Editing Interlude – Arcsinger’s Memories

{{Infobox_episode
|title=Interlude – Arcsinger’s Memories
|published=Oct 19, 2024
|wordcount=38,083
|link=[https://wanderinginn.com/2024/10/20/interlude-arcsingers-memories/ Interlude – Arcsinger’s Memories]
|previousChapter=[[Chapter 10.24 E]]
|nextChapter=*[[Tales of Innworld 1| Tales of Innworld #1]]
*[[Chapter 10.25 MG]]
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}}

'''Interlude – Arcsinger’s Memories''' is the 49th chapter of [[Volume 10]].

==tl;dr==

* Many denizens of [[The Wandering Inn]] partake in the perusing of [[Elia Arcsinger|Elia's]] diary, especially for the interesting entries.
* The Adult [[Crelers|Creler]] Incident denotes when [[Arcsinger’s Bows]] and a contingent of [[Order of Haegris|Haegris]] [[Knights|[Knights]]] were ambushed by an adult Creler and their horde.
* The Spice Incident/Revelation recounts when Elia found out that her Flame-Resistance Amulet also affected the spiciness of her food to the detriment of her mouth.
* The [[Onieva]] Encounter was when Elia tried warm herself up to the inn staff accidently interrupting Onieva and [[Ishkr Silverfang|Ishkr's]] fornicating, the [[Half-Elves|Half-Elf]] [Archer] gets taken around [[Pallass]] for a chat by Onieva to clear the air.
** Onieva seeing that she is having memory problems after her chat with Elia goes to [[Mirn]] to find out what's wrong, she learns that she is in fact Saliss with all of his baggage, turning back into Saliss he promises to fight the good fight one last time.
* The Hunting Event describes when Elia went out to hunt some game around [[Esthelm]] for the inn until she was attacked by a group of [[Goblins]] from [[Rags|Rags's]] [[Flooded Waters Tribe|tribe]], she manages to incapacitate them and decides that she is going to quit.
* The Garden Revelation is when Elia, after the night of eating sushi and chatting with [[Calescent]], is taken into the [[Garden of Sanctuary|[Garden of Sanctuary]]] by [[Mrsha du Marquin|Mrsha]] revealing some of the secrets within.
* The Statue portrays when Elia is shown the statue of [[Sprigaena]] on the hill of mists which reveals the truth about one of the memories that had haunted her for a decade.
* The Question tells of when Mrsha, after telling Elia a lot of withheld information, takes her into the [[Palace of Fates|[Palace of Fates]]] to see if she can help expose the truth of Goblins and their [[Goblin Kings|Kings]]. Failing that Mrsha comes up with an idea to help share Elia's experience with her fight against the Goblin King.
* [[Nanette Weishart|Nanette]] presents a 'Meeting of Foes' using the [[World's Eye Theatre|[World's Eye Theatre]]] as a way to display the opposing perspectives of Elia and the Goblins.
* Rags recieves a message from Saliss about the 2nd Army's movements and the remaining time left to prepare.

==Synopsis==
[[Elia Arcsinger|Elia]], as she does every morning, wakes and goes down to eat her too spicy breakfast, as she thinks about the names of the [[Goblins]] she knows that she rather wishes she didn't, and of her diary that she writes in daily. Most of the entries are of mundane topics such as what she had for meals, but what keeps the Goblins and [[Mrsha du Marquin|other mischievous elements]] in [[The Wandering Inn]] reading Elia's diary are the occasional interesting events written down. An entry noted as '''<u>The Adult [[Crelers|Creler]] Incident</u>''' recounts when the [[Arcsinger’s Bows]] and a contingent of [[Order of Haegris|Haegris]] [[Knights|[Knights]]] were ambushed by a group of adult Crelers and their horde. Her readers notice the lack of descriptors in her writing, having to use other literature to cross-reference the event in order to get a more complete telling of what occurred. The inclusion of something, or lack thereof in Elia's diary was what fascinated her small audience.

