn\u2019t like thinking about money. It wasn\u2019t something Goblins prized. Erin noticed and broke off from her conversation to ask what all the fuss was about. When she stared at the magicore and gingerly touched it, she yelped.<\/p>\n \u201cGah!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cErin, we said<\/em> it was electric!\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria looked amused as Erin waved her hand. The [Innkeeper] shrugged, still happily drunk. Or drunk and happy, which was even better.<\/p>\n \u201cI just wanted to find out! Hey, is it toxic or something? What happens if Numbtongue takes it out of the jar?\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf scratched her head.<\/p>\n \u201cToxic? Only if you drink it. Or if it\u2019s giving off fumes. But in the glass jar, it should be fine. It\u2019s not really<\/em> a liquid, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces nodded. He looked down self-importantly at Mrsha and Ksmvr, the only audience he could find.<\/p>\n \u201cMagicore is technically valuable, but I would put it far below gold, above silver in terms of rarity. Certainly not as rare as most gemstones of decent quality, but if Numbtongue could wheel away, say, a barrel of the stuff, he might earn several hundred gold coins for it. At least. If the quality were high, which from the translucency I deduce it is not, he might earn more. You see, magicore is easily appraised at a glance. The translucency, or rather, the lack<\/em> of any detail marks it as highly unfocused, and it is that lack of focus, the raw potential that [Mages] interested in creating mana stones crave\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Mrsha blinked up at him. Ksmvr was scribbling notes. He raised a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cQuestion, Comrade Pisces. What is the use of mana stones outside of Miss Erin\u2019s door? I am aware of their effects as mana reservoirs for [Mages], but have they any other effects?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, Ksmvr, I\u2019m glad you asked.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces smiled self-importantly. He gestured at Erin\u2019s door.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see, those stones on Erin\u2019s door are quite poor-quality. Which is good; they need not be more than simple, ah, anchors by which to guide the teleportation spell. But mana stones in general have any number of effects. They can hold an enchantment, allowing a [Mage] to weave his or her spells through the stone to aid in concentration, power mechanisms or fuel artifacts needing magic, or<\/em>\u2014and this is the most common effect in war\u2014be used as a single-cast spell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, much like an [Alchemist]\u2019s potions.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr nodded. Pisces nodded, and Mrsha nodded as well just to be included.<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed. But mana stones are rarer, and depending on the size and quality of the gem, they can contain very powerful spells. I made a habit of studying a few, ah, in hopes of incorporating them with my undead creations, but sadly only a master [Gem Mage] would be able to use a mana stone without shattering the crystal itself.\u201d<\/p>\n That caught Numbtongue\u2019s attention. He wandered over to Pisces as Typhenous shocked himself again and Erin mused about light bulbs and batteries out loud. The [Necromancer] glanced up at Numbtongue and hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cAh. Numbtongue.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPisces.\u201d<\/p>\n The Hobgoblin and [Necromancer] stared at each other for a second. Then Numbtongue reached into his belt pouch.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know mana stones? Can you look at this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I am only moderately studied in the subject. But I suppose I could look at\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces inhaled as he saw the glittering blue mana stone in Numbtongue\u2019s palm. Half the adventurers turned their heads again. Typhenous craned his head, but it was Falene who exclaimed.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me see that!\u201d<\/p>\n This time, Numbtongue didn\u2019t protest. He held out the stone, and Falene hesitated a second before holding her hand out. Numbtongue\u2019s eyes narrowed, but he dropped the mana stone into her palm. The half-Elf paused.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n She stared down at the mana stone and held it up to the light. Pisces, scowling, tried to see, but the half-Elf accidentally moved to get a better view and cut him off. Then she stared sharply at Numbtongue.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere did you get this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFrom a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue met her eyes without blinking. Falene frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you have any more?\u201d<\/p>\n He gave her a Goblin shrug. Falene pursed her lips.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you do, I will buy them from you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet me see! Is that a pure mana stone? Without defect?