Editing Chapter 9.20

{{Infobox_episode|title=Chapter 9.20|published=October 12, 2022|link=[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/10/12/9-20/ Chapter 9.20]|previousChapter=[[Chapter 9.19]]|wordcount=37,931|nextChapter=[[Interlude – Death and Stitches]]|image=Grandmaster-med.png|imagecaption=Erin asserting Dominance by [[Fanworks/Miguel|Miguel]]}}

'''Chapter 9.20''' is the 27th chapter of [[Volume 9]].

== tl;dr ==
* More important meetings happen between Erin and people from the [[Meeting of the Tribes]] and between [[Rags]] and [[Serafierre val Lischelle-Drakle|Fierre]]
* Erin is the final boss of a chess tournament involving all of the most powerful chess minds in [[Innworld]]

== Synopsis ==
The chapter opens with [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Rags]] emerging from the garden, and Erin finally has time to meet her guests. Some are old, but others are new to her. [[Vetn]], [[Qwera]], and [[Ysara Byres|Ysara]] decide to settle in the inn after hearing about the market, and Erin welcomes them with open arms. Other new arrivals included [[Lehra Ruinstrider|Lehra]], and her [[Stargazer’s Promise|named-rank team]], who got a culture shock once they learned about the sheer amount of Named-rank adventurers that were regulars of the inn. Others that hadn't gotten a chance to see Erin until then also came by including the [[Silver Swords]], [[Saliss Oliwing|Saliss]], and even [[Todi’s Elites|Todi's Elites]].

Besides the many meetings with Erin, [[Serafierre val Lischelle-Drakle|Fierre's]] family had also come by the inn. They were greeted by [[Wailant Strongheart|Wailant]] and [[Viceria Strongheart|Viceria]] as fellow farmers, though Fierre herself was busy selling secrets about all of the famous people through her secret brokerage in [[Invrisil]]. One surprise customer that came by to make a deal with Fierre was Rags. Rags wanted to know how much the people from the Wharf were cheating her, but more importantly, she wanted Fierre to act as a middleman for many larger purchases of goods that [[Goblinhome]] could not easily access. Despite the risk of being found supplying powerful goblins, Fierre agreed.

On the following day, the excitement had calmed down a bit. Rags tried out one of her new skills, and [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyonette]] put into place some of her activities that she'd planned for the multi-day party. One of those was a design your own antinium game for children, and another was finding more contestants for the chess tournament. Before anything could happen with these, [[Pawn]] confronted Lyonette about how she'd been avoiding him, and she broke up with him citing how much they had both changed. Things got worse as the chess tournament wasn't attracting as much attention as Lyonette would have liked, and the antinium design contest resulted in [[Visma]]'s design accidentally flying into the fire place with [[Ekirra Silverfang|Ekirra]]'s getting shredded in a tree. [[Jerom]] of all people brought forth a solution when he quickly whipped up a carved, wooden antinium for Visma that stopped her from crying. This could be painted properly without being so flimsy. [[Troydel]], being an expert on figurines, was happy to help coordinate more production of these figures with any other nearby [Carvers]. Even with this solution though, the party wasn't a very entertaining watch for Wistram News Network. This is when Erin finally stepped in.

Erin gave a much-awaited interview to [[Drassi Tewing|Drassi]] over [[Wistram Academy|Wistram]]'s News Network where she proclaimed herself the best chess player in the world. She advertised the chess tournament with herself as the final boss and even put forth a <Yearly Heroic Quest> to prove it. The reward would be the 80 gold promised previously with an addition of one level in any <intelligence> based class. The promised reward was especially important for any high level person and turned the world into a frenzy of setting up regional tournaments with the goal of challenging Erin. She wouldn't go down without a fight, though. Erin worded the quest such that she would "''play you at my utmost best and keep playing until I lose.''" which the [[System]] interpreted as giving her temporary classes and skills to compete with anyone that would challenge her using their own advanced classes and skills. [[Pisces Jealnet|Pisces]] challenged her first and got utterly demolished, barely able to make a move, and from there, Erin started an endurance gauntlet of facing the best players in the world. She played everyone from the Antinium Queens to [[Cognita]] to the [[Othius the Fourth|Blighted King]]. Some she played repeatedly as they won the chance to face her again and again. Those included [[Fetohep]], [[Eldavin]], Viscount [[Visophecin|Visosphecin]], [[Niers Astoragon|Niers]], [[Altestiel]], The [[Belchaus Meron|Lord of Dance]], the [[Quarass]], and an International Master from Earth, [[Antal Fekete|Antal]]. In the end, she played over 87 matches and the one person to beat her was not any of the expected competitors, but rather it was [[Calidus Reinhart]]. Many leveled from this even at their high levels, but Calidus got what he saw as a dubious reward at best where his [Hedonist] class was removed to be replaced by [Genius of Sloth].

