17 PLAN

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THE CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE ARE TOP SECRET AS THEY GIVE AWAY INFORMATION ABOUT AN UPCOMING EPISODE OR ONESHOT!!! STAY OUT I'M SERIOUS!

THE CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE ARE TOP SECRET AS THEY GIVE AWAY INFORMATION ABOUT AN UPCOMING EPISODE OR ONESHOT!!! STAY OUT I'M SERIOUS!

THE CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE ARE TOP SECRET AS THEY GIVE AWAY INFORMATION ABOUT AN UPCOMING EPISODE OR ONESHOT!!! STAY OUT I'M SERIOUS!

# BERTRAM'S INSIDE STORY

## Names

* Bertram Muldoon's Inside Story
* Snow in the Desert
* The Price to Pay
* Thread of Life
* The Blighted Star
* The Stuff of Nightmares

# Exiting Sakathsar

## Exiting Sakathsar

Semily will remind you to close the gates of Sakathsar. You are now alone, on foot, in the desert. The sun is beginning to set and the desert feels cold.

## Malcolm Brundle's Stall of Wonders

After walking for a few minutes, you spot a blurred purple spot in the distance.

Approaching will reveal it to be a purple market stall.

### Malcolm Brundle

Ah, I feared I would not see you again after Alberich. Welcome, once again, to Malcolm Brundle's Stall of Wonders for more shit you will never use. It is regrettable that you did not find my last product more useful... The key and the note... But life moves on and my wonders do cycle. Let's have a look at what I have for you today:

* Werewolf Pelt. Fresh, clean and without any sign at all of infection... Although it has been slightly charred and beaten. Skinned from a misunderstood animal. 20gp
* A Mysterious Grey Powder 10gp
* A Bag of Marbles - 5sp
* Cloak of Many Fashions - 100gp
* Sakathsar Paperweight - 3gp
* Stagecoach - Requires a worthy trade as they are usually worth a massive amount of gold. He will ask for the Moonblade
* Tankard of Sobriety - Stern face sculpted into the side of it. 80gp
* Bottomless Martini - 80gp
	+ Arcana check will reveal that it negates the effects of all alcohol poured inside.

#### Brundle Speech

Well, that's all I have to sell you. To be honest, I find that the desert disagrees with me. Far too much competition out here, you wouldn't think it...But there's not much of a place for me here. This may be the last time you ever see me. I think I will travel to Ghadames. I feel a melancholy lately... Warm shadows that I looked forward to seeing around were here for but an instant... but I find myself losing them now. We have both lost a great friend and we will only lose more in these dark times. It is life's way.

He gives you a forced smile before he shoves all of his remaining items in a suitcase and wanders off. As he walks, his stall folds in on itself and follows him. He leaves behind an ornate stagecoach made of rich wood and painted purple. Plush seats inside and room for suitcases up above.

### Stagecoach

If Googar choses to pull the carriage, he will not get to Long Rest until the party stops.

## Stop for Rest

ROLL A D6

You stop for rest by the road. When you wake up the sun is boiling down, hotter than it has ever been in the desert. Scorching heat - you feel that you will need double the amount of water that you would usually need - two gallons per day.

### SCORCHING HEAT

https://www.gmbinder.com/share/-M6xAC\_2zw4BzpByxO-c

### The Broken Cart

When you look around you, you realise a couple of things that you did not see when you parked up. Namely, a carriage partially buried in the sand. A skeletal hand pokes up from under the sand. Investigating the cart will reveal it to be an adventurers cart. It contains 4 gallon canteens of water and some mouldy rations that cannot be eaten. It also contains some swords and weaponry that has been damaged by the sand, as well as a lockbox with some words on it in orange letters.

*"AL'SED KUURRI"* Translates to "The Men Brave" or "The Brave Men" in Ramardi. The box is locked.

DC13 Slight of Hand with a lock pick to open, DC16 Strength to break open.

* A pink velvet pouch containing 10gp (roll a perception check and you will realise this to be very similar to the one Bertram used to carry)
* Letter from Bertram Q. Muldoon.