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs Numbtongue addressed the question to me, I should see first. Miss Skystrall? I believe\u2014Miss Skystrall?\u201d<\/p>\n Falene held the stone out of reach of the other two [Mages] who squabbled over it. Ceria covered her eyes, and Revi pulled Typhenous back, hissing at him.<\/p>\n \u201cStop embarrassing yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n But Falene\u2019s attention was all on Numbtongue. When he reluctantly showed her another of Pyrite\u2019s remaining stones, she very nearly gasped. She made him an instant offer, a number that made Erin\u2019s jaw drop. Numbtongue just shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cMine. I don\u2019t want to sell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut these are of no use to you. Numbtongue, is it? Listen to me. If you desire gemstones, I can provide them. But these are worth far more than simple jewels. These are high-grade mana stones. You have no idea what focus they have\u2014or what use they might be. In the possession of a [Mage], they could be quite valuable. But they\u2019re of no use to a non-[Mage], let alone\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She closed her mouth abruptly. Numbtongue, who could fill in missing words, gritted his teeth. The inn fell silent. Erin glared.<\/p>\n A tankard banged at a table in the corner of the room. Falene and Numbtongue turned, and Dawil, sitting with Ylawes, Halrac, and Seborn, all of whom hadn\u2019t deigned to get up, pointed at his companion. The Dwarf\u2019s voice was a rumble.<\/p>\n \u201cFalene, you\u2019re a half-wit.\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf\u2019s cheeks turned red. She waited, eyes flashing at Dawil, but he only took a long drink from his tankard. Then he looked at Numbtongue.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s all I wanted to add. Sorry about her. She\u2019s slow. Carry on.\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue grinned. He looked at Falene.<\/p>\n \u201cMine.\u201d<\/p>\n He held out a hand. After a second, she dropped it into his palm. Typhenous cleared his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cI<\/em> would like to make an offer, Miss Skystrall\u2019s notwithstanding\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey. What about us?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria raised her voice. She looked at Pisces.<\/p>\n \u201cWe could use those, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf one was so inclined\u2026and we have ample funds\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces\u2019 voice trailed off as he recalled where his team had gotten the funds from. Revi rolled her eyes. She looked at Numbtongue.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could just smash it.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone stared at her. Revi raised her hands.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? You could. <\/em>I don\u2019t know a lot about mana stones or advanced magical theory. [Summoner], remember? But I know some things, and I know that you can trigger a mana stone by smashing it. Looks like that one has a focus. So\u2026keep it and smash it if a monster attacks. Who knows? You might get lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is the most idiotic\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Falene ducked as Dawil threw an empty mug at her. She pointed, and it zoomed back towards his face. Ylawes batted it down with a reproachful look. Falene pursed her lips, but fell silent. Pisces coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cAs Miss Skystrall said\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh dead gods, not more [Mage] talk. Please say it in simple words, Pisces. Or I\u2019ll hit you.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon looked up from her table where she was dicing with Jelaqua and Moore. The [Necromancer] sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cFine. Rock goes smash, something happens. But no one can tell what<\/em>. That stone could simply dissipate. Or explode. Or\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He waved his hands and glared at Yvlon. Mrsha waved her paws as well, looking excited at the idea. Erin eyed the stone and edged back from it a bit. Numbtongue frowned. He knew all of this\u2014okay, parts. He wanted to know how to use mana stones without being a [Mage]. He looked at Revi again.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. I can break the stone and get\u2026something random. What about breaking it with my teeth?\u201d<\/p>\n Revi stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean\u2026eating it? That sounds like the dumbest idea I could think of. I guess it would do something since all that mana would go into your body. But who would do that?\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue stared at the stone. Pisces cleared his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cNone of these hypotheticals are strictly safe. Numbtongue, if I may offer a solution? If money is not your objective and I have no reason to believe it is\u2014why not offer the stone to Octavia? She could brew a potion out of it. At least, I know some [Alchemists] use mana stones. She might charge you coin or one of the other stones, but if she could reliably harness the stone\u2019s power, then you would have a brew you could at least throw or ingest, again assuming you could discover the effects. But happily, [Alchemists] have many ways of discovering a stone\u2019s effects.