Editing Interlude – Halfseekers (Pt. 5)

{{Infobox episode
|title= Interlude – Halfseekers (Pt. 5)
|published=September 16, 2025
|wordcount= 24,657
|link=[https://wanderinginn.com/2025/09/16/interlude-halfseekers-pt-5/ Interlude – Halfseekers (Pt. 5)]
|previousChapter=[[Interlude – Halfseekers (Pt. 4)]]
|nextChapter= [[Interlude – Halfseekers (Pt. 6)]]
}}

'''Interlude – Halfseekers (Pt. 5)''' is the 99th chapter of [[Volume 10]].

== tl;dr ==

* Unbeknownst to anyone in the inn, [[Irurx]] sits there participating with the folks there sharing gossip and stories, he then reveals himself to all there creating panic and chaos to the city of Treant's Farewell.
* [[Seborn Sailwinds|Seborn]] and [[Tissl Venleather|Tissl]] return back to Moodfut with her newfound treasures waiting for their [Driver] to arrive.
* Seborn returns back to Moodfut to see that the [Sailors] are fighting the hunched figure who is revealed to being a [[Dorhmin]], the [[Drowned People|Drowned Man]] protects [[Irrel]] from the others there claiming the boy as his responsibility.
* It's revealed that the [Driver] was infested by one of Irurx's creations and has been leading Tissl straight to the [Alchemist].
* All hell breaks loose as [[Shifthold]] appears on Moodfut's shores with everyone fleeing.
* Seborn attracts the attention of a strange [[Antinium]] with his prayer which delays Irurx enough for the [[Pride of the Wellfar]] to arrive starting a fight between the two giant warships.
* Gilam captures the three Non-[[Humans]] but Irrel scares them away by revealing his connection to the [[Bloodtear Pirates]] and his skill with the sword.
* With Shifthold close to winning the battle, Irrel and Seborn duel against Irurx managing to make the [Alchemist] surrender.
* They all part ways with Seborn and the two new Halfseekers steering Gilam's pleasure ship towards their next destination.

== Synopsis ==
[Storm Sailors] brag to one another of the trials they face out at sea with [[Irurx]], in the guise of a distinguished [[Half-Elf]] Noble, listening in on their boasting asking the [Innkeeper] of tales about himself, the conversation shift to the [[Horns of Hammerad]] adventures after the [[Village of the Dead]] to the high bounties of individuals. Returning back to the Horns, they begin talking about [[Ceria Springwalker|Ceria's]] strange interaction with Irurx during her time at [[Savere]] and how the crazy [Alchemist] survived being burned alive. Irurx drops a number of times that he knows more than he lets on about the story than the others there which angers one of the [Storm Sailors], he begins to share his perspective of his meeting with the Ice Squirrel expressing that he believed that she would either flinch or rejoice in his work, but she was rather indifferent to it all. Everyone in the inn now know who they're speaking to wondering how he made it past the detection of the ''[[Pride of the Wellfar]]'' who's blocking the port, Irurx leaves paying respects to [Innkeeper] [[Marvin]] about informing him of where his target went and tells everyone that he's enamored by Ceria and that she was never married to [[Perric Reoustinal|Perric]]. Everyone starts to shout and panic that Irurx is in the city but it's not much help as Marvin goes outside to see that the city is in total chaos, all the ships are burning, and the ''Pride of Wellfar'' engulfed under a tangle of web. Standing on his vessel, Irurx laments that there's no one to share the triumphs of war at sea with understanding that he is changing as a person, yet there was still a Half-Elf to hunt.

[[Seborn Sailwinds|Seborn]] prays in the morning complaining about the horrible sleep he had on their boat with [[Tissl Venleather|Tissl's]] position not much better beside him, he mumbles about the treasure found planning to take the young girl to [[The Wandering Inn]] so that she can learn and level and then maybe if she's able to keep the gear for a year that she'll might become a Named-Rank [[Adventurers|Adventurer]]. Seborn explains to Tissl that she needs to show her face at the hamlet to not seem suspicious and return the boat, hide the chest of holding somewhere, and then meet up so they can find a carriage out of there. Seborn bluntly tells her that they are in more danger than she realizes especially worried about that [Lord] [[Gilam Quellae|Gilam]] as he's as good as a Gold-Ranker with his sword, he [Message] [[Invrisil|Invrisil's]] Adventurer's Guild about hiring a [Driver] making their way back to the Moodfut.

