Editing Interlude – The Gecko of Illusions

{{Infobox_episode|title = Interlude – The Gecko of Illusions|published = June 7, 2020|previousChapter = [[Chapter 7.27]]|wordcount = 24,225|nextChapter = [[Chapter 7.28]]|link=[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/06/07/interlude-the-gecko-of-illusions/ Interlude - The Gecko of Illusions]|image=Relcs day off by MG.jpg|imagecaption=Relc by [[Fanworks/mg|mg]]}}'''Interlude – The Gecko of Illusions''' is the 41st chapter of [[Volume 7]] and the 13th chapter of {{Book17}}, '''Lady of Fire'''.

== tl;dr ==

*Wistram is in a deeply political debate over the [[Ailendamus|Aliendamus]] blockade in [[Terandria]]. [[Viltach]] is sided with [[Itorin Zessoprical II|Itorian II]], [[Feor]] and [[Nailihuaile|Naili]] are not. In the end Viltach and Naili side together for written censure, over Feor's taking sides.
*One Elusive Lot sees all this as bad for business, they make it out of [[Wistram Academy|Wistram]], to the blockade, without notice.
*They pose as ''Itorians Pride'' and [[Yerzhen (The General)|General Yerzhen]] respectively, convincing [[Dakelos|Admiral Dakelos]] to sail into [[Nadel]].
*[[Belchaus Meron|Lord Belchaus]] attacks for real, and Dakelos realizes to late he's been had, the Elusive Lot laugh and talk as they watch the battle finish before heading back to Wistram.
*On the way they have a serious discussion about the Golden Triangle. The vote is cast; secret and off the books, underworld favors called in. All top donors & officials disappear, '''AND,''' the secret of the scam is leaked to [[Pallass]].
*[[Relc Grasstongue|Relc]] wakes up before dawn, snacks then practices the spear before sitting in the dark solving Blacksmith Puzzles. Realizing no one is coming to see him, he heads out to his second job - pitching the Golden Triangle.
*[[Palt Fenrisol|Palt]] shares a joint with [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyon]] and [[Pawn]] as he talks with his [[Gaxiela|Master]]. After the call seeing Pawn cant really smoke, he offers them some edibles in the form of toffee.
*He leaves to go to Pallass but gets stopped by [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] about Dreamleaf.
*Relc buys some new puzzles after a successful sales pitch, then heads to the [[The Wandering Inn|Inn]].
*Palt tracks down the first member in Pallass to a [[Dullahans|Dullahan]].
*[[Bearclaw]] is getting angry, and wants to start the plan early, after [[Mister Soot|Soot]] receives a message she adds Relc to her list.
*Relc gets to the Inn excited to see Erin, as he starts to make his pitch he realizes Erin knows, and has that look...
*Relc find himself in a familiar spot when Erin and Ryoka explain the scam. He heads out the door vowing to make things right.
*Palt stays with [[Chaldion Oliwing|Chaldion]] after [[Grimalkin Duveig|Grimalkin]] goes to address the Assembly of Crafts. Before the meeting is over a message comes in that the contributors of Pallass are dead or missing.
*Relc walks right into and ambush, as the Gangs reach [[Mrsha du Marquin|Mrsha]] a [[Wilovan|Thug]] in a Hat speaks, and a [[Ratici|Thief]] disarms the gang at the Inn.
*Relc impales Bearclaw and sticks her to a wall, but takes a savage beating from behind trying to finish her. When [[Zevara Sunderscale|Zevara]] arrives 9 are dead, Relc is alive, but heavily wounded, and Bearclaw got away.
*Bearclaw arrives back to an ambush of her own, [[Nokha]] welcomes and gives Bearclaw to a pack-sister, save for her skin and head that she claims as her own. When the watch arrives only Soot's corpse remains.
*Now healed Relc is laying alone in his dark apartment, expecting only silence and solitude, Ryoka knocks and comes in to check on him. Three hours later they leave for the Inn Relc smiling again with a handful of puzzles.

==Synopsis==
The Elusive Lot trick a fleet of Ailendamus' ships into invading Nadel's ports, breaking Ailendamus' naval blockade. The Golden Triangle is revealed to Liscor and Pallass as a scam. Bearclaw nearly kills Relc in an ambush, sends her gang to kidnap Mrsha and Erin, and steal the door. Bearclaw escapes but is killed by Nokha and some Raskghar.{{TBA}}

==Characters==
( * = ''First Appearance'')
*[[Viltach]]
*[[Nailihuaile|Nailihuaile / Naili]]
*[[Feor]]
*Elusive Lot
**Yerzhen *
**[[Gaxiela|Taxiela / Galei]] *
** ? - Selphid *
*[[Dakelos]] *
*[[Itorin Zessoprical II|Itorin II]] (''Mentioned'')
*[[Belchaus Meron]]
*[[Relc Grasstongue]]
*[[Palt]]
*[[Lyonette du Marquin]]
*[[Pawn]]
*[[Erin Solstice]]
*[[Ryoka Griffin]]
*[[Mrsha]]
* ? - Human [Trader]
* ? - Gnoll [Sigilist] (''Deceased'')
*[[Bearclaw]] (''Deceased'')
*Soot (''Deceased'')
*Liscorian gangs (''Over 9 Deceased'') *
**Breint (''Deceased'')
** ? - Criminal [Crossbowman] (''Deceased'')
*[[Numbtongue]]
*[[Bird]]
*[[Menolit]]
*[[Ishkr]]
*[[Drassi Tewing]]
*[[Chaldion Oliwing]]
*[[Grimalkin]]
*[[Demerra]]
*Pallass’ Watch Captains
**[[Venim]]
*Pallass’ [Senators]
*[[Saliss Oliwing]]
*[[Ekirra Silverfang]]
*[[Visma]]
*[[Wilovan]]
*[[Ratici]]
*[[Zevara Sunderscale]]
*[[Yellow Splatters]]
*[[Beilmark]]
*[[Embria Grasstongue]]
*[[Jeiss Sielmark]]
* ? - Liscorian Female [Healer]
*[[Raskghar]]
**[[Nokha]]
** ? - Female Raskghar

==Locations==
*[[Wistram]]
*Ocean
*[[Terandria]]
**Nadel
*[[Izril]]
**[[Liscor]]
***Relc’s apartment
***[[The Wandering Inn]]
****Garden of Sanctuary
***One of Soot's safe houses
***Public Park
***[[Liscor's City Watch|Watch Barracks]]
**[[Pallass]]
***Demerra’s clinic

==Ships==
*<em>Itorin’s Pride</em> (False Ship)
*<em>The Foehammer</em>
*<em>The Wrath of Sel</em>

==Items==
*Anti-Magic Spear
*Wire Puzzle
*Cube of Galei - By the Ullsinoi of Wistram
*Dreamleaf Cigar
*Chewable Dreamleaf
*Wire Puzzle, Infinitely Complex - By the Ullsinoi of Wistram
*[Message] scroll
*[[Magical Door]]
*[[Crossbow]]
[[Category:Chapters]]
[[Category:Interludes]]
[[Category:Volume 7]]
[[Category:Book 17]]