==Characters==
( * = First Appearance)

* [[Erin Solstice]]
* [[Rags]]
* [[Apista]]
* [[Niers Astoragon]]
* [[Noass]] (''Scry Projection'')
* [[Relz Hauscale]] / Sir Relz (''Scry Projection'')
* [[Drassi Tewing]]
* ? - Female Fraerling Tallguard *
* [[Lyonette du Marquin]]
* [[Liska Coresh Silverfang]]
* [[Qwera]] / Golden Gnoll
* [[Ysara Byres]]
* Qwera's staff (x17)
* [[Ishkr]]
* [[Sest]]
* [[Agnes]]
* [[Jerom]]
* [[Ulia Ovena]]
* [[Lormel]]
* [[Badarrow]]
* [[Bviora Stormless| ? - Female Human [Thief] with crystal hand]]
* ? - Pallass’ [Trader of Curios] *
* ? - Invrisil's high-level [Thief] Face *
* [[Vetn]]
* [[Mrsha]]
* [[Dalimont]]
* [[Ekirra Silverfang]]
* [[Visma]]
* [[Gireulashia Ekhtouch]] / Gire
* [[Lehra Ruinstrider]]
* [[Elgrinna Geostrand]]
* [[Suxhel]]
* [[Emper]]
* [[Yvlon Byres]]
* [[Ylawes Byres]]
* [[Ceria Springwalker]]
* [[Dawil Ironbreaker]]
* [[Falene Skystrall]]
* [[Moore]]
* [[Tessa]] / Shriekblade
* [[Saliss Oliwing]] / Onieva Oliwing
* [[Bamer]]
* [[Players of Celum]]'s [Actors]
** [[Temile]]
* [[Numbtongue]]
* [[Pelt]]
* [[Gothica]]
* [[Kevin Hall]]
* [[Poisonbite]]
* [[Hedault]]
* [[Redscar]]
* [[Himilt val Lischelle-Drakle]]
* [[Colfa val Lischelle-Drakle]]
* [[Jelaqua Ivirith]]
* [[Mirn]]
* [[Elirr Fultpar]]
* [[Hexel Quithail]]
* [[Rivel val Lischelle-Drakle]]
* [[Wailant Strongheart]]
* [[Viceria Strongheart]]
* [[Ushar]]
* [[Imani]]
* [[Calescent]]
* [[Nanette Weishart]]
* [[Serafierre val Lischelle-Drakle]] / Fierre
* [[Snapjaw]]
* [[Whet]] (''Mentioned'')
* Aumeth (''First Time Mentioned'')
* [[Nerry]]
* [[Ksmvr]]
* [[Taganchiel]]
* [[Palt Fenrisol]]
* [[Bird]]
* [[Garia Strongheart]]
* [[Seborn Sailwinds]]
* [[Inkar]]
* [[Tkrn]]
* [[Joseph Ortega]]
* [[Pisces Jealnet]]
* [[Salkis Blackwing]]
* [[Troydel]] / Troy
* [[Menolit]]
* [[Relc Grasstongue]]
* [[Octavia Cotton]]
* [[Klbkch]]
* [[Selys Shivertail]]
* [[Pawn]]
* [[Yellow Splatters]]
* [[Purple Smile]]
* [[Teliv Witherscale]]
* [[Foliana]] (''Missive'')
* [[Az’kerash]]
* [[Ulvama]]
* [[Seraphel du Marquin]] (''Mentioned'')
* [[Aielef du Marquin]] (''Mentioned'')
* [[Vernoue du Marquin]] (''Mentioned'')
* [[Silveran]]
* Roodney (?)
* [[Beclaire|Béclaire]] (''Mentioned'')