Seborn speaks with [[Enlock]] about digging throughout the whole night with Tissl overacting her part of disappointment, walking away from the [Fisher] Seborn ponders on him being the sole active [[Halfseekers|Halfseeker]] left when he encounters someone strange. The hunched figure with webbed feet meets with the [Fishmonger] to gather more eels, he continues to observe the strange person with his instincts telling him that the being was dangerous. Meeting up with Tissl the two dig out the chest of holding to move it to a better spot while they wait for two hours for their [Driver] to arrive, Seborn talks about the death of his team and that you can only really trust your teammates after they saved your life. The [Driver] reaches the hamlet with them putting the chest inside the carriage, but before they can leave Seborn believes that there's someone that needs his help back in Moodfut running off saying goodbye to Tissl. Approaching the hamlet he sees a couple of [Sailors] fighting the hunched figure, they remove in the tussle the being's robe revealing it to be a [[Dorhmin]].

The [Sailors] were brawling with the Dorhmin as Seborn steps in between them proclaim to protect the child bearing the name of a Halfseeker of [[Izril]]. As the Dorhmin was grabbing their basket full of eels, an explosion shot at them by Gilam nearly hits them until Seborn was able to grab the Dorhmin away, Seborn takes down a number of [Storm Sailors] yet there was more of them to fight as the conflict inches closer to the waters. Tissl felt that something was off once Seborn had run off back into the Moodfut even so accepts to stay inside the carriage for now, but as the ride continues it becomes more and more clear that there's something really wrong with the [Driver] until he reveals that he's been infected with something and has been leading her to Irurx the whole time.

The fighting had reached the waters as both sides tried to drown the other, they wrestle  in the damp sands until the Sailors realize that their opponents don't require to breath underwater and begin to stagger back onto the beach. With the fighting done Seborn shouts out that he has legal protections to do what he wants with the Dorhmin making Gilam retreat back in vexation, the villagers yammer at the two with Seborn telling them to back off as they will eventually leave the place. The Dorhmin shares his name of [[Irrel]] to the [[Drowned People|Drowned Man]] with Seborn telling the Dorhmin what needs to be done to bring him to a safe are, Irrel retorts back that its his choice where he'll go reciting the well known final verse of the [[Bloodtear Pirates]]. Not killing the boy, Seborn listens in to what Irrel has to say about his views about the [[Night of Bloodtear]] only wanting to have his [[Rosech|father]] alive, feeling sympathetic to the boy's plight Seborn decides to bring Irrel to The Wandering Inn like he has done with someone else but before that can happen Tissl arrives in a bloodied carriage explaining that the dead, infected [Driver] said ''he'' is coming.

Slinging the [Message] scroll out Seborn informs the Adventurer's Guild that their [Driver] has died from one of Irurx's creations and that they need another one sent immediately, learning that he is still in Moodfut Guildmaster [[Tealve]] sadly informs him that the [Alchemist] is right on top of them. ''[[Shifthold]]'' appears from the waters as Gilam and his [Sailors] jump off their ship, as Seborn tells everyone to flee a coach carrying [[Gorthes Reinhart|Gorthes]] arrives but promptly withdraws from the scene after learning of who's coming. With Tissl being the target Seborn tries to get her away from the shores, but Gilam grabs her arm in an attempt to save himself by giving her to the [Alchemist], Irurx stands on the deck of his ship interested in the sight before him booming his voice out for all to hear demanding the girl. He orders his crew to kill everyone after getting the Half-Elf except for the Drowned Man and the Dorhmin interested in Seborn's connection to [[Ceria Springwalker|Ceria]].

