Chapter 5.34

Chapter 5.34
Interlude - Blackmage	Chapter 5.35 H
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Chapter 5.34 is the 37th chapter of Volume 5, and the 15th chapter of Book 8, Blood of Liscor.

tl;dr[edit | edit source]

The Hobs activate their artifacts to discover their effects. Raskghar attack in the night. Headscratcher becomes a [Berserker] and Numbtongue becomes a [Bard].

Drakes from Liscor boycott the Wandering Inn by constantly and loudly complaining during plays, which ruins the ambiance for everyone else. Erin offers to consider a compromise, but only if the offended parties help in looking for a solution. The actors and Drakes try to discuss and come to a compromise but a fight nearly breaks out instead.

Erin goes to speak to the Hobs and notices Headscratcher is crying. She asks him what's wrong, before noticing that the Hobs are suspiciously clustered around Rabbiteater and heading out of the inn. She follows them, against Headscratcher's instruction. Erin realizes that they are about to find out the effects of the artifacts the hard way, despite the danger and risk of death to themselves. She yells at them to stop.

Rabbiteater ignores her and touches the white cloth. It unfolds apart into a white cloak. He puts the cloak around his shoulders, collapses, and begins screaming. Erin and the other Hobs panic and rush to Rabbieater's side. He starts laughing before they can use a potion on him. He jumps up and exclaims at how he had tricked them. The other Hobs begin kicking him for his trick.

Rabbieater rolls away from them and the white cloak touches the waters around the inn. Immediately the white clothed cloak becomes a cloak of water. The Hobs and Erin exclaim over the cloak. Shorthilt stabs at the water with his sword and swipes Rabbiteater a bit. As Rabbiteater's blood touches the cloak, it becomes a cloak of blood. They discover that the cloak changes liquids according to what it has last touched.

Badarrow rings the other artifact: the bell, to Erin's protest. The sound emanating from the bell brings pain to Erin and the Hobs. Badarrow, who had been closest to the bell, is in the worst pain. Erin and the Hobs return back to the inn.

Erin sees the Drakes and actors arguing and has a new idea on how to resolve the boycott. She tries to incorporate more Drakes into the play. The Drakes are still unhappy. Eventually, she discovers the real issue the male Drakes are taking offense to is that a Drake woman is the one being pursued by a male Human. If it were the other way around, the Drakes would have been content. The women in the inn become exasperated, the Players of Celum are irritated, and Erin declares that they are being sexist.

Later at night, Raskghar sneak-attack Liscor and the inn. Drakes are killed, but Gnolls are abducted. Zevara, Krshia, and Embria fight the Raskghar in the streets. They note the increased strength and intelligence of the Raskghar. One Raskghar even speaks to them before retreating, having learned the common language by just listening to them speak. Krshia announces that in the current lunar cycle the two moons will wax and wane over six more days; Liscor would have six more days of Raskghar attacks to look forward to.

At the same time as the Raskghar's attack in Liscor, a group of Raskhar have also attacked the inn. Bird, the Horns, and the Hobs fight them, barely holding their ground against even a small number of Raskghar. During the fight a Raskghar sniffs at Ceria and Mrsha peculiarly. Only when Headscratcher’s [Warrior] class change to Berserker after a short blackout does the tide turn. As their losses mount, the two remaining Raskghar retreat. Erin calls for help from Pallass and guardsmen cross over to Liscor to aid the city. Later, it is revealed that Numbtongue is a [Bard].