* [[Venaz]]
* [[Wil Kallinad]]
* [[Merrik Hostone]]
* [[Paeth|Paeth on the Coast's Fraerlings]] (''Watchers'')
* [[Nerrhavia (Queen)|Nerrhavia]]
* [[Eldavin]]
* [[Telim]]
* [[Othius the Fourth]] / Blighted King
* [[Nereshal]]
* [[Silvenia]]
* Ghosts Illusions/Memory
** [[Xarkouth]]
** [[Khelta]]
** ? - Male Lucifen of Khelt *
* [[Chaldion Oliwing]]
* [[Altestiel]]
* [[Kiish]]
* [[Geilouna Desoyvel]] (''Spoken To Only'')
* [[Belchaus Meron]] / Lord of the Dance
* [[Olesm Swifttail]]
* [[Belgrade]]
* ? - Antinium Worker bound to the Antinium Queens *
* [[Silent Queen]]
* [[Armored Queen]]
* [[Twisted Queen]]
* [[Grand Queen]]
* [[Xevccha]] / Free Queen
* [[Flying Queen]]
* [[Garry]]
* [[Earthers]] of [[Rhir]]
** [[Correy]] (''First Official Appearance'')
** [[Antal Fekete]] (''First Official Appearance'')
* [[Femithain]] (''Scry Projection'')
* [[Feshi Weatherfur]] (''Scry Projection'')
* [[Flos Reimarch]] (''Mentioned'')
* [[Orthenon]] (''Mentioned'')
* [[Gazi Pathseeker]] (Mentioned)
* [[Raelt Leysars]] (''Mentioned'')
* [[Fetohep]] (''Scry Projection'')
* [[Cognita]] (''Scry Projection'')
* [[Etrikah]] (''Mentioned'')
* [[Thomas]] (''Laugher Only'')
*? - Ranting Lizardwoman *
*? - Ranting Lizardman *
*[[Umina Caxical]] (''Scry Projection'')
*[[Thelican]] (''Scry Projection'')
*[[Cirediel Anvi’dualln Olicuemerdn]] / Cire
*[[Feor]] (''Scry Projection'')
*[[Magnolia Reinhart]]
*[[Deilan El]] (''Mentioned'')
*[[Jecaina Leysars]] (''Scry Projection'')
*[[Yerranola]] (''Scry Projection'')
*[[Reclis du Marquin]]
*[[Tusxe]] (''Scry Projection'')
*[[Ryoka Griffin]]
*[[Rhaldon]] (''Watcher'')
*[[Antherr Twotwentyonethree Herodotus]] (''Watcher'')
*[[Cara O'Sullivan]] / Singer of Terandria (''Watcher'')
*[[Pellmia Quellae]]
*[[Tyrion Veltras]]
*? - Male Centaur [Tactician] *
*[[Sammial Veltras]]
*[[Hethon Veltras]]
*[[Visophecin]]
*Coleom (''Missive'') *
*Illn (''Missive'') *
*[[Quarass]]
*[[Beatrice Stogrehn]] (''Mentioned'')
*[[Valeterisa Imarris]] (''Mentioned'')
*? - Drowned Woman player (''Scry Projection'') *
*[[Anand]] (''Scry Projection'')
*[[Tulm the Mithril]]
*[[Calidus Reinhart]]
*[[Normen Callesn]]
*? - [Yodelling Lieutenant] player *
* [[Yinah]] (''Mentioned'')