Seborn and Irrel were slashing away as they shove Tissl down the beach but with nowhere to run he grabs the girl [Shadowleaping] onto Gilam's ship, Irurx speaks to Seborn to hand over the girl or die respecting either decision. Tissl blurts out the opinion she shares with her [[Disabella|mother]] about the decrepit Half-Elf willing to board his ship, Seborn stops her saying that it's bad adventuring to give into their demands putting his [[Faith]] on the matter praying for those impossible odds. The [[Antinium]] Worker bearing a thousand eyes steps onto the deck of ''Shifthold'', everyone is in stunned silence from the appearance of the Anginium with Irurx trying to parlay with the being he hold great admiration from. Hearing the pleading words of Seborn does the Anginium begin to fight against Irurx and his crew dive bombing onto the ship, the three jump off of Gilam's ship into the waters as the Antinium from Heaven explodes delay Irurx enough for the ''Pride of Wellfar'' to arrive in the nick of time.

The three runs heading towards the chest of holding away from battle between the two giant warships but are suddenly captured by Gilam and his lot, as time is slowly ticking Irrel brings out a flag telling warning them thrice to not touch the Half-Elf rhyming out a Bloodtear rhyme. The sailors draws back as they recognize what on the flag with Irrel declaring that everything in front of him will die, one of the Sailor lashes out using a [[Skills|skill]] with Irrel deflecting the attack using the Blade of Humanity that [[Iradoren]] once wielded. Irrel counters to devastating effect whenever someone attacks him which make Gilam flee in fear, weighed by the terrible burden Irrel plants the sword into the sand and sits down apologizing to one of the villagers he'd cut down. As Seborn tries to figure out how they show move forward Tissl asks what level Irurx should be as the [Alchemist] and ''Shifthold'' is winning the fight against the ''Pride of Wellfar.''

Irurx holds back his worst creations as his current lot of insects are getting bathed by the magical fires that once destroyed the Assassin's Guild, the [Alchemist] laughs as his ploy is ready for the taking as this was never about Half-Elf girl other than a means to an end where he takes the ''Pride of Wellfar'' for himself. He tosses one of his creations as it grows to titanic lengths with [[Etril Wellfar|Etril]] and the other [Blademasters] joining him to face off against the monster but that too was a trap as the cold Irurx has sent freezes his insects in place. As the two giant warships battle, the pleasure ship of Gilam make its way towards Shifthold, Irrel announces himself to Irurx who then challenges the [Alchemist] with his crew to a duel on whatever honor the mad Half-Elf has and charges forward. Seborn joins the duel prevent Irrel from getting slashed losing his mail armor in the process, their blades clash until Tissl rams the pleasure ship into Shifthold causing the fighting to shift into a match of strength between two versus Irurx. With one of Seborn's skill the two are able to push the [Alchemist] out of Shifthold onto sea with Irrel diving over chasing down the Half-Elf, seeing the tides change against him Irurx yields putting an end to the conflict.

Irurx says his goodbyes to Irrel as he leaves back into the seas with Etril standing aside for now unsure what will be standing if they threw everything they had, Etril's first-mate speaks on executing the Dorhmin for being a Bloodtear Pirate, but Etril decides that there are other things to focus on watching the small vessel depart. Feeling exuberant Etril orders the [Ship's Mage] to log down what happened with no missing detail for the proper ship's tale to spread to all ports that hears Wellfar's words. Etril stands there festering in all of the emotions of inferiority and grief when [Lord] Gilam appears before him incandescent with rage with his ship stolen requesting aid in getting it back, willing to help his fellow noble out Etril as a matter of formality asks Gilam if he registered his ship with the Captain's Guild.

Seborn steers his newly ill-gotten ship with his two crew members Irrel and Tissl on deck with no provisions and an angry [Lord] who'll place a bounty on them, Seborn asks Tissl if the ghost had any other wishes that needed to be fulfilled with her sharing that the crossbow she has bears the name [[Mershi]] and that it's a key of some sort. Cursing on Erin's name Seborn puts things in order for the three of them discussing needing a name for the ship and what they'll need, Seborn closes his eyes remembering his old team and while looking at the two children under his care the [[Twin Moons|Green Moon]] cracks all of a sudden. Knowing that it's somehow related to the inn Seborn swings his ship around towards the moon calling on the Halfseekers to move forward.