#### The Skeleton

The skeleton has brown flesh peeling from it. It is a human wearing a gold helmet, shoulder pads, and wraps. He is also wearing an orange sash across his body and a badge with the symbol of a man riding an eagle. Searching the body will reveal that he was carrying a rusted scimitar.

### No Eating or Drinking

REMEMBER TO DO STUFF IF THEY HAVENT EATEN OR DRANK

### The Camp

In the distance you spot a congregation of red and white caravans, about six of them in a circle. You see some people around the camp in wealthy, thick robes and laden in jewels. One man, his head completely smooth and bald, is dressed in striped robes and has a heavy gold necklace around him.

If its nighttime he is tending to a fire,

If its daytime he is reading at a table.

Another man is...

(DAYTIME) Hanging laundry on a line...

(NIGHTTIME) Tending to one of their camels.

## GREETINGS

*"Hello, fellow travellers. What brings you to the Desert of Resting Kings? Have you come from Sakathsar. We were just heading there."*

*"Ah. We appreciate the advice. We knew that the... Yuan-ti of Sakathar were tricky folk but necromancy..."*

*"We are just traders... We specialise in the rare and unfounded magical items from realms other than our own. We can enter minds and cure the afflicted... By Yeswet... You friend he seems ill."*

### Examining Bertram

I believe that I can help this man for a price. I would like to enter his mind and discover this malady's source first... A real deep stare into the bowels of his soul. Would you allow this? But this is powerful magic and would require a great price... A great sword for a great price - the one on your back. That is my prize."

*"Would you refuse? After all, what has this man done for you but lead you and the world to destruction and misery. Why? For his own selfish gain. Are you such innate heroes that you would make yet more sacrifices for this old man who may not do the same for you? More prices may be incurred during this process, but I assure you that we will get to the bottom of what is eating Mr. Muldoon. The choice is yours..."*

### Refusal

Then you had better kill him now because nothing else can be done. He is doomed to die at your hand. I will finish the job for you..." He pulls out a Katar and puts it to Bertram's throat.

### Acceptance

*"Then we will begin."*

He calls out and several of the caravan doors open to reveal more robed humans in blue, black and white robes. Three more making four, each of them completely bald and almost featureless.

## Insight Check on the Rakasha

### D18 - D20

You see that Semily seems uncomfortable and nervous.

## Into Bertram's Mind

*"Three of you may accompany me on this journey. The world around us will shift to reflect Bertram's memory and imagination - it may be hard to differentiate between the two... But either way it will show us the source of your friend's misery."*

Sukmadiq begins chanting. The people around him raise their arms and follow his chants. After 10 seconds of this, the bald people around him begin to melt into black mist. You turn to see Jack Toast, Semily and Sorl behind you, all watching on with concern. Toast's body also begins to melt into the ground, yet Sorl and Semily begin to grow an morph into two bare trees. Your feet begin to feel cold as the boiling sand below you becomes fresh white snow and the sky above swirls into white.

You are in Ludenguard, the only remnence that you ever left Aurelius being Sukmadiq who sits, eyes rolled back, in the middle of the snow - the fire still blazing infront of him.

## Ludenguard

It is daytime. The village looks quite a bit cleaner than it did when you visited - the church is no longer in disrepair and the snow catchers are intact. The Goose and Oyster Inn, here named The Flying Goose is open, lights on.

### Flying Goose Inn

Inside there are a couple of people, although their faces are slightly blurred like watery, smudged paint. It's almost painful to try and look them in the face, your eyes want to look away.

### Lamech Sorian

Is the bartender and owner of The Flying Goose. *"Oi! Bertram! You know I can't serve ten year olds in here! Out! What will your poor mother think. Should you not be across in the chapel learning your alphabet?"*

### Selena Raftwhip/Muldoon

You enter the chapel and a class of children are sat in the pews. Some of them turn and greet you. "Berty where were you?". The old priest in the front looks less happy to greet you. "Where have you been frolicking, Mr. Muldoon? Nearly two hours late for your lesson. A perfect time, my dear boy, to show the class how you are so smart that you don't need to be schooled! No, you with your adventurer family, you with your gay little lamb sigil. Lazy and arrogant thats what you are... Prove me wrong, Muldoon. Stand infront of the class."