==Locations==

* [[Baleros]]
* [[Izril]]
** [[Floodplains]]
*** [[The Wandering Inn]]
**** [[Garden of Sanctuary]]
*** [[Liscor]]
** [[Pallass]]
*** Blackwing family estate
** [[Invrisil]]
*** Fierre's Opener’s Office
** Az’kerash's Castle
** [[Oteslia]]
** [[First Landing]]
** Calidus' mansion
* [[Rhir]]
** [[Blighted Kingdom]]
** [[Demon Kingdom]]
* [[Wistram Academy]]
* [[Terandria]]
** [[Nadel]]
*** Belchaus's manor
** [[Calanfer]]
**[[Ailendamus]]
* [[Chandrar]]

== [[Undead]] ==

* Undead rat

== [[Golems]] ==

* Steel Golem

==Creatures==

* ??? - Green-type monsters that explode and spread a nasty ichor everywhere. (''First Introduction'')

==Items==

* [[Magical Door]]
* ??? - Artificial man’s crystal hand prostheses that has bound to it the Skill: [I Stole Lightning].
* [[Blade of Mershi]]
* Potion of [Invisibility] (''Used'')
* Electric Mithril Shortsword
* [[Redfang]]
* Frost Enchanted Sword
* Sword Enchanted with [Bloodletter] and [Sharpness]
* Erin's Breakfast
** Green boiled eggs with melty cheese and bits of bacon inside them
** Green ham
** Shadow Loaf
* [[Wondrous Fare|Bulkup Bisque]]
* Inkar’s upgraded iPhone
* [[Ryoka's iPhone]]
* Antal's Laptop (''Exploded'')
*Obsidian rose (''Not Real''?)

==Statistics Obtained==

====[[Erin Solstice]]====

*<span style="color:#ffd700;">Temporary Class Assigned = [Grandmaster of Death, Advent of Living Chess]</span>
*<span style="color:#ffd700;">Temporary Skill Assigned = [Visions of Defeat (Legendary)] + [Chessboard: Subsumed Reality, Our Board is the World] + [Clash of Wills]</span> + [Path to Victory] + <span style="color:#ffd700;">[All Plans Fall to Dust And Ruin (Chess)] + [My Thoughts Run Like Lightning]</span> + (''Others Not Shown'')
*<span style="color:#ffd700;">Temporary Aura Assigned = [Aura of Giants (Chess)]</span>
*<span style="color:#99cc00;">Temporary Skill Assigned = [The Laughing Folk Bowed to None; Neither Shall I]</span>

====[[Calidus Reinhart]]====

*Conditions Met: [Hedonistic Wastrel] → [Genius of Sloth]
*Classes/Levels = [Genius of Sloth] Lv. 23 (+?)
*<span style="color:#99ccff;">Classes/Levels: Removed = [Hedonist]</span>
*<span style="color:#99ccff;">Condition Removed = [Drunken Oblivion]</span>
*Skills = [Brilliant Insight (Weekly)] + [Store Intellect]
*<span style="color:#ffd700;">Rewarded Skill = [Move Reality Like Chess]</span>

====[[Altestiel]]====

*Classes/Levels = [Knight Marshal of the Rains] Lv. 45 (+?)
*Ritual = [The Fourth Tide Pours In Blood and Storm]

====[[Quarass]]====

*Classes/Levels = [Quarass] Lv. 18 (+?)
*Skills = [Remembered Skill]

====[[Reclis du Marquin]]====

*Classes/Levels = [King of Intrigue] Lv. 37 (+?)
*Skills = [Agreement of Stories]

====[[Othius the Fourth]]====

*Classes/Levels = [King of Blight, King of Centuries] Lv. 55 (+?)

====[[Gothica]]====

*Classes/Levels = [Midnight Goth] Lv. 22 (+?)
*Skills = [Morticious Insult obtained] + [Shadowcloak Stealth]

====[[Olesm Swifttail]]====

*Classes/Levels = [Eleleu Strategos] Lv. 36 (+1)

==== ???====

*Classes/Levels = [Yodelling Lieutenant] Lv. 25 (+?)

====[[Tulm the Mithril]]====

*Classes/Levels = [Dragonslayer Strategist] Lv. 41 (+?)

====[[Eldavin]]====

*Classes/Levels = [Magus] Lv. 15 (+?)

====[[Feshi Weatherfur]]====

*Classes/Levels = [Strategist Chieftain] Lv. 32 (+?)

====[[Merrik Hostone]]====

*Classes/Levels = [Stoneshorn War Leader] Lv. 29 (+?)

====[[Venaz]]====

*Classes/Levels = [War Strategist] Lv. 34 (+?)

====[[Az’kerash]]====

*Classes/Levels = [Undying Lich, Myth of Death and Vengeance] Lv. 78 (+1)
*Skills = [Create Spectral Undead] + [Sanctum: Death Magic Leyline] + [Teacher of Magic (Universal)]
*Spells = [Death King’s Mirage of the Living] + [Might of the Glomroath Beast]

[[Category:Chapters]]
[[Category:Chapters with Colored Text]]
[[Category:Volume 9]]