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Hey, so does anyone remember the eight people Erin Solstice contacted with her [World's Eye Theatre]? The men she knows and the women no less famous whom she chucked at them the verbal equivalent of marching into a prison mess hall and punching out the guards before leaving? T-those guys?
Well, forget about them, because now, everyone who can level (sorry Sariant Lambs, sorry Jungleclad) were suddenly woken up and can now-
Er, wait, let's back up.
Hey, so does anyone remember the ghost of Archmage Kishkeria and other notable ancient Gnoll spirits declaring this new era in the world The Journey of the Living and then raised a new chunk of Izril out of the ocean, putting a crack in the continent during the process?
And then the [Innkeepers] suddenly gained the ability to post so-called [Quests]?
"Huh? What? [Quests]? What's that?"
A question many may ask in light of such groundshaking events. [Quests] are tasks that a given individual, which used to be exclusively [Innkeepers] and perhaps some related professionals, that are completed to receive a reward, such as money, food, weapons, and Skills. The first three will pop out of thin air upon completion.
You have three guesses as to who is most (in)famous posters of such items and the first two do not count.
Now, that's great and all, but what came next is... [Titles].
"Huh? What? [Titles]? What's that?"
Now sure, chess got rebalanced so [Tacticians] and [Strategists] can't get free levels from playing the game anymore and [Quests] can now be posted by royal classes and [Guildmasters], but that doesn't matter!
These newfangled [Entitleds] or whatever are colored like a Yellat, or orange if one is somehow out of the loop, are some convoluted, grand way of declaring who did what, like a [Knight] saving a village that teaches death magic from mass starvation, and Title Skills seem to derive from that - said [Knight] can summon a skeleton despite having no aptitude in deathnmagic prior to this.
Pretty big stuff.
Can any reader guess where the [Knight] came from-
It's Erin, and that's her [Knight] out there who attained the world's first [Title]. It's always Erin Solstice somehow!
It's right now that that the world is now waking up to something big in the night and everyone in Erin's orbit is yelling at her for it. Erin herself is taken aback at how the world changed for her, like it never did in the past. The dead litter her [Garden] as statues, as reminders as what was and what could have been, monuments to glories and tragedies.
The world had just opened the floodgates with the introduction of Synergy Skills for no discernable reason she could see. Just in case anyone has doubts that this is the Journey of the Living.
"Huh? What? Synergy Skil-?"
Okay, it was cute the first two times, but not the third. I'm taking the allotted word space available to make a fourth-wall break to guess that Synergy Skills occur when an individual has two or more classes. Okay, so, a person may be a [Bricklayer] and an [Architect]. So when that person levels as the former, they may attain the Synergy Skill [Architect - Thinning Down the Configurations].
Termin the Omnipresent, a famous [Driver], has an apprentice who is making great contributions as an [Alchemist] and is brainstorming ideas with... Erin as to how that boy was going to continue their career as both simultaneously. Termin and his ponies will then witness Erin speaking to no one perceivable. And then he, and everyone else, woke up to an announcement that Synergy Skills are happening. Now.
And those eight Erin Solstice made contact with with her theatre are going to shit themselves with way too many thoughts spilling out of their noggins.
---
King Fehotep of Eternal Khelt, the paradise of Chandrar maintained and ruled by undead, is vexed. Taken aback. Perhaps even worried. And it's not even Mrsha's fault this time. Scroll in hand, the [Undead King] receives his reports from spies placed around The Wandering Inn.
"Ah, the queen reveals her true face once again. Chess, politics, she is a monster amongst all. Aggravating, aggravating woman."
He reclines in his throne an decides to pose. Fehotep gives up and places his left hand over his face. H-he's facepalming. Pewerthe isn't bothering restraining her smile st the sight.
"The Death of Magic had better not come with cashews again when she comes around."
Pewerthe's smile left faster than a Ryoka faced with emotional connections.
---
Earl Altestiel, [Knight Marshal of the Rains], is practically hopping in his seat. Gathered with him is the rest of the Porcelain Five, named so after none-of-your-dang-business.
"Synergy Skills? What in the world are these? What could these Skills be synergizing with in the first place? What does it show like the [Quests] I've received? We all need to find out where-"
"Erin. It's all Erin. Take off my helmet if you don't think so."
Seraphel pauses when Rabbiteater cuts in. After having a strange duel with Cortese, he woke up to the announcement and received this:
[Knight of the Dawn Lv. 22!]
[Synergy Skill: Champion - Valiant Knuckles obtained!]
And he knew, in this moment, Erin had something to do with it. Earl Altestiel looked over to Rabbiteater with a knowing look. Seraphel, Cortese, and Menrise shared a look. He's yearning for that [Innkeeper] again. Menrise opens her mouth.
