u/Ok-Astronaut-5743

Not gonna lie, Deilan El's little part in this chapter REALLY made he like this guy, his response when he finds an earther?

>A nice young man, much taken with El creations. Deilan had even gifted him a crossbow and Kaalblade. The [Lord of Splendid Creations] hadn’t insisted Christopher stay with the House of El. He’d been mildly shocked when, later, one of the Wellfar Admiralty had shouted at him about the matter.

>“He didn’t want to stay. What should I have done, kidnapped him?

>That…was who Deilan El was. It had confused the [Lady] into silence, because it was an answer she hadn’t expected. In that sense, Deilan El supposed he might have thrown potential profits away. Just like Maviola El, Fulviolo, and his predecessors.

>Well and so, he’d answer to her face if they ever met again.

... If that wouldn't make Maviola Proud of you, what you did when that Taima bastard hit your servant absolutely would

>So saying, the [Prince] picked up the left-handed Kaalblade from Zelonica’s hand, then, with the same motion, backhanded her across the face. She fell down with a cry, and Deilan blinked down at her. The [Prince of Taima] rubbed his hand ostentatiously.

>“Commoners. Addressing me as an equal. I have had no less than ten incidents in First Landing. Doubtless, this is just because she is a half-Elf, and her kind is known to speak out of turn, Lord El. I do not hold it against you. Now, where are these targets?”

>He turned as his [Knights of Taima] shifted. Because they had seen how well this encounter ran the last ten times it had occurred in First Landing. All with non-nobles, which had meant the [Prince] tended to get away with it like everywhere else.

Followed by him calmly walking with him and setting him up for this

>The [Prince] stared ahead obligingly, then turned his head to ask what he was gazing at, because he just thought it was a side of the metal contraption. That was when he realized Lord Deilan had gotten on a workbench. Then the [Lord] kicked the [Prince]’s head into the side of the metal rune-printer.

>He wasn’t good at fighting, and Maviola had always said that if he was going to start a fight like that, he’d better have the advantage of surprise, height, something hard and painful, or ideally all three. He leapt down as the [Knights] began to shout, then the crack-hiss of a dozen Kaalblades igniting made them go silent.

>Lord Deilan landed on the [Prince], who made a hublagh sound. Then he just improvised. And he thought—well, he was no Maviola El. But it was amazing how many moves you could think of when you were mad. Here he’d thought he was so even-tempered. But even the [Lord] of House El could produce a flying drop kick when needed.

Deilan El, you sir have inherited Maviola fire, you may not burn as bright, but you burn just as hot.

It also says something about how they saw him, and just how lucky that prince was. Imagine if the prince had tried this in Terland lands given how Ulva reacts to hearing this knews? Imagine him pulling this on a Veltras... Imagine him trying this on Reinhart lands. Reinharts may treat their own servants like crap, but i dont doubt for a second that even the worst of Reinharts has a "i can break my own shit but that doesnt mean you cant". Gods in heaven above, imagine if he'd tried pulling this in Magnolia's lands, or hell below on her servants. They'd never find enough of him to bury.

They all got it pretty awesome at the start, but this just hit home for me;

>And last, but certainly not least, the man who was currently invisible, no doubt. Another prodigy of Wistram, but also a master of dueling. At least a Silver-belled duelist—but a [Necromancer]. More presciently, a man who had damned over a hundred [Slavers] with his bare hands, and who had led a slaughter across the eastern regions of Nerrhavia’s Fallen and Chandrar. The highest-levelled [Necromancer] serving as an adventurer. The Scourge of Roshal, Pisces the Bane.

The Scourge of Roshal. Pisces the Bane.

I mean dead gods, hell's holy bells and stars shitting stones, and I thought the "silver killer of Izril" was hard core.

Brings to mind this scene in 10.50Y...

>No helping it. Pisces threw his bag of holding’s contents over the balcony. Then leapt after it, casting [Featherfall].

>—He landed behind a group of [Soldiers] as they flinched. Strange objects were landing around them. What—one caught a fragment of bone falling and then saw the [Necromancer] dropping.

>“The Scourge.”

>One of them threw away their blade and held up their hands at once. The others drew back, as if he were more terrifying than Yvlon. What kind of stories were they telling about…?

I truly love that Pisces is clearly becoming the moral core of the Horns of Hammerad, more than that he is a Hero on his way to becoming a [Hero]. He learned the lessons of the Innkeeper well.

Be nice. Be kind. Be better than they think you are. Be quirky and odd. Be a Defender of the weak, a Guardian of those in need, a Protector of the small. Be the scariest thing in whatever room your standing in without even realizing it.

Pisces Jealnet, the Good Necromancer of Izril.

With the dead behind him, the fire of the innkeeper burning in his heart and his friends at his side the Bane is coming for you Roshal. Hearts will break, minds will shatter and hope will burn as your dreams to nightmares turn. He's make Colthei of the Demonic Smile and the Death of Chains seem like a pleasant dream.

>“All but one I wished. The boy is…”

>She frowned, as if brushing cobwebs from her face, but found not the one she wanted. Nor did she take Ama; that one was too weak and sworn against her.

>Pisces, for better or worse, was in a place less visible to Kasigna.

More evidence that Pisces is destined for greatness, Kasigna pulled the greatest necromancers and undead in the world to her, and the one she missed, the one she wanted was Pisces.

1. i think that screams potential

2. kinda sad we didnt get him flipping off Kasigna when she tried to turn him against Erin

3. what the hell ARE the crossroads of Izril if they make it Kasigna has a time getting him when she could get all the rest

4. just how special is a favorite necrolad?

