To those who knew him, Archmage Viltach was known as \u2018The Archmage of Terandria\u2019. A curious title\u2014but people would refer to him as the Terandrian Archmage and others would know what they meant.<\/p>\n
Not the \u2018Human Archmage\u2019, because there were three out of the seven. Six now, and only two Humans if you took into account\u2026current events.<\/p>\n
Traditionally, the numbers of Archmages mattered little. Sometimes there was one. Other times they were counted only as the actual [Archmages]. And sometimes it didn\u2019t matter because who ruled<\/em> Wistram wasn\u2019t the Archmages at all.<\/p>\n But the title remained. And there were seven\u2014wait\u2014six<\/em> great [Mages] who had ascended to such lofty titles. One from each continent, in theory, but Rhir hadn\u2019t produced an [Archmage]\u2014or at least, a [Mage] of that caliber who had graduated through Wistram\u2014in centuries.<\/p>\n As it stood, the numbers ran thusly: Terandria had two. Izril had one, and scarcely tied to her home at that. Chandrar had produced one. Baleros had three<\/em> living Archmages.<\/p>\n Archmage Amerys was no longer numbered among them. And three of the six weren\u2019t always at the academy; one had ties to the Iron Vanguard in no small way; despite being Human, he had been raised by Dullahans. The other, well, he was flighty and powerful. More closely linked to the Maelstrom\u2019s Howling Great Company, but only by species.<\/p>\n Izril\u2019s sole Archmagus lived on an island and seldom interfered in her home\u2019s affairs. All three were what you could call classic, selfish Archmages. They had their hand in politics, but they were keenly obsessed with their own affairs.<\/p>\n \u2026Well, you could count Archmagus Verdan Blackwood\u2014the Human raised by Dullahans\u2014as a politicker. But he was old, and didn\u2019t have the stamina to fight it out constantly in Wistram with his peers. He was in effect, retired, and though he could wield sufficient power\u2014<\/p>\n It was the three in Wistram Academy at this moment who made waves. Ones to watch. The other Archmages might not even have known about the Earthers.<\/p>\n Nailihuaile, the Lamia and head of her Revivalist Faction, did.<\/p>\n So did Archmage Feor, the old half-Elf who led the Centrists.<\/p>\n And Viltach? The Terandrian Archmage? Well\u2026he and his Libertarians were known for their links to Terandria. And Viltach was especially political in that sense.<\/p>\n People said of Viltach that he never backed the losing horse. And that went for gambling as well as the affairs of his home continent. And if it turned out that a losing nation was, in fact, the one that would win a conflict? They had been the winning horse all along.<\/p>\n That was how the Archmagus operated. And how Wistram Academy liked to conduct a lot of affairs. There were exceptions\u2014like the King of Destruction whom they opposed, but they generally liked to nudge<\/em> things. Collect what was valuable. Avoid direct, messy intervention. Unless they had to. Which they didn\u2019t do at all. <\/em>Well\u2014sometimes.<\/p>\n It was complicated. In many ways, Wistram was a giant of multiple intentions. Peer under the unified front, and you\u2019d see a mess of factions. Each one vying for superiority, magical knowledge, power\u2026<\/p>\n In this particular case, the upcoming conflict with Ailendamus and the southern realms was worrying any number of people. So far it was looking to be Ailendamus versus the traditional bulwark of Calanfer, Kaliv, and Gaiil-Drome. The Dawn Concordat as they were known, was known for having broken any number of nations sent against them. But Ailendamus had swelled of recent years, and their ruler, King Itorin II, was looking for easy victories.<\/p>\n The preparations for the conflict had begun interfering with sea trade. Ailendamus warships had clashed twice with Pheislant vessels and were blockading trade to the Dawn Concordat. Any goods headed their way? Well, those ships were \u2018accidentally\u2019 intercepted by Ailendamus\u2019 peacekeeping force. Confiscated, or just \u2018lost\u2019 during routine searches.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t exactly a stealthy maneuver. But it worked well against all three landlocked nations. They didn\u2019t rely on continental trade, but their trade goods and luxuries were being clamped down on.<\/p>\n Just another precursor to the war everyone knew was coming. Now, it didn\u2019t matter to Wistram except that this was a matter of international sovereignty on the waters. And Wistram Academy was\u2014split\u2014on what should be done.<\/p>\n Ailendamus would win. That was Viltach\u2019s belief. He had a strong connection with King Itorin and he preferred to keep it that way by doing\u2026nothing.<\/p>\n The other two Archmages disagreed.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can\u2019t block trade! That makes us<\/em> look bad if we don\u2019t condemn them, even in words.\u201d<\/p>\n Nailihuaile argued for opposition to the Ailendamus fleet\u2019s actions. Only that. Feor was more direct.<\/p>\n \u201cNo nation rules the oceans. Ailendamus\u2019 actions cannot be tolerated. Wistram does not take sides.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n That statement was so false that all three Archmages had to pause. Naili snorted, Viltach\u2019s lips quirked, and even Feor paused in acknowledgement of what he\u2019d said. Nevertheless\u2014that was what the Academy said.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe Ailendamus is within its rights. Or will Wistram oppose the nation?\u201d<\/p>\n Viltach looked around challengingly. Naili grumbled, and Feor glanced at her. It came down to a vote in the Council. Nailihuaile mustered her Revivalists who held seats and pushed for a strongly-worded letter of condemnation. Feor tried to use his Centrists, one of the largest factions, to persuade Wistram to go a step beyond, unifying the other coastal nations to oppose Ailendamus and force a cessation to the blockage.<\/p>\n Archmage Viltach threw his Libertarians beside the Revivalists. The two factions hated each other usually, but this was politics.<\/em> In exchange for his votes on a referendum inviting Chandrarian bazaars to hawk their goods at Wistram in an upcoming fair\u2026Feor lost. Wistram sent words against Ailendamus, conveying their dislike of the blockade. The matter rested.<\/p>\n The ships still sailed the waters, ready to seize anything bound for Terandria. They had truth spells to check even the most tricksome of [Merchants], [Mages] of their own. The warships had fast counterparts who would destroy any would-be blockade runners or smugglers\u2026perhaps some Drowned Ships got through, or the most elusive of [Merchants], but so what? It was working.<\/p>\n That was politics in Wistram. They had, through much arguing over three days, accomplished exactly nothing about the blockade, but done it in such a way that much clout had been expended and gathered. Feor was unhappy, but the fate of the Dawn Concordat wasn\u2019t the highest on his list of priorities. More time to interfere when the war began, if need be.<\/p>\n And that was that. The end. The Academy had spoken, the Council of Mages had voted, and there was nothing more to be said.<\/p>\n \u2026Except of course that there were some people who didn\u2019t obey the rules. They were not Archmages. They had no desire<\/em> to be that public. And they viewed a nosy bunch of warships interdicting all ships as bad for business. [Smugglers] already had to dodge [Harbormasters] and inspections at the ports. So one faction happily set sail even before the votes had been cast.<\/p>\n They were an Elusive Lot.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The warship looked like one of Ailendamus\u2019 grandest vessels. And the insignia read\u2014Itorin\u2019s Pride.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDead gods. But that\u2019s the flagship<\/em>. We didn\u2019t receive word, did we?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Admiral] lowered his spyglass as the navy, spread out in their blockade, hailed the oncoming warship. He heard a curse from one of his junior officers.<\/p>\n \u201cLord Admiral! <\/em>I regret to inform you that we did<\/em> receive several [Messages]!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe contact, sir! This must be it.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Admiral] of The Foehammer<\/em>, a good warship, paled. He\u2019d gotten several coded contacts yesterday through the [Message] system. Obviously, since you could intercept messages, Ailendamus had its own system of codes. It had told him to look for a message or persons today. But Itorin\u2019s Pride?