'''<u>The Spice Incident/Revelation:</u>''' On the sixth day of her employment in the inn, Elia ponders on her past clientele as she watches [[Nanette Weishart|Nanette]] requesting to learn dirty fighting tactics from [[Todi]]. Another day of guard duty as she watches the trusted staff of the inn work on something in the [[Garden of Sanctuary|[Garden of Sanctuary]]], incredibly curious of it all. Hearing a conversation nearby, Elia tries to needle herself into it but fails, she lets two [[Antinium]] workers borrow her fire-resistance amulet for Garden-related work and goes back to eating her food. Unbeknownst to her until now, her amulet was weakening the heat effect from the spices in her food as well, so as she eats her hamburger her mouth explodes with pain from the spiciness. In the kitchen, [[Asgra]] reassures [[Calescent]] of the deadliness of his spices, but all he can feel is the failure of his death spice against the [[Half-Elves|Half-Elf]]. Hearing someone screaming outside the kitchen, Asgra takes a peek and smiles at what she sees, the goblin then asks for the amulet from the two workers and hides it. Calescent, seeing what she has done, starts to hear the screaming as well and walks to the door with a smile appearing on his face as if waking from a long nightmare, he watches Elia writhing on the floor from his spices. Later on, Elia continues to eat her food at a reduced spice level, to the horror of Calescent, he resents Elia for not being the monster he imagined her to be, since she likes spicy food and is a good guest. He feels shameful for wanting to talk to the Half-Elf, as he got burned the last time he tried to open up to [[Hekusha|someone new]].

<u>'''The [[Onieva]] Encounter'''</u>: On this day, after eating her spicy meal, Elia feels bored with nothing much to do. With no one willing to talk to her, she begins to feel the weight of the isolation. Therefore, Elia makes it a goal today to attempt to get closer to her coworkers. Going through her candidates, she narrows her options down to a few, with [[Ishkr Silverfang|Ishkr]] being the first she'll try to get along with. Entering Ishkr's room, she inadvertently interrupts the [[Gnolls|Gnoll]] [Waiter] having sex with Onieva. Finding the whole incident entertaining, Onieva clothes herself and catches up with the Half-Elf [Archer] to have a talk with her, introducing who she is. As Elia gets taken into [[Pallass]], she questions her memories, as she can't remember any information about Onieva and her Named-Rank status. Onieva herself thinks of when she first met Elia, knowing she was a pretender to the rank from the start. After clearing the air about Onieva's history and Elia's intentions with Ishkr, the two talk about the many Named-Rank [[Adventurers]] they've met and their mettle. Onieva speaks on her view of Elia as half-grown corn and how her current employment is one of danger, but that it'll be good for her. Thinking on the conversation, Onieva suddenly realizes she has no recollection of past talks with other female adventurers, and that something was wrong with her memories. Trying to find answers, Onieva leaves to find [[Mirn]].

Arriving at Saliss's home, Onieva finds a bunch of Drakes and Gnolls banging on the door, demanding the Alchemist's attention. After confronting them, a disconnect is shown by their lack of reaction to her. Thinking on the [[Wyverns|Wyvern]] attack a while ago, she remembers the news covering Saliss's exploits but not one mention of her. Finding Mirn at his workplace, she takes him back to Saliss's home, chattering about Saliss being overworked with [[seith]] and her inconsistent memories. Accepting a tonic from Mirn, Onieva suddenly blinds him with it and slams the [Protector] into the wall demanding to know what's in the drink, and if he and Saliss have turned traitors. Telling her of the [[Faerie Flowers|faerie flower]] tonic, Mirn then asks Onieva to think on the inconsistencies in her memory, leading her to realize that she is in fact Saliss. Onieva learns of the side-effect of the faerie flower tonic as once again, the pain and pressure of Saliss' life falls back onto her, but at the same time she felt relieved that she wasn't being tricked or losing her mind. Onieva wonders if she can leave it all behind, and Mirn earnestly encourages her to, as Pallas isn't worthy of her. Drinking the tonic and transforming back into Saliss, he replies that it doesn't matter if they were worthy or not, only that he still loves them. Saliss speaks on what it's like when he becomes Onieva, and that getting to be her for a third of his time is enough to bring him joy. Saliss promises one last time to fight the good fight for the [[Turnscales|Turnscale]] cause, whatever the outcome may be, and then fly away as Onieva.