Say what you will of the Centenium of Rhir and the Antinium, this hit home and gave the feels

>One of the Shaper Queens fell silent, ready to sacrifice her Hive. Mirrex just stood there. Considering it all. The Bard of the Antinium spoke.

>“We will consider your offer. However, you err, stranger.”

>“—How?”

>Cauwine grew frustrated as the trembling increased. She took a step backwards, clearly ready to flee. Mirrex answered with a smile in his mind as a song ran through the Antinium’s hearts.

>“Your words reveal you crossed blades with Klbkchhezeim. If he sees you as our enemy—so do we. The promise will be kept.”

Even after decades away from Rhir the faith Mirrex has in his fellow Centenium is heartwarming, he doesn't need to know why Klbkch fought that Dead Thing, all he needs to know is that Klb calls her enemy, and thus so does he.

One day I hope he meets Klb's friends, and Erin most of all, and offers that same sentiment to them.

That it doesn't matter why, if Klbkchhezeim, Centenium of the True Antinium called them friend and was prepared and willing to die for them that they would be willing to do the same

I don't know if it will happen, but I can see it happening.

Honestly for me, its in chapter 9.67 and the honor goes to Niers Astoragon, the Titan of Baleros himself with his entirely chilling and lethally accurate description of the Wandering Inn when he realizes what Erin is doing to the countless Draugr that and running inside after her.

He can see her, he doesnt know what she's doing all he knows is thousands of Draugr are running into the inn, she's still alive and they're not leaving.

His line?

“That’s not an inn. That’s a vengeance dungeon.”

Eight words. One Horror.

What does everyone else think the coldest lines are?

Just a little tribute to an unsung hero.

From his chapter, how he views himself

>Archmage Verdan Blackwood was a coward. But he had served in the Iron Vanguard. He wore Dullahan armor, an honor accorded to so few. - 9.70

Ah the lies people will tell themselves.

When Erin Solstice was attacked by Roshal, by Erribaithe, by all the forces that opposed her, the Iron Vanguard remembered its debts and sent out the call to its ships and its members to find and protect her.

Verdan Blackwood answered that call, because the Archmage of Dullahans, the Archmage of Armor, a human raised by the Dullahans remembered his home. The Call was never meant for him, he was old, and retired and he had earned his peace.

His words as he came to Erin's aid at the behest of the Iron Vanguard

>“I am Archmage Verdan Blackwood. The Iron Vanguard honors your deeds, Erin Solstice!”

Archmage Verdan Blackwood gave his life for woman he did not know, for woman he had never met, because the Iron Vanguard had honored her deeds.

>Archmage Verdan Blackwood was a defensive expert. His power had protected the deck of the ship, stopped Griffindance’s assault as Dakelos bore them out of range.

>He had come to rescue Erin Solstice, not realizing that she was right where she wanted to be. The Archmage could have fled. When he beheld doom falling, he still could have escaped.

>He was no hero. No Amerys. But the canny old man had one weakness, or perhaps he clung to it, for all he tried to be a true Mage of Wistram with a heart that lived only for magic and eyes that could sacrifice everything for power.

>A master of magic saw a young student come to Wistram and leapt in front of her, trusting to his armor and sorcery. One uncalculated move in a lifetime of deliberation.

>Thus, the old man had done exactly what he’d set out to do.

>Save Erin Solstice.

>Make an impact.

>Othius, raving, and Nereshal, heart pounding and suddenly going still, looked up, and the [Chronomancer] closed his eyes a second. When he opened them…he still saw it.

>An [Innkeeper], gently holding an old man who had jumped between her and one of Pheislant’s attacks. Armor or not, magic or not—something had burned a hole straight through his chest. She was saying something to the old Archmage of Dullahans. Then she stood up and did not weep, not yet.

>But Dullahans wept.

The Iron Vanguard Called and the Archmage Verdan Blackwood answered.

The Human who was adopted and raised as a member of the Iron Vanguard fell following orders no one in the Iron Vanguard had expected him to follow,

>He didn’t know why the Archmage of Baleros was there at first. His mind…normally crystal clear, felt sluggish. He must have…heard Tulm giving the order to try and protect Erin. - Tulm the Mithril

However the part that makes it heart warming and Horrifying it this, upon realizing that he was dead the order went out to attack the Terandrian Fleet that had killed him, such was the rage of the Iron Vanguard that they turned away from hunting the Dragonlord of Flame who they really really really wanted dead. It truly cannot be understated how much they want Teriarch dead. But still all the Iron Vanguard turned away from hunting him to attack the people who killed their Archmage.

That's how much he was loved and appreciated by the Iron Vanguard, they would turn away from ancient vengeance to avenge him.

He was and Archmage of Wistram. He was a Human. He was adopted and raised by Dullahans. He. Was. Iron. Vanguard.

I have just been re-reading the Wandering Inn's earlier chapters for some select favorite passages and in vol 8.81 i came across Ceria saying this;

>“I would like my kin in the Claiven Earth to know that Antinium are people, Ierwyn. Some might be…obeying orders, but they are a people in service to their Queens. I would trust Ksmvr with my life—I have time and time again. He’s odd, but funny, loyal, and he would be an Elf-friend if I went home in good standing. I hope you’ll think on that.”

And i can't help but wonder how much of an impact this had on Pawn and the Antinium's reception to Claiven Earth in 10.58 FP

I mean, i definitely thing Remi Canada's documentary on Ksmvr probably played a big deal, but even with that Pawn brought a lot of Antinium with him, and Ceria was speaking to lerwyn who is one of the most senior half elves in the Claiven Earth. She would then go on to spend more time with them when she washed up on Chandrar earlier in Vol. 10