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAre we going to war already? No\u2014if the Pride<\/em> is joining us, we might be sailing against Pheislant\u2019s harbors. Dead gods. Make ready! <\/em>I\u2019ll greet our visitors myself.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Admiral] checked his uniform, and saw the other ship hailing them through a complicated signal of [Light] spells. The deck was very busy, but to his surprise, the [Admiral] saw that they were signaling to come aboard his ship rather than the other way around.<\/p>\n Odd. But the [Admiral] saw the gangplank being lowered and hastily stepped forwards to greet\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cAdmiral Dakelos! How the hell are you, my man?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n A giant<\/em> of a man\u2014not an actual Giant, but still\u2014strode across the decks. He grabbed Dakelos in a bear-hug slapped him on the shoulders. The smaller man squeaked.<\/em><\/p>\n The [Commander]\u2014no\u2014[General]<\/em> by his rank on his uniform was a bear of a man. A powerful nose broken twice, scars lining his arms\u2014he had hair like it was made of iron\u2014and a huge, booming smile.<\/p>\n He also smelled a bit of wine. He was clearly not<\/em> at home on the rolling decks.<\/p>\n \u201cDo I\u2014know you? Sir?\u201d<\/p>\n The man looked hurt.<\/p>\n \u201cDakelos! We met when you were barely a [Captain]. Back when you were sailing at sea? You don\u2019t remember me?<\/em> Yerzhen? Ah, but we had a grand time. Finished a barrel of\u2026no?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Admiral] blinked a few times, then blushed. He had a poor way with drink, and if he had<\/em> met the man (and how could you forget a fellow like this?), he\u2019d forgotten.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m terribly sorry\u2026was it Yerzhen? Er\u2014[General]\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n Belatedly, he saw one of his [Fleet Mages] coming forwards. It was a bit embarrassing, but the [Mage] began casting a truth spell at once. On both Yerzhen and Dakelos. The [Admiral] waved him back, but the unsteady [General] didn\u2019t seem to notice.<\/p>\n \u201cThese damn boats. I hate them. Don\u2019t know how you can stand them, Dakelos. What were you saying? Ah, right!\u201d<\/p>\n He waved a stern finger at Dakelos.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t call me General<\/em> Yerzhen. That was my father\u2019s title. Let\u2019s not stand on formality, Dakelos. Two old drinking-partners shouldn\u2019t, eh?\u201d<\/p>\n The truth spell flashed behind the man. All the statements were true. Dakelos, a bit miffed but more convinced than ever, saw Itorin\u2019s Pride<\/em> sailing past his flagship.<\/p>\n \u201cEr\u2014as you say, Gen\u2014I mean, Yerzhen. What is the Pride<\/em> doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh\u2014that. You\u2019ll want to follow. I was supposed to go ahead in one of our skiffs and spoken to you earlier today, but you know me\u2014had to drink or I\u2019d die at sea. How many [Soldiers] do you have under your command?\u201d<\/p>\n Dakelos\u2019 brows creased and his heart began to pound.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a number of sailors, s\u2014I mean, Gener\u2014Yerzhen.<\/em> But what is this\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHis Majesty will kill<\/em> me if we\u2019re late. Hurry up and turn the ship! I\u2019ll explain on the way. You got the coded [Messages], yes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2014but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Dakelos waved a hand at his officers. Wide-eyed, they began to call out.<\/p>\n \u201cRaise the anchor!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe entire fleet, yes. We can spare a few ships if you think it\u2019s wise, but we need to be landing in Nadel by nightfall, Dakelos.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNadel?<\/em> But that\u2019s the territory of Lord Belchaus!\u201d<\/p>\n Dakelos nearly fell over himself. And his voice was too loud; [Sailors] looked up and gaped. Was Ailendamus going to war against Lord Belchaus Meron, the Lord of the Dance? <\/em>His harbors were practically unassailable! Even with the entire navy at his back, Dakelos wouldn\u2019t like fighting there.<\/p>\n But Yerzhen just growled at him.<\/p>\n \u201cNot so loud<\/em>, man! I\u2019ll tell you when we get to the cabin! But take the fleet! I\u2019ll need to borrow half your [Sailors]\u2014those who can fight on land. Should have told you earlier. Don\u2019t tell his Majesty or I\u2019ll be on the chopping block. Again!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n His voice was no less quiet, for all he was trying to growl. Dakelos hurried into his cabin and the [General] yanked the door shut.<\/p>\n \u201cGet the fleet moving. I\u2019ve got the Pride<\/em> loaded with as many of our elites as we can. Dead gods, even the Thirsting Veil has committed sixty of its [Knights].\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSixty?<\/em> Then this is an assault? We can\u2019t take Nadel with our fleet, Yerzhen. Not even if we had three times our numbers\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdmiral? Do you still need me?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Fleet Mage] called from outside the office. Distracted, Dakelos saw Yerzhen drawing a line across his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cNo lower-ranks, Dakelos. Can\u2019t risk word spreading.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. You\u2019re dismissed! Man your stations!\u201d<\/p>\n The Admiral called out. Now that they were alone, and discussing war, he saw the [General] straighten and look a lot more reassuring\u2026solid. Stumbling he might have been across the decks, but Yerzhen\u2019s voice was like a rock.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not assaulting Nadel, Dakelos. The opposite. Lord Belchaus is allowing our ships to land. He\u2019s not happy about it, but he\u2019s given us a window. From there\u2014my troops and your [Sailors] will disembark and move westwards. We will set up camp and prepare to flank<\/em> the Dawn Concordat when the war begins. In six days.\u201d<\/p>\n Dakelos\u2019 jaw dropped.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Lord Belchaus has always<\/em> been neutral\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Infamously so, in fact. The [General] winked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cHis Majesty knew that. But even the Lord of the Dance or whatever he\u2019s called can see the way the wind is blowing. There were a lot of [Diplomats], contracts\u2014none of my business. I\u2019m just to take my men and yours and prepare for an attack when Calanfer commits its forces northwards. We play this right and we\u2019ll take the capital on the seventh day and be sipping wine in a week!\u201d<\/p>\n It could work.<\/em> The [General] was flipping through the maps, tracing a route overland from Nadel to Calanfer. Dakelos couldn\u2019t believe it.<\/p>\n \u201cSo this interdiction of smuggled goods\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust to get you boys out here. You think we were going to have you sit here for months?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n That was what the [Admiral] had thought. But\u2014what genius. And getting the Lord of the Dance? He felt the ship turning. The entire navy was following Itorin\u2019s Pride.<\/em><\/p>\n Something did bug Dakelos, though. He\u2019d thought the Pride<\/em> was actually much further north. And it was moving so fast\u2014he looked warily at the [General].<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, General Yertzhen. But this is just so sudden. Shouldn\u2019t we send at least an affirmative back to the capital\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n The [General] looked askance.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you mad, man? Why do you think you only got the barest code-signs we were coming? This is secret.<\/em> Do you know how hard it was to smuggle Itorin\u2019s Pride<\/em> all this way? We had to use illusions! This is beyond top-secret. But mark me. If I pull this off, his Majesty has assured me personally<\/em> that he will make me a [Great General] of Ailendamus. And if I reach that position\u2014I\u2019ll be calling for you to become [High Admiral]. How\u2019s that sound, Dakelos, eh?\u201d<\/p>\n He pulled the other man into a one-armed hug. The [Admiral] grinned in disbelief.