Into the Mists: Episode 03

### Reddit Thread

***Into the Mists* Episode 3** was streamed on Arcadum's Twitch channel on April 24, 2021, and premiered on Arcadum's YouTube channel on April 27, 2021.
Rembarand reports back in Alexandria and the party gets tasked to find a merchant selling masks to find a cult that is able to travel through the Mist. They meet Rzamd who has stopped selling these masks but gives them a map so that the party can prevent another calamity.

## Summary

*Originally written for Verum Weekly (no author attached to summary)* .

After surviving the harrowing night, the party feels empowered. As the day breaks, Captain Rembarand urges the party to head back to Alexandria, but they wish to investigate the area before they leave. Rembarand waits by the gate while the party enters the stable. As Talis returns to where she was attacked by the beast, she notices a destroyed kite in the back of the stable with the markings of the Eclipse. Vasily calls on Rembarand to ask why a vehicle from the Far East is in the area. Rembarand turns pale and carefully inspects the kite. Wondering how something was able to cross the Mist, the party quickens their haste and returns to Alexandria using the other kites in the stable.

They walk into the guild hall, noticing that the place is more packed. Rembarand heads straight to Levender to deliver the news, and the party follows them into a private meeting room. The Captain informs Levender that the Mist has gotten closer and, even worse, that a spy from the Eclipse is in their presence. Levender reminds Rembarand that the truce enacted by Azolon allows those from the Eclipse to travel their lands, but Rembarand finds it odd that only the Eclipse is able to trek through the Mist while their people in the west could not. Levender warns Rembarand to stop those assumptions; with no emperor, the clans have been in a power struggle and the cycle is broken. Either way, the party has finished their mission, so they are compensated for their deeds. In addition, it seems that another task has already arrived.

Levender asks how Rembarand's secret mission is going. The Captain explains that he is following the movements of a Kalkateshian cult that is also able to travel through the Mist. More alarming is that these cult members are not humanoid, but monsters. Rembarand has noticed that one of the merchants in Alexandria was selling the same masks that belong to the cult. Levender tasks the party to use this mask merchant as a lead to find this cult. They accept the mission and head to the main area to prepare themselves.

Baëth asks Sake if he knows any mask merchants, but the bartender advises him to ask the patrons as they would know better. Kiliwen sits by a Human Dancer and starts a conversation. From the small talk, Kiliwen learns that this Human is named Eon. He makes veils but not the kind of masks the party is looking for. Meanwhile at the fireplace, Yukina sits with a Scholar and casts Hypnotic Gaze on him. The Kitsune is able to discern that it is common for prostitutes to wear masks and that they can be found in all sorts of places. Eventually, her spell fades and she joins in on Kiliwen's conversation, but she gets no more useful information from him.

Near the entrance, Talis notices an Orc Warrior and a Human Cleric having an arm wrestle. She approaches the two and challenges the winner of their bout to face her. The Orc accepts the challenge and overpowers Talis. As the two are bonding, the Orc introduces herself as Wild Wanda. Talis asks if she knows any mask makers, but Wanda replies that she does not know any other than her grandmother. Wanda asks the Human Cleric, whose name is Fala Jin, if she knew any. She recalls that one was in the building and points to a Priest, saying that he was the merchant's last customer. Talis thanks her and walks away. Vasily meets with that Priest of Babylon and asks if he knows of any mask makers. The father does know of a “unique” mask maker and will notify her when they enter the area. Vasily gives her thanks and meets with Baëth, Talis, and Garlic to exchange the information they have gathered.

On the other side of the hall, Kiliwen and Yukina meet with a Satyr and a red-haired man bearing the symbol of the Eclipse. The two joke around about gambling their lives and form some unsavory relations, but ultimately they gather no new information. Meanwhile at the bar, Talis meets with a Paladin of the Seven named Aza Addaire. She learns that Aza is on a quest to follow her mother's last instructions. Talis looks at her locket and relates with Aza as she is also on a similar mission.

Eventually, Vasily is notified that the mask merchant has arrived. She turns to the entrance and notices a Rakshasa, a tiger demon with backwards hands. He heads to the bar and Vasily gives him space. The strange merchant introduces himself as Rzamd, and Vasily strikes a conversation with him about a mask. Sadly, Rzamd has stopped selling those certain masks as he did not like what those customers were doing. He gifts Vasily a map, noting:

> "Rzamd knows that the heroes of Last Stand did what they had to do and although some survived that shouldn't, some things forget easily what was lost before. Rzamd gives you this in the hope that you prevent another calamity."
>
>

Talis steps in to talk to Rzamd and asks if her locket has any significance to him. Rzamd offers to find out for 200 gold, and Talis immediately obliges. Magic begins to flow around the locket as Rzamd grasps it. He then informs Talis that the person she seeks will come to her on her journey and that she needs to watch for a tree of blue and white. Seeing these things occur, Baëth asks if Rzamd knows of a wizard with holes in his hands. The Rakshasa gives him a Jade Medallion and says that he will contact him if he finds something. Finally, a new dawn rises and the party sets off to where the map leads.

## Featured Characters

### Main Characters

* Baeth Wellington
* Garlic Crouton
* Kiliwen Joy
* Talis
* Vasily
* Yukina

### New

* Aza Addaire
* Eon Hosi
* Fala Jin
* Father Jason Gaston
* Iria
* Preston Goby
* Red Moon Ryogo
* Rzamd
* Wild Wanda

### Returning

* Captain Rembarand
* Levender Lance
* "Sake"
* Wei Fong

## References

1. ↑ Date is shown on YouTube VOD
2. ↑ Verum Weekly: Summaries of Streamed Games of the Week (April 29th, 2021)