Editing Interlude – Adventurers (Pt. 3)

{{Infobox_episode
|title=Interlude – Adventurers (Pt. 3)
|published=November 16, 2022
|link=[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/11/16/interlude-adventurers-pt-3/ Interlude – Adventurers (Pt. 3)]
|previousChapter=[[Interlude – Adventurers (Pt. 2)]]
|nextChapter=[[Chapter 9.25]]
|wordcount=43,411
|image=StealerStrip by Brack.jpg
|imagecaption=Snatcher stripping by [[Fanworks/Brack|Brack]]
}}

'''Interlude – Adventurers (Pt. 3)''' is the 35th chapter of [[Volume 9]].

==tl;dr==

* [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] found her curse in a [[Cormeng’s Emporium|magical store]], set up a message board there, and took the items that [[Nerrhavia (Queen)|Nerrhavia]] had left the curse sources in.
* Erin let the thieving adventurers from [[Ruins of Albez|Albez]] flee into the new lands in exchange for much of their loot which she mostly redistributed as bribes.
* All of the high-level adventurers attacked [[Snatcher]]. They found the corpse of [[Stalker]], but Snatcher escaped and was eventually trapped and defeated by [[Ylawes Byres|Ylawes]], [[Rasktooth]], [[Infinitypear]], and the members of [[Vuliel Drae]]. These adventurers were then offered the chance to all join the [[Silver Swords]].

==Synopsis==
[[Erin Solstice]] was in [[Invrisil]] for the excitement with all of the adventurers that had just happened. She and her group finished buying books and chatted with some [[Drowned People|drowned folk]] that were looking for a friendly place on [[Izril]], but they did not find the source of her curse. Everyone, including [[Grimalkin Duveig|Grimalkin]], agreed to go again the next day to try to hunt down the curse, but they wanted to get back. When they did return, Erin learned about [[Snatcher|Facestealer]]'s attack and the theft at [[Ruins of Albez|Albez]]. She met with [[Ama]] who was distraught over the attack and death of [[Rodden]] who had been near the crevice into [[Liscor's Dungeon]] when Facestealer emerged. Erin welcomed her but the [Necromancer] decided to leave instead of stay and help try to fight Facestealer. Afterwards, Erin decided to get further opinions about the theft at Albez. She talked to [[Wailant Strongheart|Wailant]] and [[Saliss Oliwing|Saliss]] and came to the conclusion that she would use this to her own advantage. 

Erin decided to let the thieving adventurers through her portal door as long as she got a large share of the loot that they brought with. She enlisted Saliss' help to move [[Pallass]]' door to a location further towards the new lands, and she had Wailant keep watch over any adventurers that wanted to give themselves up entirely. Those would have to leave all of their gear behind and brought to Wailant's Farm to wait things out. Any that didn't would have to buy adventuring gear from Erin, and try to make a run for it into the new lands of Izril. They would have to leave any alchemical regents or other less immediately useful trinkets behind. The alchemical regents would all go to Saliss for his help, and the other goods were used as bribes to others like Wailant and [[Larracel Delais|Larra]]. Once the other adventurers got back, they were furious, but [[Chaldion Oliwing|Chaldion]] helped Erin by bribing the teams with gold (mostly due to Saliss and therefore Pallass coming away very well from this deal), and Erin gave them permission to hunt down the teams that she had just sent out which could potentially get them an even larger haul than they otherwise would have gotten if the distribution was more fair.

While this was happening, the [[antinium]] had meetings with [[Klbkch]]. He was there to track the antinium's new levels and value to their hives. He met with many but those discussed directly were [[Crusader 57]], [[Infinitypear|Inifinitypear]], and [[Furfur]]. Infinitypear in particular brought [[Rasktooth]] with him and interested Klbkch due to the rarity of his [Adventurer] class despite his low level. He wanted Infinitypear to find a purpose or job, and after telling him and Rasktooth about his own time on [[Rhir]], Klbkch ended up writing a recommendation for the two to become bronze-rank adventurers as well as giving them a budget for their team.