<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be\u2014excellent! Gener\u2014I mean, Yerzhen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly! Now, the Lord of the Dance is going to probably put up a fuss for the show of it, but he\u2019ll pull back his ships once we clash a few times. That\u2019s the politics of it\u2014he\u2019s going to pretend he gave up. So we\u2019ll discuss how we want to orchestrate the thing. I think a few salvos of [Fireball] spells\u2026but then we\u2019ll have to rush my [Soldiers] to disembark, got it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot to worry, man! The hard part is mine<\/em>, keeping the [Soldiers] hidden. You have the easy part, shepherding us here and just play-fighting. Here\u2014let\u2019s grab a drink while we discuss landing points and such. I had a location\u2014here?\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed to the map as he investigated the cabinet with expensive liquors. Before Dakelos knew it, the [Admiral] was seated and the [General] was pouring him a drink. He tried to refuse, but Yerzhen insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, man! Nothing like a drink to steady the nerves. We\u2019ll toast to Ailendamus! May it conquer all of Terandria\u2014no! the world! And to his Majesty\u2019s health!\u201d<\/p>\n You had to drink to that. Nervously, Dakelos did. Just a sip. His crew wouldn\u2019t notice\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The [General] emerged from the cabin with a somewhat intoxicated Admiral Dakelos an hour later. Plans all set. Together, they gave a speech to the crew, informing them of the sudden plans. It was of course\u2014riotous, but the [General] strode up and down the decks, stumbling a bit, but roaring his intent to break the Dawn Concordat in a single, stealthy strike.<\/p>\n Itorin\u2019s Pride<\/em> was filled with cheering [Soldiers], even the stern-faced Order of the Thirsting Veil, saluting the sky. The rest of the navy took heart from it and sailed at full-speed, the [Fleet Mages] pouring all the wind they could into the sails.<\/p>\n They reached Nadel\u2019s waters in record time after only nine hours, thanks to the currents and high morale. Admiral Dakelos was there as he saw, in the distance, patrolling ships react like they\u2019d been struck at the sight of an Ailendamus fleet bearing down on them.<\/p>\n Nadel was not that far east of Calanfer. Somewhere near the middle of Terandria\u2019s southern coastline, it was a safe-zone where no fleet save the Lord of the Dance\u2019s was welcome. It allowed safe trade and it had fought off any number of navies.<\/p>\n On any other day Dakelos wouldn\u2019t have put even a foot over the invisible borders of Nadel, but today he was drunk on courage, dreams of glory and promotion\u2014and just drunk. General Yerzhen chuckled.<\/p>\n \u201cSee them spooking off? Probably screaming the alarm. I bet you the Lord of the Dance didn\u2019t even tell them. Makes it authentic.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEr\u2014of course, Yerzhen. What do we do? Start throwing [Fireballs]?\u201d<\/p>\n They had a routine all set up. The [General] winked.<\/p>\n \u201cI say we begin with a speech. I\u2019ll give you the honors, shall I?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you like.\u201d<\/p>\n Boldly, the [Admiral] swaggered up to the front of the decks. In the distance, Nadel was a dot. But the harbors would already be boiling with the Lord of the Dance\u2019s ships, as planned for the staged attack. His fleet would attack, and the Lord of the Dance would \u2018fight\u2019 for a few rounds before retreating.<\/p>\n \u201cAdmiral! The Lord of the Dance himself is setting out towards us with Nadel\u2019s entire fleet!\u201d<\/p>\n An hour later, the panicked, but excited shout came up the command deck. Dakelos felt a twinge of fear as he saw the huge fleet\u2014dwarfing his own\u2014but Yerzhen just tapped the side of his huge nose.<\/p>\n \u201cHere we go. Just as planned. I\u2019ll tell the Pride<\/em> to begin moving for the shoreline. They need to do the most work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. And my speech\u2014where are the notes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHere.\u201d<\/p>\n The [General] offered the inky notes to him. Admiral Dakelos focused on them and began to shout through a voice-amplifying spell as the enemy fleet came close.<\/p>\n \u201cAttention, ships of Nadel! By order of His Majesty, King Itorin II, I demand you give us passage to the harbor! Ailendamus will <\/em>not be stopped by any nation in this world! If you do not move your ships, we will immediately attack!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Fiery words. He and Yerzhen had laughed over them an hour ago. They felt\u2026wrong to say aloud, but Dakelos was shaking with excitement. He heard an answering voice a moment later.<\/p>\n The Lord of the Dance.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201c<\/em>Nadel bows to no other nation. I am Lord Belchaus Meron. If you advance further, we will destroy your fleet.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The Admiral\u2026sobered a bit. That was a terrifying threat. The Lord of the Dance himself was crewing his flagship and they could outmaneuver and out-fight his smaller fleet. He turned to the [General], but Yerzhen bellowed.<\/p>\n \u201cAll part of the act! Send the [Fireballs]!\u201d<\/p>\n The Admiral nodded. He croaked around a lump in his throat and felt the wrongness<\/em>\u2014but he was too far gone.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014[Mages]! Throw [Fireballs] at the flagship! Aim to miss!\u201d<\/p>\n The [Mages] did. Dozens of [Fireballs] blasted across the gap between the closing navies. Dakelos saw them go wide, or explode too early. But Nadel\u2019s navy reacted as if a hive had been struck.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re closing! Starboard side! Dead gods\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n A shout from the side. Admiral Dakelos turned his head just in time to see Lord Bel\u2019s flagship shoot<\/em> forwards. It slammed<\/em> into The Wrath of Sel, <\/em>a twin of Dakelos\u2019 own warship. The Lord of the Dance didn\u2019t waste time on an engagement at a distance. He leapt aboard the ship, holding a sword, and his retinue followed. Dakelos saw him landing in front of the surprised [Captain].<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a bit much for an act, don\u2019t you think, General\u2014?\u201d<\/p>\n Lord Belchaus beheaded the man. Then he stepped across the deck, as if he was on a dance floor, and killed the [First Mate]. His crew followed, moving in graceful patterns, but deadly as could be.<\/p>\n The blood ran onto the decks as Ailendamus\u2019 navy slowly stopped and stared. But more ships were crashing into theirs, boarding\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cGeneral! I don\u2019t think the Lord of the Dance is acting! General?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Admiral Dakelos whirled. But the [General] was gone. Yerzhen, that bear of a man, was missing. And\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cAdmiral! The <\/em>Itorin\u2019s Pride has vanished!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The [Admiral] rushed to the railing. But it was true. The giant warship, that had sailed through the waters, making noise, crewed by thousands\u2014had even toasted to them and called jests for nine hours\u2014was gone.<\/p>\n In its place was a floating\u2026Dakelos stared down at it. It looked like a tiny trading boat, barely big enough to hold sixty people. He slowly looked up. The thought occurred to him, amidst the shock, the sudden fear\u2014and the incomprehension at his situation made worse by the drink. It occurred to him that he might have been tricked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n General Yerzhen chuckled as he skimmed across the waters towards the invisible ship from which he could watch the disaster unfold. He was [Water Walking]\u2014although he was actually running.<\/p>\n And moving damn fast<\/em> for a man of his size. He raced towards the ship, leapt<\/em>, and landed on an invisible deck.<\/p>\n Then everything turned visible. The ship was shrouded, so once you got onto it you could see. That bear of a man, that huge [General] who had been so false straightened and saw\u2014<\/p>\n Admiral Dakelos.<\/em> The man turned, tears in his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cGeneral!<\/em> How could<\/em> you? I trusted you! What is this? Why have you abducted me?