\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue brightened at that idea. That did<\/em> sound good. Falene looked disgusted, however.<\/p>\n \u201cOctavia? You would bring [Alchemists] into this? Please spare me such notions. There are two decent [Mages] among us and four untrained fools\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGee, thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria rolled her eyes. Revi copied Dawil. Typhenous stroked his beard.<\/p>\n \u201cAs much as it pleases me to have your respect, Miss Falene\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf cut him short with a look.<\/p>\n \u201cI was referring to myself and Moore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. How unfortunate.\u201d<\/p>\n A painful silence fell as everyone glared at Falene or deliberately didn\u2019t look at her. Ksmvr walked over to Yvlon and tugged on her arm gently. He didn\u2019t bother lowering his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Skystrall seems quite agitated. Yvlon, please explain her state of mind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you see, Ksmvr, some people are just sour\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Jelaqua began, but Falene whirled. The Selphid raised her hands as Falene\u2019s eyes flashed with more than just indignation. Her voice snapped across the inn.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I am upset, it\u2019s in wasting over a month of time and effort to rush to Ylawes\u2019 sister\u2019s aid with little thanks and no reward. However, that would be enough, save for the fact that the other<\/em> teams here have clearly benefited while we received nothing more than some gold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe all participated in the lottery, Falene\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria broke off as Falene pointed a finger at her without looking.<\/p>\n \u201cDo not lie to me, sister<\/em>. I may not be able to see inside a bag of holding, but I can hardly miss Ksmvr and Pisces sitting in their rooms, rolling in piles of gold and gems.\u201d<\/p>\n The inn fell silent. Numbtongue\u2019s head turned with all the others to Pisces and Ksmvr. The [Necromancer] had turned bright red. Halrac closed his eyes, his sole contribution so far to the night. Yvlon banged her head on the table. Ksmvr opened his mandibles.<\/p>\n \u201cAh. We must have left the door ajar, Comrade Pisces.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFalene. You know we didn\u2019t come here for treasure. If the other teams found\u2026something, it was their discovery.\u201d<\/p>\n Ylawes spoke up quietly. He didn\u2019t quite look at any of the other adventurers, though. Dawil sighed. Falene stared at her team captain, lips white.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I wish for some small<\/em> benefit, what of it? Numbtongue has no use for those mana stones. None at all. While I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Crack.<\/em><\/p>\n Falene blinked. She whirled and stopped. Numbtongue stared at her defiantly. The cracked blue mana stone emitted a burst of viridian light as he crunched it between his teeth. He closed his mouth, but the burst<\/em> of magical light lit up his head from the inside.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf [Battlemage] stared at Numbtongue in horror. But he was distracted. His mouth first felt slightly numb, and then he felt saliva gathering, as if the rock was actually tasty and hadn\u2019t just cut open his mouth. But it wasn\u2019t saliva or blood. Numbtongue\u2019s cheeks bulged, and his eyes widened with alarm.<\/p>\n \u201cNumbtongue?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared at the [Bard] in horror. Numbtongue tried to say something or spit what was in his mouth out. A bit of viridian spurted out of his mouth. Falene recoiled.<\/p>\n The liquid never touched the ground. Halfway down, it turned to gas, a thick, clinging substance that hovered in the air. Falene gaped at it with everyone else. Mrsha took a step forwards, and Pisces pointed.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one touch it or inhale it! [Wind Blast]!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The bit of magical smoke was funneled towards the door. Typhenous and Lyonette dove out of the way. Pisces cursed.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone get the door!\u201d<\/p>\n Half the adventurers moved, but Jelaqua leapt first. She didn\u2019t need to breathe, so she hurled the door open. Pisces pointed, and the wind blew the smoke out. Then he turned to Numbtongue.<\/p>\n The Goblin\u2019s cheeks were bulging. There was more liquid filling it! Pisces\u2019 eyes grew round.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone get\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue knew there wasn\u2019t time. He was about to have the liquid whatever-it-was spurt out his nose or he\u2019d swallow it. Neither option appealed to him, so he looked around and grabbed something. A jar. Numbtongue tore off the lid and spat.