<u>'''The Hunting Event'''</u>: On the same day as the previous interesting entry, upon returning to the inn after her talk with Onieva, Elia brings up to Ishkr the matter of the Inn staff being standoffish around her, and asks him how she can show the sincerity of her changing ways. Ishkr offers that she can only truly show it during the infrequent, dangerous events threatening the inn. In the lull between Solstice events, Elia hunts the best game the [[Floodplains]] have to offer for the inn staff, successfully hunting an octopus-fish thing Calescent is excited to make food with. After suggesting [[Drath Archipelago|Drathian]] sushi to Calescent and accepting a request to hunt for turkeys, Elia compliments Calescent on his food before leaving in an embarrassed dash towards [[Esthelm]]. There, she is given a [[Quests|<Quest>]] to hunt for turkeys from [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyonette]]. As she was hunting some fat ducks, Elia is suddenly attacked by Goblins on [[Wyverns|Wyvernback]] and is forced to defend herself without killing her attackers. Elia contacts Ishkr for help but is informed by [[Bravehammer]] that the Goblins attacking her are from the [[Mountain City Tribe|Mountain City Goblin]] subgroup of the tribe seeking revenge for her attack on their home and the death of their [[Tremborag|Chieftain]]. She slowly incapacitates the group of Goblins trying to kill her before Ishkr and another group of Goblins arrive at the scene to heal the wounded Goblins. On the way back to the inn, Elia remarks that the Goblins that tried to kill her had the same look of rage as those she served with in the war against the [[Goblin Kings|Goblin King]]. Returning to the Wandering Inn, Elia tries to resign with the belief that she will never be liked by the Goblins there with various members of the inn trying to plead with her to stay. Making her way to her room, the Half-Elf finds a crowd of Goblins holding a platter of sushi with the words ''<nowiki/>'Sorry you got shot'<nowiki/>'' spelled out. Elia leaves the room.

'''<u>The Garden Revelation</u>''': While staying in the inn to heal from her injuries, Elia contemplates the fiscal realities of her occupation, as she is unsure of her employability, the troubles in regards to new currencies popping up, and the vague sense that The Wandering Inn is important. Feeling hungry, Elia leaves her room for the kitchen to find some food and encounters Calescent there. The two talk about why Elia of all people likes spicy food, and why Calescent doesn't hate her as they eat sushi together. Calescent shares his understanding of the cycle regarding Goblins and wants to comprehend the source of the anger. Calescent then sees [[Rags]] enter the inn heading to the [[Garden of Sanctuary|[Garden of Sanctuary]]] to do more research on the [[Mortemdefieir Titan|bad-bad-death-death-Troll thing]]. Elia - knowing the Low-Goblin language understood the whole conversation and asks Calescent about the bad-bad-death-death-Troll thing, thereby learning about the dangerous monster being held back deep in the underground by the Goblins and [[Trolls]]. After the conversation, Elia returns to her room only to find Mrsha and Nanette reading her journal and giving commentary on what was written. She makes the two girls leave her room, with Nanette condescendingly claiming that she'll be the one to help mend the hatred between her and Goblins. As [[Ushar]] takes Nanette away and Mrsha leaving through the garden, Elia is left with her thoughts on what to do next after leaving, Mrsha then returns back into Elia's room to bring the [Archer] into the garden to see if they can find some answers. Mrsha gives the Half-Elf a tour of the many places within the garden with one being the gold pile to which Elia helps herself with shoveling as much gold as she could into her bad-of-holding.

'''<u>The Statue:</u>''' Arriving at the hill of mists, Elia is led by Mrsha to a specific statue as they pass by a number of other ones, the two talk about some of the [[Archmage|Archmages]] in living history, the intrusion into Elia's journal, and the Adult Creler Incident from her point of view in clear detail. Being scared by a [[Dragons|Dragon]] statue, Elia was about to make a fuss until she sees the statue of [[Sprigaena]], looking at the similar yet distinct structural features of the [[Elves|Elven]] form, Elia can see that her face resembles Sprigaena's own image. Beholding that knowledge gives the answer to one of the memories that had haunted for a decade, for when the Goblin King paused in his madness looking straight at her with longing and recognition.