\u201d<\/p>\n The [General] paused only for a moment.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Dakelos. It was nothing personal. Just\u2014I really had to use the toilet and I can\u2019t shit at sea. Forgive me.\u201d<\/p>\n He bowed, slightly. The [Admiral] stared at him through red-rimmed eyes and Yerzhen heard a snort.<\/p>\n The illusion of the [Admiral] faded. A Lizardgirl rolled around on the decks, clutching her sides and howling with mirth. There was more laughter and the rest of the [Mages] shed their [Invisibility] spells.<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods, Yerzhen! <\/em>Another great line! I nearly laughed off my [Silence] spell when I heard your first one! \u2018Don\u2019t call me General\u2026<\/em>?\u2019 Did you see their faces?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. What\u2019s happening?\u201d<\/p>\n Yerzhen strode back down the decks. He didn\u2019t look as tall or as grand as he did a second ago. His voice was more causal, less bass\u2014but he still wore the [General]\u2019s disguise. The Lizardgirl leapt to her feet as a Selphid, wearing the dead body of a Human man, pointed.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re already surrendering. That [Admiral]\u2019s no idiot. He\u2019s practically screaming<\/em> he was duped.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, shame. Did Belchaus sink any ships?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot for want of trying. What\u2019re the odds he takes them all prisoner?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFive hundred gold says he lets them go but on less ships than they came with.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBet.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Mages] chortled and \u2018Yerzhen\u2019 and the Selphid clasped hands. The others crowded around, chortling at the fake [General]\u2019s lines.<\/p>\n \u201cI love your speech. Did you write it yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n The Lizardgirl glanced at Yerzhen. She couldn\u2019t have been more than fifteen, but appearances were deceiving here. Yerzhen winked.<\/p>\n \u201cWith some help from the [Admiral] himself. What did you think of my first introduction?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The others chorused. The Selphid looked at Yerzhen.<\/p>\n \u201cWas your father really a [General]?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, well. You have to be honest for some of the truth spells. I\u2019d have lied to the man about meeting him if the [Mage] had been there from the start, but that\u2019s why I wanted him off-guard.\u201d<\/p>\n Yerzhen winked. He did not look like his appearance, a big bear of a man. Nor\u2014was he necessarily Human. What was<\/em> true was that his name was Yerzhen; he\u2019d used it to pass the truth spell. And that his father had apparently been a [General], or called<\/em> that so he could pass the truth spell.<\/p>\n Nothing more. And the rest of the Elusive Lot\u2014were just as mysterious.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t all of them, of course. But six had been needed to keep up the mass-illusion of the ship. And Yerzhen made seven. The [Mages] all chortled as they sailed back towards Wistram.<\/p>\n \u201cThat does it for that blockade. Tell our associates they have a window to smuggle everything they want through. They owe us large for this.\u201d<\/p>\n But that went without saying. The others nodded appreciatively.<\/p>\n This was the Ullsinoi Faction of Wistram. And this\u2026was the Elusive Lot.<\/p>\n Possibly. Or it might have just been Yerzhen there. He poked the Lizardgirl.<\/p>\n \u201cTaxiela, is that you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGuilty as charged. Although I prefer Galei sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lizardwoman sprang up and suddenly she was a Centaur. He tossed his head. And it might have been that it was Galei there the entire time or he just changed his illusion.<\/p>\n No one knew. But Taxiela\/Galei was Palt\u2019s master. As well as a member of the Elusive Lot. If they were even here.<\/p>\n It could be that Yerzhen was alone and these were all fakes. Or that he himself had created them all, or some of them and was pretending to have a conversation with Galei at this moment to fool the others.<\/p>\n Things got confusing really quickly around [Illusionists]. And the Elusive Lot were the leaders of the Ullsinoi faction who were made up of well, [Illusionists]. [Tricksters]. [Diviners], [Seers] too, and [Mages] who dabbled on the illicit side of life\u2026<\/p>\n You could get all sorts of factions in Wistram. Not all were huge, political movements like the Revivalists or Libertarians. Some were specialized.<\/p>\n For instance, Bezale\u2019s faction were the Scriptel faction\u2014small, but in possession of a wealth of knowledge. Most of it written by their members. And numbers were also a fool\u2019s game.<\/p>\n \u201cOff we go! Back to Wistram, then! Unless anyone has business on the mainland?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne of us jumped ship.\u201d<\/p>\n A Gnoll volunteered that. She grinned as the others chorused.<\/p>\n \u201cDid not!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Yerzhen took it at face value. Maybe someone had<\/em> left, but the Elusive Lot would drive you crazy if you tried to find the truth<\/em>. No one knew how many there were. There was no command structure lower-members of the Ullsinoi faction like Palt could understand, and even knowing who<\/em> was a member of the Elusive Lot was hard. Palt thought<\/em> his master, Galei, was part of their number, but he wasn\u2019t sure.<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t even know if Galei was his master or if different members of the Elusive Lot kept taking turns to impersonate his master.<\/p>\n Oh, the world was a grand game. Get your head around that and you were set. The Elusive Lot sailed back towards Wistram, chattering away. Yerzhen looked at Galei and the Selphid\u2014who\u2019d failed to use a name the entire time they had been together\u2014as he talked.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s back at Wistram?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNaili\u2019s trying to corner us. Feor too. About Palt\u2019s little prank.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, that.<\/em> Wonderfully done! Are they ours?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe inn\u2019s ours. The rest? Let\u2019s pretend they are, shall we?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNaturally.<\/em> Should we let ourselves be caught?\u201d<\/p>\n Of course, after the game of soccer, the Archmages had demanded explanations of the Ullsinoi faction. All they\u2019d caught however were lower-ranked members. Cornering the Elusive Lot was like herding invisible cats with wings. The others shrugged or merrily ate snacks while reading [Message] spells on the fallout of their prank.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t care. So long as Palt can deliver, we\u2019ve got a magical door in Liscor. Have the gangs heard?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHeard and are interested<\/em>, but it\u2019s too hot for them right now with all the eyes. Anyways, I hear the Gentlemen Callers are at the inn. On assignment.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOho. Any idea who?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNone. But you know how boring they can get. Bets that it\u2019s got to do with the [Innkeeper]?\u201d<\/p>\n No takers. The Elusive Lot swapped thoughts around willy-nilly. After a moment, one of them, Yerzhen again, raised a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile we\u2019re on the topic\u2026I call for seriousness. One minute.\u201d<\/p>\n The laughing [Mages] subsided. Two of them vanished as if they\u2019d never been here, and Yerzhen couldn\u2019t detect them with any of their scrying spells. The rest, five now, gathered closer. Galei made his smiling face into one of seriousness by passing a hand down his features.<\/p>\n \u201cSerious talk. What does Yerzhen want to say?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Golden Triangle.\u201d<\/p>\n The Elusive Lot paused. And even the hint of a smile vanished from the rest of their faces.<\/p>\n They were, by their own words, pranksters, tricksters, unrepentantly annoying\u2014but not evil or good. They did as they pleased, which was generally to help<\/em> Wistram as they saw fit. People who interfered too hard didn\u2019t belong with them.