User:Maxi25554/sandbox/drafts/The Wandering Inn

The Wandering Inn is a self-published fantasy web serial by Pirateaba. It has been actively written and published on their website for free since 2016. As of October 2022, approximately 10.4 million words have been published. This makes The Wandering Inn one of the longest works of fiction ever published, if not the longest.

Synopsis
The Wandering Inn follows Erin Solstice, Ryoka Griffin and a wide array of other characters as they strive to survive in the strange and dangerous Innworld. The titular inn, run by Erin, is the central location of the story; many characters and story threads eventually reach it.

Publication
The Wandering Inn is published as a web serial with approximately two chapters released every week. The first chapter was published on 27 July 2016, and publication continues to the present day. All chapters are available for free, with the exception of the latest released which is only available to Patreon supporters.

The story is presently divided between nine volumes.

World
The Wandering Inn takes place in a fictional fantasy world called Innworld. This planet has a surface area around 3 times that of Earth. There are 5 continents: Izril, Terandria, Chandrar, Rhir and Baleros; significant islands and archipelagos include Wistram, Minos and Drath. These lands are separated by vast expanses of ocean. The world's history stretches back tens of thousands of years; many races, nations and cultures have risen and fallen over time.

It contains a wide variety of sapient races, including (but not limited to) humans, half-elves, dwarves, minotaurs and ant people. The dominant spoken language is English, however multiple writing systems are in use.

The story primarily takes place on the continent of Izril, the location of the titular inn and the protagonists at the beginning of the story.

Levelling system
One of the primary mechanics of Innworld is a levelling system reminiscent of those commonly found in role-playing games. It contains classes, which are assigned depending on the person's professions and experiences; and skills, which are assigned mostly randomly out of a class's skill pool. This system has a significant impact on the society, government and military of Innworld. For example, a kingdom with a high-level king could be extremely prosperous, only to collapse completely once that king dies along with his levels and skills. In addition, a high-level general with a few can turn the tide of a previously impossible battle, and a high-level warrior could defeat hundreds of ordinary soldiers. This instability, along with the sheer size of Innworld and the distance between continents, makes global conquest extremely difficult if not impossible.

Earthers
Humans from Earth who have been summoned to Innworld by unknown means. A number of primary and secondary characters are Earthers.

Deuteragonists
Erin Solstice

The proprietress of the titular inn. Erin is an Earther, summoned to Innworld soon before the beginning of the story.

Ryoka Griffin

Ryoka is a member of the Runner's guild, an organisation similar in function to post offices. She is an Earther, summoned before the beginning of the story.

Other primary viewpoints
Trey and Teresa Atwood

Earther twins who were summoned to the throne room of a legendary king.

The Horns of Hammerad

A group of adventurers who slay monsters and explore dungeons for treasure.

Rags

A female goblin who becomes the chieftain of her tribe.