Back with Erin, she decided tactfully to not be at her inn the following morning as the remaining adventurers planned their attack on Liscor's Dungeon. She went back to Invrisil this time with [[Tessa]] coming along as well for extra protection. Tessa managed to stop a crystal-handed thief before they could steal from Erin, and Grimalkin and Erin finally had a chance to talk about some of Grimalkin's issues. He expressed his thoughts about the [[Crossroads of Izril]] and Pallass in general. He had come to the conclusion that the [[Walled Cities]] did know about the Crossroads, but must not have known how to get in or else they would have been much more active about finding these Crossroads. The drake cities never conferred about the legitimacy of the Crossroads, all they seemed concerned about to Grimalkin was the new lands. He came to the conclusion that he was not a son of the walls, but he was also not ready to leave Pallass entirely. Erin suggested he find a different kind of ally which is when Lady [[Pryde Ulta|Pryde]], a prime example, appeared. After some initial jostling, Pryde agreed to come with the group and told them that they were likely looking for the magical store ''[[Cormeng’s Emporium|Cormeng’s Grand Emporium of Antiques and Pawnshop]]''. You need an invitation to enter, but once you have it, you can enter into the same store from over 120 locations across Izril and [[Terandria]]. The store was manned by [[Doren]], a levelless descendant of Cormeng who needs to work in the store or it will get passed down to someone else in the family or another poor levelless individual. He didn't want trouble, but was clearly discontent with his situation. Erin offered him the chance to service [[Liscor]], but despite agreeing, he did not seem like he would want to do that knowing the trouble high-level individuals cause. Erin helped him out by giving the store more purpose. She bought a large sign and left it in the store as a pseudo-message board that people could mark if they'd been there. Most of the items in the store were still junk, but Erin did take with her the two items that [[Nerrhavia (Queen)|Nerrhavia]] had left her wax curses in which likely had high-value.

Back at the dungeon, [[Colthei]] had begun his plan to take down Facestealer. He consistently cornered it and coordinated attacks that would test for weaknesses and try to do damage using the many adventuring teams that had gathered from both groups. They were damaging the boss monster slowly, and used a series of devastating skills from Colthei, [[Mihaela Godfrey|Mihaela]], [[Valeterisa Imarris|Valeterisa]], [[Viecel Cohex|Viecel]], [[Deniusth]], and [[Eldertuin Terland|Eldertuin]] that managed to crack Facestealer's head, but it escaped into the inner city. The teams followed afterwards, but Facestealer had realized how they were tracking it and had removed its skin to take away the tracking brand. The teams secured this skin and the body of [[Stalker]], but they could no longer track their main target. The adventurers were anxious that it hadn't used this trick to attack them, but [[Ceria Springwalker|Ceria]] realized that it wasn't after them anymore, it was after those aboveground now that the highest level combatants were too far away.

Many tried to fight against Snatcher, but few could damage it. [[Ylawes Byres|Ylawes]] and the [[Silver Swords]] fought it but were knocked flying away, [[Numbtongue]], [[Alcaz]], and [[Normen Callesn|Normen]] tried to stand up to it, but were pushed back by [[Ishkr]] who managed to buy time by leading it around for a short while. Erin sent the magic stored in her hat, and [[Relc Grasstongue|Relc]] and [[Klbkch]] teamed up to fight against it, but they weren't enough. Relc got hit and Klbkch had to use the last of his [Recaptured Sublimity] to save his partner. The [Crusaders] tried to fight, but Snatcher had precautions against faith magic, [[Zevara Sunderscale|Zevara]] activated a tier 6 spell meant to be saved as a contingency for antinium attacks, but was instead used here to try to drown Snatcher. Even [[Pelt]] wanted to sacrifice himself to stop the monster, but nobody would open the door to let him through. In the end, Ylawes and his team came back, already injured, and along with him Rasktooth and Infinitypear, as well as [[Vuliel Drae]] in a last ditch effort led the monster back into the dungeon where Rasktooth knew there was a giant pit of water. [[Insill]] trapped it with a pitfall and tricked Snatcher into falling into the pit. Rasktooth knew it was thousands of feet deep, and the pit had a suction that even Snatcher couldn't escape once he fell deep enough.

The victorious adventurers leveled, and the large group came back up with Snatcher's hide, Stalker's corpse, and a large cache of death-magic blades that they found likely belonging to the original inhabitants of the dungeon. Ylawes, once he was healed enough, invited Vuliel Drae and Rasktooth and Infinitypear to join his team. They would be going north to House Byres and then back south to the new lands of Izril.