<\/p>\n And the Ullsinoi faction loved <\/em>tricks. Life was meant to be enjoyed, not wrangled over like the Archmages loved to do. Better to make allies than enemies. Better to laugh and enjoy life than try to be the biggest dog in the kennel.<\/p>\n But they did know things. Dark secrets. They did have\u2026enemies. People on their bad list. And for all their lack of scruples at provoking a huge incident between Ailendamus and Nadel\u2014the Elusive Lot was on the side of the Dawn Concordat. But the Golden Triangle was another thing.<\/p>\n What the Elusive Lot knew was that there was such a thing as poor humor. And the \u2018Golden Triangle\u2019 was a bad joke. People would die ere the punch line. And the Elusive Lot weren\u2019t going to laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve spoken to one of the Earthers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBlackmage?\u201d<\/p>\n The query came from Galei. Yerzhen shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother one. They all know it\u2019s a\u2014pyramid scheme. It\u2019s obvious.<\/em> You\u2019ve seen the numbers and how it ends.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot funny.\u201d<\/p>\n That came from the Selphid. And that was the biggest indictment you could get. The others nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat will the Council do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDenounce it, probably. Make everyone aware.<\/em> The Archmages already know. But listen\u2014I heard a rumor that says that Viltach and Feor both want the scheme to continue. Other groups, big groups, get into debt\u2014helps Wistram.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd while they do that, many innocent small folk die! That\u2019s their money being stolen!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Galei stood up, cheeks flushed as he walked back and forth. It could be an act. The Elusive Lot was silent, thinking.<\/p>\n \u201cWistram sent Montressa and Bezale after the clues. They have all they need to explain what\u2019s happened. I<\/em> say\u2014we take a first step. Any gang who we\u2019re cordial with\u2014any friends\u2014we warn them. Wistram will move after us if word spreads.\u201d<\/p>\n The other [Mages] murmured. Yerzhen went on.<\/p>\n \u201cGuard our assets. The Walled Cities, at least are the center of the scheme. Let\u2019s cut down the circulation of this game. How much gold is in the air?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOver a hundred thousand pieces. At least.\u201d<\/p>\n All of it sent through the \u2018Golden Triangle\u2019. If it got bigger, it might well bleed the pockets of many dry. Yerzhen nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cVote: leak information of the Golden Triangle to\u2026Pallass. He looks into who\u2019s behind the center of it all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPalt\u2019s not good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Galei opined.<\/p>\n \u201cHe could get lucky. The Revivalists and the Scriptels won\u2019t ever trace that mischief\u2014let alone convince the Walled Cities of the danger. Send Palt. He knows how to explain the danger. Apparently he has a connection with Grand Strategist Chaldion? And Magus Grimalkin. Have him use them. I\u2019ll contact him now if we agree. Hands?\u201d<\/p>\n The others deferred to Palt\u2019s master. The vote went up. Three to\u2014seventeen. Dozens of hands popped around the other [Mages] and Galei counted them dutifully. The Selphid made three illusory hands. You never knew who was here.<\/em> And the hands were more of a sign of\u2026how passionate the other felt.<\/p>\n \u201cDone. And we\u2019ll send word to other agents. No Golden Triangle. Find the biggest sellers<\/em> and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Quite calmly, Yerzhen drew a finger across his throat. The others saw his skin open and blood and viscera through the cut his finger had made. They nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cSpread the word.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They called him the Gecko of Liscor. When they wanted to make him mad. To most people, he was just \u2018Relc\u2019.<\/p>\n Senior Guardsman Relc if you wanted to be fancy. \u2018That idiot\u2019 if you were Zevara.<\/p>\n But just\u2014Relc. And he swung around Liscor, a familiar face known by almost all. That huge, sometimes bombastic Drake. Ugly; objectionable face and tail, but damned good with a spear.<\/p>\n A former [Sergeant] in the army. The Watch\u2019s best fighter. That is who he\u2019d been for\u2026over a decade. Nearly two, now.<\/p>\n You didn\u2019t need to summarize him with much. You could do it in a paragraph. Relc was a big, sometimes dumb Drake with a spear who was sometimes childish, sometimes bigoted, but was really a good guy.<\/p>\n That was actually a sentence. But it was Relc. If you wanted details, you had to go beyond him. He had a daughter called Embria who he was partly estranged with but who still admired her father. He had a friend called Erin Solstice who you\u2019d have to write a million words about\u2014oh.<\/p>\n And he\u2019d had a partner named Klbkch. Until a day when he didn\u2019t. And that was a tragedy. Not only because the Watch lost their link to the Hive, but because Klbkch was\u2026solid.<\/em> Reliable, or he had been. The only person who could really rein Relc in.<\/p>\n His partner. The Watch was already trying to fill his boots. The Watch Captain was searching for replacements. And what would they do with Relc?<\/em> Well, at least he was here. That idiot would cause trouble without Klbkch. He was always there, always irritably reliable, the same. He was\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Relc Grasstongue sat up in his bed. He blinked a few times, but he was awake.<\/p>\n At dawn. It was a habit so engrained in him from his days as a [Soldier] that he couldn\u2019t stop it, unless he\u2019d had duty the night before. He had not. Today was his day off.<\/p>\n \u201cGrr. Stupid brain. Stupid army. Where\u2019s food? Food?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc muttered to himself. He fumbled around in the near-darkness.<\/p>\n He had candles, and matches. Even a lantern he was supposed to wear at work which he often forgot. The problem was that Relc\u2019s room was anything but tidy.<\/em> He found none of these things.<\/p>\n What he did<\/em> find was some moldy bread. He sniffed it. Licked it a few times, and found some cheese under his bed.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh. How\u2019d that get down here?\u201d<\/p>\n In the darkness, the Drake ate a snack. Not proper breakfast. He was still hungry after he smacked his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cHmm.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Guardsman] sat in the darkness, reflective. He reached out and grabbed his spear.<\/p>\n He always <\/em>knew where his spear was. Another habit from the army, one he didn\u2019t resent. He slept next to his spear.<\/p>\n \u201cPractice time.\u201d<\/p>\n In his small apartment, the Drake carefully lifted his spear. He spun it around; the long weapon was in danger of hitting both floor, ceiling, and<\/em> the walls. But Relc knew how long it was exactly. He could measure anything with it\u2014but only thought in terms of the spear-lengths.<\/p>\n He hit nothing. The Drake ran through a training drill he\u2019d mastered long ago. Oh\u2014that was another thing about Relc.<\/p>\n He was a [Spearmaster]. A class as recognized as a [Fencer] with a bell. The Drake warmed up, as he always did, working until he was just about to sweat. His muscles warm, he relaxed.<\/p>\n He had made some sound, but his neighbors had long ago learned to ignore Relc in the mornings or had moved out. Now, the Drake sat down.<\/p>\n \u201cI drank too much.\u201d<\/p>\n He said that to no one in particular. Females of any species didn\u2019t really visit his small, cramped apartment. The affairs he had with them were usually at their<\/em> places, which were generally nicer, or in inns. Or other establishments.<\/p>\n Only one female person visited him. And that was his daughter. She was usually mildly appalled at the disaster of books with their spines broken, little knickknacks, food, clothing, and so on scattered around his room, but Embria was a [Soldier]. She was used to it.<\/p>\n It was still dark, even after his warm-up. It took longer for dawn, and dusk came sooner thanks to the High Passes. So Relc just sat there. He felt around and came up with something.<\/p>\n \u201cAha. <\/em>Wire puzzle with the boar\u2019s head. My old friend.