Episode 12: "Turning the Tide."

***"Turning the Tide."*** (MMx12) is the 12th episode of **Murkan Misadventures.**

The Animal House plan their next move, having gained useful information in Baileyville.

## Synopsis.

### **Downtime Decisions.**

Having finished recusing the people of Baileyville, The Animal House planned their next move. Agreeing that they can scout out Fort Harold on the way to Vannderville and also give the map of Supply Caches to the people of Eisenstadt.

Meeting back up with Kyran, Bea let him make a copy of the marked supply caches and said his people would begin looking into it. Asking if they would like a better method of transportation, Kyran supplied the Animal House with a skiff, a floating miniature airship, to better traverse the terrain.

Regrouping, our heroes set off down the path for Fort Harold, passing by the smoldering ruins of Baileyville, cementing their mission to wipe the Redbrands from the country.

### **Snap Back to Reality.**

As they progressed down the path, Colby-Bo spotted out of the corner of his eye, a tower which seemed to phase in and out of existence. Getting the other's attention directed to the tower, Davyd's patron spoke up, voicing its interest in the mysterious structure. Changing their course, the Animal House arrived at the phasing structure which solidified itself in reality, almost acknowledging their presence.

Ascending into the tower, scarred marks of spells being cast, charred notes, and a half-used Ring of Spell Storing laid before them at the top.

Some investigation from Davyd revealed the spells cast were Hunger of Hadar and Ravenous Void which scarred the floor of the tower. As Davyd looked over the Ring of Spell Storing, which was found to contain two more uses of Hunger of Hadar, Davyd's mysterious patron spoke again to his warlock, instructing him to "consume." Confused, Davyd asked what he meant by that, to which his patron took control of his body, causing him to outstretch his hand as the ring began to freeze solid, cracking from the temperature. With a final command of "crush." Davyd crushed the ring in his hand, which shattered, causing the expelled energy to be absorbed by him.

Picking up the notes left behind in the tower, Davyd found the mad drafting of some sort of spell, having roots in Conjuration and Dunamancy magic.

### **A Quick Scouting Mission.**

Leaving the tower behind, the Animal House finally arrived outside of Fort Harold to scout it out. Investigating the structure revealed that there were numerous Redbrand Soldiers and Riflemen stationed here along with many Ballista set up and ready to fire.

Realizing that they are quite outnumbered, the team decided to save Fort Harold for later, or let the people of Eisenstadt take care of them, understanding that the Redbrand threat has grown to be quiet formidable.

### **Pondering My Sphere.**

Heading away from Fort Harold, the group took off for Marble City, one of the stops on the way to Vannderville. Thanks to Chestnut and his magical attunement to nature, they were able to shave off a considerable chunk of time from their journey, finally crossing a large bridge over a winding river, meeting the sight of a massive tower where a golden sphere rest atop it.

Talking to the tour guide outside of it, they learned that the massive sphere was originally built for an Artificer's Expo and then turned into a restaruant and tourist attraction, but lately it has been refurbished into something secretive and also an observation deck.

### **When You're Here, You're Family.**

Deciding to take a stop for lunch, the Animal House decided on grabbing a bite at the All Leaf Garden, ordering their famous "Endless Breadsticks" as well as their signature dishes (with the exception of a raw steak for Clifford.) taking some time to talk with each other and enjoy a much needed break from all the action.

### **One Quiet Night.**

Finishing their fine dining experience at the All Leaf Garden, the party ended their night grabbing a room at another Red Roof Inn, the same chain they stayed at back in Hawk's Point, taking their room keys from a very cataracted Harengon and had a very restful, quiet night.

### **Back into Action.**

With one of the supply caches being here in Marble City, the Animal House set off, arriving at The Bleake House. Reading the plaque outside, it revealed that the Bleake House was prominent during the Freedom War and served now as a historical site. Noticing a man standing out from the crowd approaching the house, Bea set off to tail him, easily blending in with the other tourists, watching the man pull out a large keyring full of old keys and entering the building.

Bea snuck up to the side door and peered in through the keyhole, seeing the familiar sight of Redbrands, in conversation with the man who had entered the house. Listening in with her antennae, Bea discovered that the man who was allowing the Redbrands to reside here in the house was interested in joining their cause, explaining that the Freedom War was before his time, and as he longed to partake in that, the Redbrands is the next best thing.

Returning to the group and relaying the information, Davyd found a nearby library and managed to acquire some old maps from the time of the Freedom War, learning that the Bleake House had a series of underground tunnels with three entrances, used for escape, storing supplies, discarding bodies, and keeping/discarding slaves. The three entrances to the house were listed as; A sewer entrance out the back, an entrance underneath the ornate gazebo out front, and a side entrance built in the original mess hall next door which has been destroyed and now an Amalgam Pizza Hovel and Taquito Chime stands in its place.

### **Live Mas.**

With the easiest secret entrance possibly residing inside the Amalgam Pizza Hovel and Taquito Chime, the group headed into the fusion establishment. Using Bea and Davyd as a distraction, Chestnut masterfully carved the entire locking mechanism out of the locked maintenance closet while Bea and Davyd sang the favored tune of Proxima Astrum, "Take Me Home, Country Roads." which actually earned them some coin for the performance.

With the door now open, before them laid a trapdoor which was lifted, revealing a ladder which descended deep into ground. At the bottom of the ladder was a tunnel, heading in the direction of the Bleake House.

Following the tunnel system, which dropped down another 30 feet, the group entered into a large burial chamber, containing a large tomb ontop of a arcane sigil scribed in blood. The nearby books belonging to the owner of the home kept a journal of his time here, before succumbingk to a disease and dying, with his final entry stating that "Like the south, he will rise again."

Ascending the stairs, the Animal House found themselves now inside, The Bleake House.

### **Stealth is Optional for This Mission.**

Climbing into a back room of The Bleake House, Bea peeked out into the house beyond, spotting a patrolling Redbrand which was heading her way. Ducking back inside, she told her friends to get ready, and as the Redbrand entered the room, investigating the noise Bea made to lure him in, was immediately folded by the group, bound and gagged, and left tied to the ladder at the bottom of the hatch.

In a perfect series of stealthing, the party snuck through the house, shimming doors shut that contained Redbrands and dispatched any others they came across, leaving the large groups outside in the courtyard and eating in the dining room along, shimming them inside.

After eliminating more degenerate Redbrands, the group snuck to the second level, where a trio of Redbrands sat at a table, being degenerates as usual. With some quick thinking Davyd ran up and cast Charm Person, tricking them into tying themselves up under the cover of degeneracy.

With the main threat taken care of, the crew went room to room, shimming doors of the sleeping Redbrands along the way while discovering that a draft of an assault plan on Eisenstadt had been scrapped after learning of a "Death Ray." and a poster for a place known as Palladis, with the words "Contact: Copper Wasp" and "Need the Coin." written on it.

With all the threats contained or eliminated, it was time to finish this place off. Setting a trail of gunpowder and several kegs, the Animal House tracked back down to the hatch where Chestnut and Clifford were waiting. With Chestnut lighting the powder, it shot off down the poured line as our heroes descended into the tunnels, hearing and feeling the massive explosions above them which rocked the landscape.

Arriving back on the surface, the streets were filled with panic as people scattered and dodged the raining debris from the explosion as the Animal House grabbed a quick bite at Taquito Chime.

Having eliminated a massive amount of Redbrands and an entire supply cache, the Animal House took a breather and planned their next move.