==Characters==
( * = First Appearance)

* [[Erin Solstice]]
* [[Mrsha]]
* [[Nanette Weishart]]
* [[Grimalkin Duveig]]
* Thivian Stormless / Lightning Thief (''Mentioned'')
* [[Krsysl Wordsmith]] (''Mentioned'')
* [[Drowned People|Drowned Folk]]
** ? - Drowned Human-Shrimp Woman *
** ? - Drowned Dullahan-Shark Man *
** ? - Drowned half-Elf *
* ? - [Grocer] *
* [[Therrium Sailwinds]] (''Mentioned'')
* [[Dalimont]]
* [[Liska Silverfang]]
* [[Nerrhavia (Queen)|Nerrhavia]]
* [[Zevara Sunderscale]]
* [[Colthei]] / Colth
* [[Tekshia Shivertail]]
* [[Ceria Springwalker]]
* [[Ksmvr]]
* [[Yvlon Byres]]
* [[Pisces Jealnet]]
* [[Ama]]
* [[Lyonette du Marquin]]
* [[Rags]]
* [[Tessa]]
* [[Saliss Oliwing]]
* Titan’s students
** [[Venaz]]
* [[Calruz]] (''Mentioned'')
* [[Ishkr]]
* [[Octavia Cotton]]
* [[Numbtongue]] + [[Reiss]]
* [[Wailant Strongheart]]
* Albez adventurer thieves
** Distinguished Staves
***Geith - Captain (''Name Revealed'')
**[[Waterborn Raiders]]
*** [[Foeer]]
* [[Deniusth]] / Deni
*[[Kevin Hall]]
*[[Snatcher]] / Facestealer (''Deceased?'')
*[[Troydel]] (''Mentioned'')
*[[Larracel Delais]] / Larra
*[[Eldertuin Terland]]
*[[Chaldion Oliwing]]
*[[Griffon Hunt]]
**[[Halrac Everam]]
**[[Revi]]
**[[Typhenous]]
*[[Keldrass]]
*[[Klbkch]]
*[[First Grand Queen]] / First Queen (''Mentioned'')
*Squad 5
**[[Crusader 57]]
**[[Crusader 53]]
*[[Infinitypear]]
*[[Rasktooth]]
*[[Czkelcill Mirrex]] / Mirrex the Bard (''Mentioned'')
*Unnamed race of Psychic Crustaceans (''First Time Mentioned'')
*[[Furfur]]
*[[Peggy]]
*[[Inkpaper]]
*[[Gothica]]
*[[Rosencrantz]] *
*Thronebearer (other 3)
*[[Bird]]
*[[Nerry]]
*[[Normen Callesn]]
*[[Mihaela Godfrey]]
*[[Valeterisa Imarris]] / Valley
*[[Montressa du Valeross]]
*[[Orchestra]]
**? - Female [Mage]
*[[Ylawes Byres]]
*[[Vuliel Drae]]
**[[Insill]]
**[[Anith]]
**[[Dasha]]
**[[Pekona]]
**[[Larr]]
*[[The Pride of Kelia|Pride of Kelia]]
** [[Nailren]]
*[[Falene Skystrall]]
*[[Dawil Ironbreaker]]
*[[Bviora Stormless|? - Female Human [Thief] with crystal hand]]
*[[Pryde Ulta]]
*[[Skinner]] (''Mentioned'')
*Variable Fortress
*? - Armor General / Warden of the steeled ones
*? / Mother of Graves *
*[[Magnolia Reinhart]] (''Mentioned'')
*[[Bethal Walchaís]] (''Mentioned'')
*[[Doren]] (''Name Revealed'')
*[[Cormeng]] (''First Time Mentioned'')
*[[Drassi Tewing]] (''Scry Projection'')
*Arensspe *
*[[Lehra Ruinstrider]]
*[[Suxhel]]
*[[Viecel Cohex]]
*[[Jelaqua Ivirith]]
*[[Seborn Sailwinds]]
*[[Moore]]
*Solar Strikes
**? - Captain (''Deceased'')
*? - Dullahan adventurer *
*[[Ysara Byres]]
*[[Qwera]]
*[[Menolit]]
*[[Alcaz]]
*[[Apista]]
*[[Antinium Crusade]]
**[[Beriad of the Free Antinium|Beriad of the Antinium]]
**3rd Company
**[[Artur]]
*Assembly of Crafts
*[[Duln]]
*[[Pelt]]
*[[Emessa]]
*[[Xrn]]
*[[Hedault]]