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake had something in his claws. Invisible in the darkness, he nevertheless knew it inside and out. It was a blacksmith\u2019s puzzle. A metal contraption in the shape of a boar\u2019s head. And\u2014a piece of bendy wire. The goal was to fit the wire through the boar\u2019s head and out the other side without having to bend it. The wire was specially made\u2014you could only bend certain sections.<\/p>\n Well\u2014most people couldn\u2019t bend the other sections. Relc could in theory \u2018cheat\u2019 due to his prodigious strength, but he took care not to. He carefully straightened the wire\u2014then bent it into a pattern with his claws. Gently. From memory, in the darkness.<\/p>\n Then he inserted it into the boar\u2019s head. Relc felt the wire snag on hidden tumblers. Then it was out the other side. He twisted<\/em> and with a little snick,<\/em> the boar\u2019s head fell open.<\/p>\n \u201cGotcha! And you were so hard to begin with.\u201d<\/p>\n Smugly, the Drake re-locked the head and tossed it aside. He had spent\u2026how long? Three weeks<\/em> figuring that one out? And ruined the wire part six times. It really was devilishly hard because you had to bend part of the wire back on itself<\/em> to make it fit\u2026<\/p>\n That was another thing about Relc. He rummaged around and found another little object.<\/p>\n \u201cHello? Are you Mr. Metal Block puzzle?\u201d<\/p>\n He had a hobby of solving blacksmith\u2019s puzzles. Wire puzzles, where you had to pull interlocking pieces apart, wooden matrixes that needed unscrambling\u2026Relc spent a lot of his money on them. They were all over his apartment floor.<\/p>\n He enjoyed it. But you could count the people who knew this fact on two claws. Silently, Relc wrestled with the cube, which had multiple compartments you could unlatch and twist and turn or push in\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cGrr. Who makes<\/em> these things?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc wasn\u2019t a genius at solving these puzzles. He was good<\/em>, of course, and could solve basic ones\u2014even ones he hadn\u2019t seen\u2014in minutes, but that was only by virtue of experience. There were\u2026harder puzzles. And this was one of them.<\/p>\n \u201cOh? Oh?<\/em> Aha!\u201d<\/p>\n Relc shouted. He heard a thump from the wall to his right and apologetically knocked on the wall. But he\u2019d found a combination of buttons when pressed\u2026<\/p>\n The cube lit up. It was one of his magical puzzles. And magical puzzles could be anything<\/em>. Relc saw a glowing font trace itself across the metal. Little, scrawled letters wrote something for him.<\/p>\n Well done. The Ullsinoi of Wistram present: The Cube of Galei.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOooh!\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake stared at the cube. It was glowing now, the lines intersecting and meeting in the metal. And\u2014he squinted.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is this?\u201d<\/p>\n A second, illusory section of cube had appeared. Relc reached out and twisted in the air. The magical pieces moved. As they did, the glowing lines shifted to match. So you had to complete the top puzzle and\u2026<\/p>\n The Drake smiled to himself. He bent over the puzzle as the sun rose, poking, fiddling, memorizing what he\u2019d done and not done. He knew he\u2019d have to leave soon enough. He was a Senior Guardsman after all. He had\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Four hours later, Relc felt his stomach growling. The burly Drake looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n Sunlight blinded him from the window. It had risen and, with the grace and tact of a [Thug], smacked him with its rays of light. Relc shaded his eyes. He checked the position of the sun and then swore.<\/p>\n \u201cAncestors, I\u2019m late!<\/em> Why didn\u2019t that idiot get me?\u201d<\/p>\n He shot to his feet and in a panic, looked for his clothes. His gear was at the barracks, ready for him to sign in. But Klbkch hadn\u2019t gotten him! He always\u2014<\/p>\n For the nineteenth day in a row, Relc caught himself. His beating heart slowed as he remembered something.<\/p>\n \u201cOh. It\u2019s my day off.\u201d<\/p>\n And then on top of that\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cKlb\u2019s on vacation.\u201d<\/p>\n Slowly, the Drake sat down. He looked around, blinking in the sunlight. Klbkch always<\/em> got Relc before their shift started. In fact\u2014the pair had been working together for nearly a decade. So much so that Klbkch would, on his days off, come to Relc\u2019s door.<\/p>\n \u201cRelc, we do not have work together today. Please do not bother me. It is my time off.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n That was what he\u2019d say. Other times it was\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cRelc. It is time to go and sign in. We are late.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Or\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cRelc, I have already signed in. I am attempting to wake you up for the fifth time. I will soon leave without you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Stuff like that, if Relc had gone back to sleep after his dawn wakeup. But he was gone.<\/p>\n Relc raised one scarred fist and looked at it as he lay on his back in his apartment. He could hear other people getting up, murmuring\u2026it was a disconcerting experience. He was usually first out the door, thanks to Klbkch.<\/p>\n He could still remember punching his friend. Asking, pleading with him to stop. And Klbkch, angrier than Relc had ever seen him, refusing to stay down. Until he\u2019d risen and\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cKlbkch has moves.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Guardsman] felt his chest. He could remember being punched<\/em>, too. He\u2019d thought he was the best [Guard] on the Watch bar none. But Klbkch had put him and a group of Liscor\u2019s [Soldiers] on the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cSkills.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake stared up at the ceiling. After a while, he got his magical box and began to play with it without looking at it. Well, now Klb was gone. He\u2019d come back. Relc had gotten used to him, though. And\u2026<\/p>\n The Drake wondered if Embria was on-duty. She usually synced her time off with his. Otherwise, she was training 4th<\/sup> company; they had some new recruits to fill their losses. Or patrolling the Floodplains, helping out in Liscor\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cShe must be bored out of her mind. 4th<\/sup> Company too. I\u2019d be giving my [Wing Commander] all kinds of crap.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake thought about that. But Embria was tough. She\u2019d handle it. She had the voice of authority. You had to have that. You couldn\u2019t just get promoted on time served. Not in Liscor\u2019s army. She\u2019d be fine.<\/p>\n And she\u2019d pick him up at any minute. Relc sighed, imagining her nagging him to get changed into something clean for their father-daughter time. Maybe they could visit The Wandering Inn? She didn\u2019t mind it there. He brightened at the thought.<\/p>\n \u201cYup, yup. And maybe I can visit Invrisil. That\u2019d be great. After all, I\u2019ve got gold!\u201d<\/p>\n He smiled as he thought of his other, newer job. The Drake bent his head over the puzzle and devoted his attention to it. He kept working, as the sun rose and everyone else went to their jobs.<\/p>\n It was only after two more hours that Relc realized that Embria hadn\u2019t come. He looked up, feeling a bit woebegone. But she must have had to work. He sat there. As the morning came.<\/p>\n But if Klbkch and Embria didn\u2019t come to get him, no one else would. No one but the [Landlord]. No one else from the Watch; Relc\u2019s few friends in the city didn\u2019t pay social calls.<\/p>\n He was alone. But for them. So the Drake slowly stood. He stretched. Found his money pouch, his belt, took his spear as always and walked out the door. He looked around, blinking in the sun. What did Senior Guardsman Relc do with his time?<\/p>\n Well\u2026of late\u2026he saw a Gnoll passing in the street. Relc smoothed his neck-spines, smiled at the female Gnoll, and hurried over.<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Miss! Have you heard about the Golden Triangle?<\/em> I\u2019m Relc, by the way. Senior Guardsman\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At the same time, a Centaur was taking his ease outside of an inn. Palt, the Centaur, smoked from a joint. He was always smoking. It was a habit. A way of life.