'''<u>The Question:</u>''' Mrsha shakes Elia from her crying state explaining who the woman in the statue is, Mrsha further explains that they've acquired this knowledge from Erin when she was with the ghosts pointing to the [[The Gnoll Magic War]] during the [[Meeting of the Tribes]]. The gnoll child the expounds upon the [[Dead Gods|Seamwalker-like Beings]] and how one of them was the transgressor in the battle on the Winter Solstice, the reason for the [[Erin Solstice|Erin's]] absence from her inn and what the bad-bad-death-death-Troll thing is. In a panic about the overwhelming danger that surrounds the inn, Elia grabs Mrsha planning to bring her all the way to [[Terandria]]. Calming the Half-Elf down, Mrsha shares her initial thoughts of Elia being at the inn and like her feelings in the past about Goblins have changed so too they have for her. Having Elia swear on her daughter to not share what she has seen, Mrsha takes her to somewhere even more secret than the garden, to the [[Palace of Fates|[Palace of Fates]]]. Blindfolded, Elia walks in hallways of the palace being led by Mrsha somewhere until they are found by Rags, the two argue about bringing Elia there but Rags concedes when learning of Mrsha's idea. The two have Elia open a large, green door that would show when [[Velan]] became the Goblin King only for there to be a black nothingness, they learn that even the level 70 skill has limitations with some secrets that are meant to be secret. Overwhelmed by everything Elia just wants to leave telling Rags that she doesn't regret killing the Velan wishing she can share the monster the Goblin King was, Mrsha thinking on the conversation comes up with a great idea to share experiences but that it'll have to wait for tomorrow as she is sleepy. Leaving the palace, Elia asks Mrsha why she was trusted with this knowledge and not someone like [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyonette]], Mrsha gives that in all the futures she has seen with Elia in them that the Half-Elf never ran away no matter what happened. Return back to her room all Elia can do is lay on her bed staring at the ceiling stupefied by the whole event.

'''<u>The Way Goblins and Half-Elves Might Understand Each Other Slightly:</u>''' In the morning, Elia finds Nanette and Lyonette presenting an apology gift to her for what happened last night and any aid for her departure. Embarrassed, Elia informs them that she is reconsidering her options at the moment and returns to her room. Mrsha and Nanette find Elia hiding in the basement sitting behind the potatoes to hide from any more embarrassment, Nanette pleads with Elia to please follow her to be shown the Goblin perspective. With all of her professionalism, Elia follows Nanette into the [[World's Eye Theatre|[World's Eye Theatre]]] as the young [[Witches|Witch]] explains her plan with her skill and having a 'Meeting of Foes', seeing as they are in a place for an audience, Elia decides that she wants to share it with all. As Calescent enters the theater he nearly collapses as Elia gazes upon him feeling an overwhelming sense of terrible loss, regaining his composure he comes to see that the theater is filled with people conversing with a few of them such as [[Imani]] and Saliss. He runs into an argument between Lyonette and Nanette with the [Princess] being taken aside for the Witch to have her chance, Nanette starts her 'Meeting of Foes' presentation by laying out the hostilities between Elia and the Goblins. Elia expresses to all that she will never apologize for killing the Goblin King closing her eyes for the expected retaliation, turning around she sees her younger self on the battlefield, a recording of her memories.

Elia walks with her contingents of fellow [Archers] as [[Niers Astoragon|Niers]] implores [[Evighe]] to retreat with the Archmage refusing to do so, trembling in the air notifies the group of the coming of the Goblin King. Calescent viewing the memories feels nothing as he sees Velan emerge, looking at the others in the room he can see that many of them are on edge ready for violence with others disheartened. Elia's famous killing shot to the Goblin king is shown with Saliss applauding her for not running, Calescent says for all to hear that the Goblin King was a monster to the shock of many of the Goblins there. Elia sits next to the [Spice Chef] as the Goblin's perspective of the Mountain City Tribe raid and other events are shown. Rags notices the final guest to appear at the theater being [[Drassi Tewing|Drassi]], one of the few who changed their mind about Goblins, watching and learning of what's being shown. Putting a stop to the Goblins throwing things at Calescent, Rags is mostly dozing off at the moment from so much time researching until she gets hits with a paper airplane baring a message from Saliss informing her about the 2nd Army of Pallass's movements and the time left remaining. Gazing up at the Named-Rank Adventurer, Rags rise from her seat going over all she has done for this upcoming catastrophe looking into Mrsha's eyes. 