<\/p>\n The Goblin made a bleh<\/em> sound as the blue-green liquid poured from his mouth into the jar. Part of it turned to gas on the way down, but most of it landed squarely in the container he was holding. He coughed it out, corked the lid, then stared at the jar.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you see how dangerous<\/em> it is? Who knows what effect that gas would have had on your lungs\u2014or on us all? There is no telling the effect. As for your reckless\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFalene.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ylawes interrupted the half-Elf as she began to shout at Numbtongue. It wasn\u2019t just the gas Numbtongue was still exhaling. It was the jar. The jar full of electrified magicore. <\/em>And now, blue liquid. Numbtongue saw the two liquids mixing. And both were glowing brighter. The liquid was turning to gas inside the jar and expanding, and the cork was starting to tremble\u2026<\/p>\n He had smashed the cork back in. But now the entire jar was shaking. Numbtongue exhaled more viridian in horror.<\/p>\n The adventurers took cover. Moore pulled Mrsha behind him. Falene, standing closest to Numbtongue, backed away in horror.<\/p>\n \u201cFalene? What\u2019s about to happen?\u201d<\/p>\n Ylawes had his shield up. The half-Elf looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFalene?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The jar was shaking. Numbtongue felt the glass expanding. His arms shook as the electricity suddenly became twice as strong. He looked at Falene. She shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know!<\/em> Toss it away, toss it\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Two Drakes climbed the hill towards The Wandering Inn. One was male, the other female. Selys was leading Olesm, urging him to climb faster.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on. I\u2019m sure she has time for you. The adventurers are at her inn all the time. You can at least apologize, and if she clocks you, well, wouldn\u2019t that make you feel better?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe doesn\u2019t want to see me, Selys.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Probably not. But how long are you going to avoid her?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Strategist] shook his head. He stared up at the inn on top of the hill.<\/p>\n \u201cI shouldn\u2019t visit her now. The door wasn\u2019t working. She\u2019s cut Liscor off, Selys.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s not mad anymore, Olesm. I think. She was never angry, just sad. Look, let\u2019s just go up there and if\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The door opened. Olesm and Selys saw something blue blast out followed by a gust of wind. They blinked up at the inn and heard a shout. Then nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cUh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Someone appeared at the door. Numbtongue. He raced outside, a glass jar in hand. He threw it as far as he could\u2014straight towards them. Both Drakes saw a tiny, glowing jar filled with yellow, blue and green, hurtling towards them.<\/p>\n They ducked.<\/p>\n The jar landed in the mud in front of them with a wet thump<\/em>. Both Drakes breathed a sigh of relief. They stared at the jar. Then they noticed how it was shaking.<\/em> They looked up at the inn in alarm. A half-Elf appeared in the doorway. Her eyes went round as she saw them.<\/p>\n \u201cRun, you idiots!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The two Drakes stared at the bottle. Then they turned and ran. Three seconds later, the jar exploded as the pent up liquid turned to gas and mixed with the magicore.<\/p>\n Selys heard something hiss<\/em> and then a bang<\/em> of sound behind her. She half-turned, and a glass shard flew past her face. She stopped and stared as Olesm tripped and tumbled in the mud.<\/p>\n The glass jar had burst, but not with the force of, say, an explosion. It was just that the blue-green gas laced with crackling volts of electricity was expanding too fast for the jar to contain it. Now, it grew into a huge cloud, twenty feet in diameter. It hovered in the air, like some kind of strange earth-bound viridian cloud. Selys could see miniature bolts of lightning earthing on the ground below the cloud.<\/p>\n Selys stared at the cloud. Olesm picked himself up from the mud. They looked at the cloud and then at the inn. Selys forced saliva into her dry mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that was an accident, Olesm. Honest. But\u2026just in case, let\u2019s come back tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ceria was busy listening to Falene shout at Numbtongue when she felt a poke in the side. She yelped and immediately realized why all of her friends hated when she did that to them. She turned to glare\u2014but softened it when she realized who was doing the poking.<\/p>\n \u201cCaptain Ceria, may I ask what tomorrow brings?\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr stood politely at attention, armed with his short sword, dagger, and other gear. He even had his cloak on and the bow strapped to his back. Ceria had to smile; he was always ready. She turned and saw Pisces and Yvlon looking at her. The [Wounded Warrior] raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n \u201cI was wondering that myself, Captain. We\u2019ve been sitting in the inn a long time. Time to get back to work?