==Locations==

* [[Izril]]
** [[Invrisil]]
** [[Floodplains]]
*** [[The Wandering Inn]]
**** [[Stitchworks]]
**** Earther rooms
**** [[Garden of Sanctuary]]
****Portal Room
****Library
*** [[Liscor's Dungeon]]
**** Raskghar old camp
****??? / City of Graves  - Inner City
**** Well Room
*** [[Free Hive]]
***[[Liscor]]
**Near [[Wailant Strongheart|Wailant]]’s farm
**[[Celum]]
**[[Esthelm]]
***Solar Cycles
**[[The Adventurer’s Haven]]
**[[Pallass]]
* ''[[Cormeng’s Emporium|Cormeng’s Grand Emporium of Antiques and Pawnshop]]'' / [[Cormeng’s Emporium]]
*Fathomlessly deep waters

==Creatures==

* [[Scalelings]] / Children
* ??? / Infested - Fleshy humanoids
*[[Face-Eater Moths]]

==Items==

* Books
** The Lightning Thief and the Eyes of Baleros, Book 11
** The Lightning Thief and the Eyes of Baleros, Book 15
** ''The Hidden Folk of Baleros, by Eineith Stoneshield''
** ''The Titan’s Folk, by Niers Astoragon''
* [[Diamond Swords of Serept|Windblade of Serpisel]]
* [[Amentus]]' blue juice
* Dowsing curse-sensing charm
*Time magic staff
*Acid Jars
*[[Wondrous Fare|Mana Candies]]
*[[Thickskin Soup|Scaleguard Sandwiches]]
*[[The Putrid One|Putrid One]]'s Circlet
*Adamantium-tipped Spear
*[[Magicore]] (''Mentioned'')
*[[Yolden|Yoldenites]] helmets (''Mentioned'')
*Ulva Shakes - Health smoothie
*Chest of Holding
*Vortex Arrows (x2 → 1 Used)
*Tripvine bags
*Mithril rope
*Parchment invitation of Cormeng’s Emporium 
*Cream-color, carp-style vase
*Living Wax mold of Erin's fingers (x2) (''Destroyed'')
*Dirty-pink dress
*Purple pearl
*Alchemist’s Fireball (''Used'')
*[[Fabledust]] (''Used'')
*Wand of Lightning Bolts
*[[Blade of Mershi]]
*Golem Shield
*[[Stalker]]’s headless corpse
*[[Snatcher]]’s hide
*Dragonblood Crystal sword
*Broken Masterwork Axe (''Temporary Remade'')
*Minotaur’s Punch
*High-quality death magic blades

== Statistics Obtained ==

==== [[Ylawes Byres]] ====

* Conditions Met: [Knight] → [Knight-Seeker of the Silver Dragon]
* Classes/Levels = [Knight-Seeker of the Silver Dragon] Lv. 37 (+?)
* Skills = [Name of Dragons: Yderigrise] + [Aura of Protection] + <span style="color:#99cc00;">[Legacy: Find the Dragon’s Grave]</span> + [Sword and Shield Art: The Knight Charged With Wings of Steel] + [Negate Spell]

==== [[Infinitypear]] ====

* Conditions Met: [Adventurer] → [Horrorbane Adventurer]
* Classes/Levels = [Horrorbane Adventurer] Lv. 16 (+3)
* Skills = [Immunity: Fear] + [Tidal Jab] + [I Have Seen It Die] 

==== [[Insill]] ====

* Conditions Met: [Trap Rogue] → [Pitfall Trapmaster Saboteur]
* Classes/Levels = [Pitfall Trapmaster Saboteur] Lv. 28 (+?)
* Skill Change = [Pitfall Trap] → [Pit of Many Deaths]
* Skills = [Trap: Masterful Concealment] + [Mithril Caltrops] + [Incredible Leap]

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