== Characters ==
( * = First Appearance)
*[[Apista]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Asgra]]
*[[Bird]]
*[[Bravehammer]]*
*[[Calcirite]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Calescent]]
*[[Califor Weishart]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Capoinelia Arcsinger]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ceria Springwalker]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Chaldion Oliwing]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Colfa val Lischelle-Drakle]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Colthei Lacment]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Cormen]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Dalimont]]
*[[Dolost]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Drassi Tewing]]
*[[Earlia]]
*[[Edellein Blackwing]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Elena Othonos]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Elia Arcsinger]]
*[[Erin Solstice]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Evighe]] ''(Memory Vision)''
*[[Fetohep]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Fightipilota]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Garen Redfang]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Goishart]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Goldbody]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Greina]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Halrac Everam]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Hammernail]]*
*[[Hedault]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Hekusha]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Imani]]
*[[Inreza]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ishkr Silverfang]]
*[[Itreimedes]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Izikere]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Jorrus]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Joseph Ortega]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Kasigna]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Kevin Hall]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Krsysl Wordsmith]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Laken Godart]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Lehra Ruinstrider]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Liska Silverfang]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Lyonette du Marquin]]
*[[Magnolia Reinhart]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Mavika]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Merdon]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Merish]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Mirn]]
*[[Mivifa Selifscale]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Mortemdefieir Titan]] ''(Mentioned + Name Revealed)''
*[[Mraxine]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Mrsha du Marquin]]
*[[Muscane]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Nailihuaile]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Nanette Weishart]]
*[[Niers Astoragon]] ''(Memory Vision)''
*[[Norlis Reinhart]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Normen Callesn]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Numbtongue]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Octavia Cotton]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Palt Fenrisol]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Peggy]]
*[[Picker]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Prixall]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rabbiteater]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rags]]
*[[Rasen Verithe]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Razia]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Redscar]] 
*[[Reiss]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Relc Grasstongue]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rhaldon Flemmens]]
*[[Rhisveri Zessoprical]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Rose Cinevoy]]
*[[Rosencrantz]]
*[[Ryoka Griffin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Saliss Oliwing]]/Onieva
*[[Saltshook]]*
*[[Shaerrha Brasswing]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Shaestrel]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Silverboots]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Sinegean]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Snatcher]]/Headstealer ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Sprigaena]] ''(Statue)''
*[[Sticks]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Teithde Verithe]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Telleis]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Tessa]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Thallisa]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Todi]]
*[[Tolveilouka Ve’delina Mer]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Tremborag]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Troydel]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Tyrion Veltras]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Ushar]]
*[[Valeterisa Imarris]] 
*[[Vaulont]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Velan]] ''(Memory)''
*[[Verdan Blackwood]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Wrymvr]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Xarkouth]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Xif]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Yelroan]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Zel Shivertail]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Zeter]] ''(Mentioned)''
*? - Mountain City Goblin*
*? - Mountain City Hobgoblin*
*? - Pallasian Drake*
*? - Pallasian Gnoll*

==Groups/Organizations==
*[[Order of Haegris]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Gemhammer]]
*[[Thronebearers of Calanfer]]
*[[Rheirgest|Rheirgest's]] [Necromancers] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Flooded Waters Tribe]]
**[[Redfang Tribe|Redfangs]]
**[[Mountain City Tribe|Mountain City Goblins]]
*[[Griffon Hunt]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Chess Club]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Horns of Hammerad]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Redfang Elite Warriors|Redfang 5]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Iron Vanguard]] ''(Mentioned)''

==Creatures==
*Creona Flashbird ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Mothbears]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Crelers]] ''(Mentioned)'' 
**Adult Creler
**Juvenile Crelers
*Quillfish
*Octopus-fish
*[[Garbichug Revolters]] ''(Mentioned)''
*Frost Wyvern
*Ducks
*[[Bismarck]] ''(Mentioned)''

==Locations==
*[[Izril]]
**[[High Passes]] 
***[[Floodplains]] 
****[[The Wandering Inn]]
*****[[Garden of Sanctuary]]
******Hill of Mists
*****[[World's Eye Theatre]]
*****Kitchen
*****Elia's Room
***[[Esthelm]]
**[[Pallass]]
***Saliss's Home
*[[Palace of Fates]]

==Items==
*Elia's Diary
*''Arcsinger'' by [[Krsysl Wordsmith]]
*Amulet of Fire Resistance
*Springstep Oil
*Ice Arrow
*White Silken Handkerchief with a Goblin Face
*Wand of the Mrsha
*[Box of Incontinuity]

==Statistics==

===Statistics Revealed===

====[[Jorrus]]====

*'''Skills:'''
**[Tremorsense]

====[[Elia Arcsinger]]====

*'''Skills:'''
**[Natural Foe: Translate Language (Low Goblin)]

====[[Nanette Weishart]]==== 

*'''Skills:'''
**[Shared Vision]
*'''Spells:'''
**'''Tier 0:'''
***[Light]

==Quotes==
*([[Saliss Oliwing|Saliss]] to [[Mirn]]): “Worthy. Unworthy. It never mattered to me whether they were or not, Mirn. Only if I loved them. I could never do anything about them loving ''me'' for who I was.”

[[Category:Chapters]]
[[Category:Volume 10]]
[[Category:Interludes]]