Ch. 4 Page 7

Ehlissa went with him. She went back home, packed quickly, ran back, caught up to Erac before he could leave, and went with him and his adventuring party back to Castle Greyhawk. Or at least she did in her mind.

Every time she reviewed her decision to stay, she was perplexed. Why couldn't she do it? What was holding her here? She was questioning herself until sleep finally came to her that night, and continued on into the next, rainy morning...

Ch. 4, Page 6

Ehlissa was fearful that she was too late and Erac was already gone. But she pushed that fear aside into a special place she had for fears and began to think about it rationally as she ran through the Foreign Quarter of the city. Robilar would not have told her about Erac leaving if it was too late to catch him. Robilar was also known to stick fairly close to the Foreign Quarter, except for the occasional dalliance into the Old City, but the Old City was the wrong way to reach Castle Greyhawk. So, even though there were many gates in the outer curtain wall of the city, the Cargo Gate was the one Erac was most likely to use.

Luck was with Ehlissa at the Cargo Gate -- a sentry there remembered a man matching Erac's description, having recently gone through as part of a party of four -- and had not even asked Ehlissa for a bribe for the information. They were close to the river here, but Ehlissa knew no one sensible tried to reach Castle Greyhawk by river, for it wound well away from the old ruins. In that case, Erac was likely on the road that led north, parallel to the city's outer wall. Now it was just a matter of catching him in time...

Ch. 4, Page 5

Ehlissa was in good spirits every day now, and nothing ever seemed to bring her down. She ignored all talk at the inn of adventures and killing monsters and winning treasures. She half-listened when some people talked about the dungeons being more dangerous than ever lately, with more monsters on the move and wandering about between the dungeon levels. It did not seem like it would ever matter to her, though.

Ch. 4, Page 4

In the days that followed, Ehlissa had many more opportunities to talk to Erac. She learned his favorite wines quickly enough; she learned that he liked to treat himself to Furyondy Emerald Pale when his coin purse was full, and scrimped on Keoish Golden when he had to be thrifty. He brought his own flask, which had been a gift from his father. His father had been a scribe, but had respected Erac’s decision to pursue a life of adventure. 

A friendship grew out of these early talks. Ehlissa found she looked more and more forward to each time Erac came to the inn. Sometimes he would have something new to show her, something he would want her to come see after work, or some idea for an outing the next day planned. 

Erac was a magic-user, like herself, and an adventurer like Tenser, and for these reasons she still guarded herself around him some, at first. Of his actual exploits, she knew little. Erac was not a braggart, and never talked about where he went for a few days at a time (though Ehlissa suspected it was Castle Greyhawk). He never seemed to return rich, but he never hurt for money either.

As the weeks went on, Ehlissa and Erac became almost inseparable whenever he was in the city. 

Ch. 4, Page 3

Ehlissa had met many charming men in the City of Greyhawk and figured, to a man, they had all been scoundrels and rogues. She generally identified them by thinking they needed something from her -- either information, better service, or other things they might request.

As this particular conversation continued -- and a charming storyteller this man was -- Ehlissa noticed that he wasn't asking anything of her, other than to listen. So she allowed herself to stop being protective of herself and just enjoy a good, long conversation.

Ch. 4, Page 2

The work was day after day of drudgery, and there was no magic in her life.

Oh, Ehlissa did memorize a spell or two on occasion. She told herself she might need them if a fight broke out in the tavern, but there were bouncers who dealt with that sort of thing.

The worst part was when other magic-users used the inn. Ehlissa always had the feeling, as irrational as it may be, that they were judging her. Ehlissa the failure. But she didn't care two gold orbs for them and what they might have thought of her.

Ch. 4, Page 1

Ehlissa had been cleaning puke off a table. It had been just over nine months since Tenser had last talked her into going adventuring to the castle. She had helped kill some hobgoblins, but nearly got her arm sliced off in the fight. Clerical magic had healed the injury, but it had hurt so bad…

Although Tenser would come back from Castle Greyhawk with stories of fabulous riches unearthed, the take always seemed leaner anytime Ehlissa went along. And she did need money. The Wizard’s Guild of Greyhawk was not an inexpensive institution, and Ehlissa had debts to pay. Tenser had helped her on occasion, when she was falling behind on payments, but she hated to be so beholden to him. She still liked him very much, but it had long since become clear that her affection for him was as invisible as if it was cloaked by magic.

Cleaning puke off of tables was far from ideal work for a young lady with her arcane knowledge and magical skill. She wanted to work as a governess for a rich family. Many hired governesses who knew how to watch for magical talent and foster it. No such opportunity had presented itself yet, so Ehlissa busied herself here, at the Inn of the Green Dragon. Robilar, that roguish friend of Tenser’s, had an interest in this place and had helped her land the job. He had seemed at first to expect something in return, and Ehlissa was surprised and relieved when he still helped her even when she said no. Yes, there were indeed worse things than cleaning puke off of tables.

The Green Dragon was becoming a popular gathering place for the rising class of adventurers in the city. It seemed everyone who could swing a sword or cast a spell was heading out into the surrounding wilderness and coming home with stories of new dungeons being discovered, or some new rooms previously un-looted under Castle Greyhawk. Even those who came back empty-handed seemed to have bragging rights. And did they ever brag.