<\/p>\n He was a [Smoker]. As well as an [Illusionist]. His name was Palt. And he got along with people.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Master. Really? Really?<\/em> This isn\u2019t a prank? I\u2019m asking because the last time you sent me on a mission\u2014no, I understand. Yes. And yes. And no. I\u2019m not doing Liscor. Or Pallass. I\u2019ll pass along\u2026no, I won\u2019t. We\u2019re already in hot water. Get someone else\u2026okay. Thank you. Yes! Yes, I\u2019m fine.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n No one could hear the conversation but him, and Palt was deliberately being vague. As he took a lungful of dreamleaf, that delightful substance that made your mood relaxed and your dreams very nice, he passed the smoking joint left.<\/p>\n Lyonette nearly fumbled it, owing to her inexperience with the entire scene. She brought it up to her mouth, inhaled\u2014and began coughing. Palt grinned as he kept talking. Lyonette determinedly had another experience as she puffed on the joint\u2014then she handed it left again.<\/p>\n Pawn was trying to figure out how to smoke the joint as Palt continued.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I haven\u2019t\u2026Master, that\u2019s my business. My romantic\u2014thank you for asking.<\/em> I\u2019m fine. What? Warships? What did you\u2014okay. Fine. I\u2019ll check for it in the news. Yes, I\u2019m sure! I\u2019ll meet with Magus Grimalkin and Grand Strategist\u2014as soon as I can.<\/em> The Grand Strategist might take longer, but today! Thank you! Goodbye!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPuff. Puff.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPawn, you don\u2019t have to say that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am trying to get into the mood, Lyonette.\u201d<\/p>\n Palt ended the communication spell. He grinned as he saw Pawn and Lyonette trying to waft the smoke into his\u2026mouth. Palt rummaged in his bag of holding as he produced something.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought that might be an issue. Here. Try this.\u201d<\/p>\n He offered Pawn something. The Antinium and Lyonette stared at a square of\u2026toffee.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cChewable dreamleaf. It\u2019s\u2026stronger, so maybe only have a bit. But it also works. I make and sell it as well as the rest, but I don\u2019t use them that much.\u201d<\/p>\n Palt shrugged. He liked smoking. Pawn on the other hand took the bit of toffee. Lyonette eyed it dubiously.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so\u2026small.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t need a lot. Like I said, try it\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Palt retrieved his cigar as Pawn popped the entire thing into his mouth and chewed.<\/p>\n \u201cNom, Nom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPawn. You don\u2019t have to say that either.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette sighed. The Antinium raised one finger as he masticated. Then he replied.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Erin says that too, sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cErin is a silly\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The Centaur handed Lyonette the joint.<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead and finish this if you want, Lyonette. I\u2019ve got to go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Thank you! I don\u2019t feel\u2026happy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou might not the first time. Just don\u2019t overthink things. You\u2019ll just feel\u2026calmer.\u201d<\/p>\n The Centaur gave the advice he gave all first-timers. Lyonette nodded and kept puffing away. Pawn stared ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt takes time. Look, I have a job to do. Tell Erin I won\u2019t be able to help cook.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure! Thank you for this and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette waved her hands. To mean everything, really. Palt had stayed at The Wandering Inn for a good time now. And he had ingratiated himself to everyone as much as possible. That meant handing out his goods to the Earthers, Ceria\u2014Pisces had refused his goods, claiming he liked drinking more\u2014and Pawn and Lyonette now.<\/p>\n Helping Erin out in the kitchen, too. The Centaur saw this as his duty for multiple reasons. First\u2014Erin was an ally. You helped allies out. Second, he owed her. Montressa and company had tried to kidnap the Horns, had gotten into a fight at Erin\u2019s inn. Debts weren\u2019t a one-and-done thing.<\/p>\n And finally\u2014he rather liked Erin. She was, in Palt\u2019s words, cute. Attractive in more ways than just physical. The Centaur also knew that Erin was as hard to nail down as the Elusive Lot. But that was part of her charm.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to Pallass!\u201d<\/p>\n He called out as he trotted back into The Wandering Inn. He had been out the back, to pursue the semi-illicit experience of smoking. Palt already had a cigar in his mouth, though. He conjured a bit of fire to light the end and\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cPalt! <\/em>How many times have I told you not to smoke indoors?\u201d<\/p>\n An angry voice made Palt wince. He hadn\u2019t even registered putting the cigar in his mouth. It was automatic, the way other people breathed.<\/p>\n The Centaur turned and ducked his head as he snatched the cigar out of his mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Erin. It\u2019s a habit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a bad one! How many times do I have to tell you? Smoking kills!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEr\u2026it does?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin Solstice hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. It totally does. It makes your lungs all black and icky, right, Ryoka? Tobacco is evil!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut this is dreamleaf.\u201d<\/p>\n The Centaur pointed to his cigar. Erin wavered again, and then wagged one finger.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s secondhand smoke.<\/em> That\u2019s what\u2019s bad! You\u2019ll get kids high!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut if I funnel it out a window or contain the smoke\u2026I\u2019m only harming myself.\u201d<\/p>\n Palt knew it was a losing argument. Erin didn\u2019t like smoking. It was, perhaps, one of the biggest challenges facing getting to know her. He sighed, and then heard a voice as a taller Human came up beside Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not let him smoke if the smoke can be negated, Erin? It\u2019s\u2026not exactly the worst of drugs.\u201d<\/p>\n Palt blinked at this unexpected ally. Erin turned and looked at Ryoka Griffin, surprised.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka! But it\u2019s bad! Weed is bad, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh. No. What century are you living in?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis one! Wait a second, Ryoka. Do you mean you\u2019ve done\u2026the stuff?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n Palt smirked as he saw Erin\u2019s jaw drop. The Centaur turned his head and pretended to cough. Erin looked indignant.<\/p>\n \u201cBut weed\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cErin. It\u2019s not worse than alcohol.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cN\u2014yeah but\u2014wait a second\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Erin opened and closed her mouth. Palt looked at his rescuer and slowly put the cigar in his mouth. Erin eyed him with wroth, but she said nothing as the stream of smoke floated into a bubble around Palt\u2019s head. The City Runner smiled and he nodded to her.<\/p>\n \u201cA fellow connoisseur?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA dabbler. Hi. Ryoka.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve met.\u201d<\/p>\n Briefly. The two eyed each other up and down. Palt was sure Ryoka was from Earth. Beyond that? He was very curious. Could she be the legendary \u2018batman\u2019 for whom every Wistram mage had been instructed to look for? Perhaps. And knowing Erin? Palt would have put money on it.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it\u2026I mean, we have a similar substance. Is dreamleaf\u2026like that, do you know? You were at Wistram.