== Characters ==
( * = First Appearance)
* [[Az’kerash]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Belavierr Donamia]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Ceria Springwalker]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Chaoisa]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Disabella]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Erin Solstice]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Etril Wellfar]]
* [[Etroc d'Anametis]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Facestealer]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Ghoulstrad]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Gilam Quellae]]
* [[Gorthes Reinhart]]*
* [[Gothica]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Grand Queen]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Hexel Quithail]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Iradoren]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Irrel]]
* [[Irurx]]
* [[Jelaqua Ivirith]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Ksmvr]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Lehra Ruinstrider]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Lyonette du Marquin]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Marvin]]* ''(Name Revealed)''
* [[Maughin Dulamet]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Maxy]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Moore of Raithland]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Mrsha du Marquin]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Pawn (Bishop)]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Pawn]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Pellmia Quellae]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Perric Reoustinal]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Pisces Jealnet]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Revine Zecrew]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Ridmec]]* ''{{Color|grey|(Deceased)}}''
* [[Rosech]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Saliss Oliwing]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Seborn Sailwinds]]
* [[Selys Shivertail]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Seve-Alrelious]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Shally]]* ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Tealve]] ''(Message Scroll)''
* [[Termin]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Tissl Venleather]]
* [[Uew]] ''(Named Revealed)''
* [[Wil Kallinad]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Xrniavxxel]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Yvlon Byres]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Zelkyr Amerwing]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Zevara Sunderscale]] ''(Mentioned)''
* ? - [Barmaid]
* ? - [Lady] of Wellfar
* ? - [Storm Sailor]
* ? - Anginium
* ? - Etril's First-mate
* ? - Pride of Wellfar [Ship's Mage]

== Groups/Organizations ==

* [[Bloodtear Pirates]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Horns of Hammerad]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Orchestra]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Players of Celum]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Halfseekers]]
* [[Terras|Terras Faction]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Silver Swords]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Wellfar Family]]
* [[Iron Vanguard]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Reinhart Family]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Players of Celum]] ''(Mentioned)''

== Locations ==

* [[Izril]]
** Treant's Farewell
** Moodfut

== Items ==
* Blade of Humanity
* Crossbow of Mershi

== Vehicles ==

* ''[[Shifthold]]''
* ''[[Pride of the Wellfar]]''
* ''Velistrane''
* ''Sword of Gilam''

== Statistics ==

=== Statistics Revealed ===

==== [[Ridmec]] ====

* '''Skills:'''
** [Enigmatic Compartments]

==== [[Seborn Sailwinds]] ====

* '''Skills:'''
** [Evasive Leap]
** [The Half-Giant’s Push]

=== Statistics Obtained ===

==== [[Marvin]] ====

* '''Class/Levels:'''
** '''Class Change:''' [Portside Innkeeper] → [Witness Innkeeper]
** [Witness Innkeeper] lv. 31
* '''Skills:'''
** [Sense: Those of Stories]
** [Staff: We Escaped the Dread, We Fled That Day]
** [Recipe: Parasytebane Brew]
** [Inn: Bug Free]

==== [[Tissl Venleather]] ====

* '''Class/Levels:'''
** '''Class Change:''' [Ghosttouched Runaway] → [Brave Helmswoman]
** [Brave Helmswoman] Lv. 11
* '''Skills:'''
** [Basic Proficiency: Seafaring]
** [Steady Feet]
** [Ship: Turn Faster]
** [Ship: Ramming Hull]
** [Basic Proficiency: Swords]
** [Swashbuckling Combat]
** [Elven Mana Well]
** [Spell Efficiency: Stellar Magic]
* <span style="color:#ff9900;">'''Titles:'''</span>
** <span style="color:#ff9900;">[The Girl Who Escaped ''Shifthold'']</span>
*** <span style="color:#ff9900;">'''Title Skill:''' [Bugward]</span>

==== [[Seborn Sailwinds]] ====

* '''Class/Levels:'''
** '''Class Change:''' [Depth Rouge] → [Depth Captain of Misfits]
** [Depth Captain of Misfits] Lv. 38 (+0)
** [Faith Seeker] Lv. 12 (+4)
* '''Skills:'''
** [Depth Dive]
** [Crew: Dodge Deathblow (Weekly)]
** [Prayer: Courage Beyond Measure]
** [Prayer: Dreadful Omen]
* <span style="color:#ff9900;">'''Reputation:'''</span>
** <span style="color:#ff9900;">[Ship: Friend of the Liminal Folk]</span>

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