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a lot of money. But I suppose we have to wait to get it exchanged in a big city.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria mused to herself. She looked at Pisces, and the [Necromancer] shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do have an Ashfire Bee contract. But I would not be remiss if we took more work on. However, if our lot calls for sitting and eating to excess, I<\/em> would not object.\u201d<\/p>\n He said that, but the look in his eyes was a challenge. Ceria smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose you\u2019re right. We could go to Celum tomorrow. Take a few local requests on.\u201d<\/p>\n The Horns brightened. Ksmvr stood straighter, his mandibles opening and rising with delight. He hurried over to the table where he had been sitting and grabbed his pack. Ceria laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr, we\u2019re not going yet!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but I must be prepared. I am already<\/em> prepared, but I wish to make sure. At last. I have been sitting here in readiness for the last nine days. I am pleased that my rations are not yet completely spoiled.\u201d<\/p>\n He was pawing through his things. Ceria blinked.<\/p>\n \u201cYour rations? Wait. Did you buy rations? Ksmvr, that was a waste of money\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He looked affronted and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cCaptain, that would be a waste of funds. Of course I did not buy any. I kept the rations from our last expedition.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026What last expedition? You mean, to the dungeon? Ksmvr, that was weeks ago. Unless you mean when you were going to rescue me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I refer to the moments when we last ventured with Griffon Hunt.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long ago was that? Ksmvr, let me see\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She bent to reach for Ksmvr\u2019s pack. The Antinium obligingly opened it to show her, and Yvlon\u2019s face changed halfway down. Ceria had never seen someone turn green that fast. Yvlon staggered back, slapping the flap shut.<\/p>\n \u201cSilver and steel!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh dead gods, what now? Has the Antinium kept a Creler as a pet?\u201d<\/p>\n Revi threw up her hands. Ceria shook her head. She hesitated and looked at Ksmvr. The Antinium stared innocently at her.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr. Hand me the pack.\u201d<\/p>\n He did so. Ceria hesitated. She could smell\u2026something. But the sturdy leather concealed whatever was inside quite well. It had done so for a long time, apparently. She stared at the pack. Slowly, she opened it.<\/p>\n Pisces and Yvlon recoiled. Ksmvr had little in the way of olfactory senses, so he just peered at his rations.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, they are nicely decomposing. Perfect for renewal if they grow fungi. On the other hand, they can be an appropriate lure\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOne more try. It was an accident. She doesn\u2019t hate me. She doesn\u2019t hate me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm approached the inn. Selys was using him as a shield. He stared at the closed door, saw it open. He hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cErin?\u201d<\/p>\n A bag flew out the door. It clocked Olesm on the chest, spilling its contents all over him. Selys took one look at it and fled.<\/p>\n Inside the inn, Ksmvr stared at his rations and then at Olesm turning over to throw up as he scrambled to get them off him. He turned to Ceria. She was giving him a look that told him he had made some mistake. The Antinium wilted.<\/p>\n \u201cAh. I take it this was another mistake on my part? Comrade Pisces\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Erin watched all of it happening. She looked at Numbtongue, who was ignoring Falene as he plucked at his guitar. At the other adventurers, debating over what the smoke had been and how useful a weapon it might be. At Apista, riding Mrsha\u2019s head, at Lyonette, poring over some plans for the inn. And Erin did something that made it all that much better.<\/p>\n She laughed.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n [Miner Level 6!]<\/p>\n [Skill \u2013 Grinder Teeth obtained!]<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n [Bard Level 29!]<\/p>\n [Song \u2013 Lightcaller Harmony obtained!]<\/p>\n [Song \u2013 Peaceful Melody obtained!]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There was darkness. There was stone. And there was a pickaxe. Lit by a plum glow, the dusty steel head rose. The pair of hands gripping it lifted it up and back. For a moment, it was at the apex overhead. Then it swung forwards, an arc gathering speed and weight. Momentum. The tip of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","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":[11693086,349],"tags":[],"twi_volume":[11693135],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-5950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-6","category-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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