"You look like you want Erin Solstice to do more than take you to bed-"
---
Ilvriss Gemscale, Wall Lord of Salazar, the Walled City of Gems, is consternated, and all too ready to interrogate Erin over this. He's apparently also the only one of the eight physically present within the inn, somehow. He and his group are still readying themselves in for an excursion to the north of Izril to do... something. Digging, mostly. The mostly Human north is still hostile to the Drake presence.
"Erin, you can't keep doing this to the world."
"Buddy, you can't hold me responsible for this."
Erin, a somewhat nervous [Innkeeper]-[Witch], starts to back up but remembers herself. She straightens her back.
"This is Ryoka's fault! Or Mrsha's! Yeah, yeah, remember that Wand of the Mrsha scroll that fell on her head?"
She looks around desperately and an outraged Mrsha headbutted her stomach.
Ilvriss's eyes mist up. Probably because of the laughter that is threatening to erupt from his throat. But also because of the memories of this place.
Nerul exchanges a look with his compatriots, Xesci and Osthia. They all sigh.
"It's moments like this that make me wish for a [Strategist] class that can assist my wayward nephew. Wait. Synergy Skills, my current class and [Strategists]... What could that look like?"
"You still know that he still has less than one in a thousand chance with her, right?"
Osthia, now inured to the inn, just starts throwing hands at Xesci.
---
Niers Astoragon, Fraerling [Grandmaster Strategist] and second-in-command of the Forgotten Wing company, just sighs. Again. Foliana tosses popcorn at him and Niers tumbles out of the way with a curse.
He too is thinking of Erin Solstice, and at this point, it must be understood she is probably one of the most eligible bachelorettes across a multi-continental span. Why is this germane?
Niers wishes to be be at the inn, with that shining [Innkeeper] alive and well. But he, with all of the overconfidence and misfortune, arranged a trip to Liscor that was riddled with betrayal, maiming, hurting a child, marching an army with all of the surprises in the world, and then got sent back to Baleros via a [Witch]. He still swore a blue streak out loud whenever he thought of the one-eyed Pallasian bastard that sent her.
Mind you, he and the portion of the company was facing down a Green monster from the Dyed Lands. Perorn said it best. He performs his best work whenever he is genuinely unhappy. Niers Astoragon marches forward with the knowledge of what could have been.
... He hasn't figured out that marrying Erin would mean custody over Bird.
---
The Quarass of Germina was almost displeased over a disrupted sleep that doesn't come with a level. Almost. Then she knows she must figure how [Quarass] is going to synergize with [Innkeeper].
A funny story about her picking up that class. The Quarass, upon hearing of [Quests], started going into the industry to inquire into its depths. Then she would later receive that update that included royal classes and [Guildkeepers]. She wasn't mad about it. No, really. She was glad to be ahead of the curve in such things.
Synergy Skills are concerning. It could be mean the extinction of the solo class and other such specialists. She narrows her eyes at the concoction in front of her and is still within the throes of a brainstorm when her guard tried to give a snack to her. She does not appreciate it.
---
Cognita Truestone does not care. Or, she does appreciates that Synergy Skills affect levelling individuals. So who is outside of that group? It's Cognita. Even a letter from Archmage Chandler, sent to her with a panicked energy, does not move her much. She is a Truestone Golem, not given a class and levels. Yet.
---
Rasea Zecrew, pirate captain of the Illuminary, is wondering to herself about two paths in front of her.
She could face down all of Terandria alongside the Bloodtear Pirates and Shifthold.
Or, she could propel her ship into Izril and head to Liscor. Whenever she closes her eyes, she still remembers the [Innkeeper's] proclamation.
“I met Gnomes in the land of the dead. I met the last Elf. They made war against the six dead gods. They left me with clues and secrets.”
One is specific and is another great adventure.
The other reeks of one last adventure and feels apocalyptic.
One must understand that this is a very hard choice to make for her. She is quite insane, and the Siren of Savere would attest to the difficulty that lies with reining her in.
---
Silvenia, the Death of Magic, the traitor [Archmage], war leader of the Demons, enemy to the Blighted Kingdom, is throwing a tantrum.
"No, you can't conscript her into the service."
Czautha was a little put out she has to say this to her compatriot. Silvenia pokes her head up to retort.
"But she would a great Deathless. She would be the Death of Wonder alongside me and we would cuddle and then [Greater Tele-!]"
Flora actually had to tackle her before the spell's completion.
---
And it ends up winding back to a concerned woman by the name of Erin Solstice and a very curious Grand Design of Isthekenous, no one knowing what class will emerge at Level 50.