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka Griffin\u2019s voice was very cautious as she referred to the fact that Wistram had any number of Earthers as their guests. Palt smiled around his cigar. Now here was someone who might fit into the Ullsinoi faction. Or at least knew how to keep a reserve.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard it described, Miss. But dreamleaf looks very different to your\u2014weeds. Different effects too, or so I gather.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes. It\u2019s minutiae, but dreamleaf provokes\u2026dreams. The more you take, the more vivid the dreams. And the more relaxed you get. I hear you get paranoid on the other stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know it. This doesn\u2019t make you paranoid? Any negative effects?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI get hungry. And lazy.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cWait, no side effects?\u201d<\/p>\n Palt winked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss, what kind of [Gardener] grows a plant with side effects? It\u2019s magical. <\/em>Cities don\u2019t like it because, well, it does impair your work ethic and it\u2019ll demotivate you for hours, but it\u2019s not bad for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI might have to try it, then. Do you sell\u2026any of it? I have a friend who told me she could get some, but I wasn\u2019t interested at the time. I could bring some back to her, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if you do, I can set you up with a sample as a friend of Miss Solstice. And if you don\u2019t like smoking\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stomped on the ground. Ryoka broke off from reaching for her money pouch. The young woman waved her fist at the two of them. She pointed at Palt\u2019s cigar.<\/p>\n \u201cNo weed in my inn. Palt, you can smoke if<\/em> I never smell it. Got it?\u201d<\/p>\n One small victory. <\/em>Palt exhaled and the smoke flew up into the bubble overhead. He smiled gratefully at Erin and Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cYour words are law, Miss Solstice. Speaking of which\u2014I\u2019m going into Pallass. I don\u2019t suppose Magus Grimalkin will be\u2026attracted here, will he? Or Chaldion? I could use that. I need to talk to them about something important.\u201d<\/p>\n The two young women exchanged a glance. Well\u2014Ryoka glanced at Erin and the young woman scratched at the back of her head vaguely.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026No? I mean, I\u2019m not gonna do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCould you get them here if you wanted to?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka was genuinely curious. She was still at The Wandering Inn. She had to leave. Soon. And she had to create a miracle before the summer\u2019s solstice. But for one more day, she was here. It wasn\u2019t about her, anyways.<\/p>\n Erin frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, yeah. Obviously. I could get them if I needed<\/em> to. Like\u2014scream through to Pallass and get Chaldion or Grimalkin? That\u2019s easy.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Centaur and City Runner exchanged a glance. The [Innkeeper] who claimed to be able to summon the <\/em>[Grand Strategist] of all of Pallass\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cHow, Erin? You could just shout something and Grimalkin comes running?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka opened and closed her mouth. The worst part was that she believed it.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Give me an example. Please?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Innkeeper] frowned for a moment.<\/p>\n \u201cUm\u2014okay. I open the door and scream \u2018dead gods! I\u2019ve got so many muscles! That new soup really does work! I\u2019d better give this to all the Antinium and see what happens!<\/em>\u2019 And then I shut the door. It\u2019ll probably work, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Palt nearly dropped the cigar as he covered his stomach, laughing. Ryoka laughed too, holding the table. A giggling little Gnoll stopped creeping up on her from behind.<\/p>\n That was why he\u2019d fallen a bit in love. <\/em>That madness. Like one of the Elusive Lot, but without the need to prank and infuriate everyone in sight. The Centaur looked wistfully at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re an inspiration to tricksters everywhere, Miss Erin. I salute you. And if you\u2019d like to ever try my illicit drugs\u2014please know that they\u2019re all sincerely for people\u2019s relaxation and state of mind. I sell nothing dangerous. And I\u2019d be happy to show you how they work.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin blinked at him. She smiled and laughed as Ryoka gave her a look from behind Palt.<\/p>\n \u201cOh\u2014maybe sometime, Palt. I dunno, it\u2019s not my thing. Uh\u2014why are you going to meet Grimalkin and Chaldion? Is something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n An excellent deflection. Palt sighed. Was she even aware of how he felt? Well\u2026business awaited. The Centaur turned.<\/p>\n \u201cJust something unpleasant on the wind. I don\u2019t know if you two know of it. It might be connected to\u2026your people.\u201d<\/p>\n Perhaps naively, he was unprepared for the way the two young women focused on him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? <\/em>What thing? Is it Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin danced around Palt, looking suddenly worried. Ryoka stared at Palt. He hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no. It\u2019s not even confirmed.<\/em> I\u2019m going to do some digging, that\u2019s all. And warn both Chaldion and Magus Grimalkin about\u2014some of your friends in Wistram noticed this\u2014it\u2019s this phenomenon known as \u2018the Golden Triangle<\/em>\u2019. Have you heard about it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNoooo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Erin frowned as Ryoka\u2019s head rose and her eyes sharpened further. Palt sighed as he scrubbed at his hair.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s this concept where you give money to someone else. This group\u2014and they invest it in adventurers, [Mages], and so on. Only\u2014we\u2019re not sure, Wistram, that is\u2014that the organization or adventurers exists.<\/em> We can\u2019t find any records of them anywhere. And the people who give money are encouraged to get other people to join, and they get more money if they do on top of money for their investment\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He trailed off. Ryoka looked pale. Erin was frowning, as if listening to something far distant, trying to recall something.<\/p>\n \u201cThat sounds like\u2026a golden triangle. T-Triforce? No, wait. Illuminati? Um\u2026Pyramids? No, it starts with a \u2018P\u2019. P\u2014p\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPonzi scheme, Erin.<\/em> It\u2019s a fucking Ponzi Scheme. No, wait. It\u2019s more like a pyramid marketing\u2026golden triangle my ass.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka Griffin snapped. Palt\u2019s saw her shoulder slump. He took the cigar out of his mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know what it is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n The Centaur and City Runner turned to Erin. The [Innkeeper] blinked a few times. Then she remembered what the word meant. Her face fell. She closed her eyes and said another phrase that would have gotten Grimalkin and Chaldion to come running.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, shit.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Relc bought a new puzzle with the money he\u2019d earned from the Golden Triangle. He felt good about it too; he could afford the best magical puzzles with his new revenue source.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re flush with gold today. You can usually afford only the cheap stuff. Even the magic wires?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Trader] gave Relc a pleased grin. The Drake gave him a smug grin in return.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know it. I\u2019m part of The Golden Triangle. In fact, I\u2019m a Diamond-backer.<\/em> That\u2019s a special rank. I get gold per month and more of a cut if I sign people up. Have you heard of it\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n The Human man snorted.<\/p>\n \u201cHave I heard of it? Of course!<\/em> I\u2019m a backer too. Gold.\u201d<\/p>\n