*"Tell us, boy. What is 99 - 34? (65)"*

*"The historic battle of Growles - who was it between?"*

*"What is 14% of 1830?"*

*"For what reason would I drink a shot of Obconica Tonic?"*

*"In what war did The Siege on The Garden of Pagonia take place?" (The War of the Shard)*

*"You know very much about the world, Mr. Muldoon.* *Base knowledge will only get you so far if you wish to join The Bibliodome like your father. You will need resilience, drive, punctuality... and most of all you must put aside your boyish smugness and respect authority."*

Suddenly the door opens... a woman stands in the frame in a modest brown dress. She has flat brown hair and her face looks distraut,

*"Berty, oh Berty!"*

She runs up to you, Googar. She kneels down and looks distraut as she hugs you. The priest looks furious.

*"Berty it's your father. The Bibliodome has just sent me a letter... Oh, Berty your father he's gone... He's gone..."*

You see a crumpled up letter in her hand.

### Letter

*For the attention of The Muldoon Family of Ludenguard*

*It is with deep regret that we inform you of the passing of our great archeologist, lecturer and surveyor Bertram Muldoon III. He passed as a great hero as he defended our Aca'an artefacts from the savages who live there. His body has been recovered and will be shipped back to Alberich as soon as we are able. We would like to offer our most heartfelt condolences in this time of grieving. An amount of gold and recovered belongings will be available for recovery directly from The Bibliodome upon presentation of this letter.*

*With deep regret,*

*Hormen Sheltor, Curator of The Bibliodome*

Upon ignorance or reading of the letter, the scene will begin to melt around you. You are outside - nighttime In front of you, your mother morphs into the figure of a lumbering zombie dressed in a fur coat and hat - not your mother but a grey-faced man.

## Bedroom

The scene melts away and you find yourselves on your backs in the dark. It is almost complete darkness. Lysander with your night vision you can't even see - you are seeing through the eyes of another. You can sense, though that you are laid besides each other. There is a scratching noise. along the wall and some fiendish breathing. A light flickers - a flame lights an oil lamp on the wall. Light. You are in a bedroom, each tucked into your own little bed, arms over the covers. Over on the other side of the room is a spindly, hunched -over hyena creature staring at you with red eyes, scratching its giant claws along your wall, tearing the wallpaper off. It is 7 or 8 feet tall, crouching to fit in the room. Thin, wretched, greasy were hyena.

Roll initiative.

Through this fight you cannot leave your beds - you will be prone for the entire fight.

### Run Away

You run down a large hill frantically, flailing your arms before you crash into three figures. One of them is an Ork in sunglasses, one of them is a towering knight in full plate armour and one of them... Is Lysander.

*"Woooah, old man. Where's the danger? What's up?"*

*"You'll be safe in the church. We're here to deal with the zombies, don't worry."*

The man in the armour just stares at you with eyes dead and cold.

The scene melts away again. You are in

### Mulwold Bay

You are back in the desert, daytime. Sun shining brightly down on you, sea crashing next to you.

You find yourself holding a mallet, midway through hammering a sign into the ground. "Mulwold Bay" it says. Next to you, a slightly older looking man wearing a pith suit - slightly more expensive than yours, with a monocle. Next to him, his daughter, Amber Griswold.

*"Who is that in the distance, old boy. Good heavens, someone is approaching!"*

You hear the sound of a cantering horse, look around and see Commander Kaagh on horseback approaching. The Griswold's take up arms, but Kaagh does not, stopping his horse infront of you.

*"Calm. Professor Griswold, Professor Muldoon... I come alone and in peace..." -* With that, in an instant, everything becomes white - only the bald robed man remains, still in deep meditation... Small flashes of voices - those of Bertram and Kaagh can be heard echoing but their words are not distinguishable.

*"It appears that we are accessing a memory that Bertram has repressed - or that he does not want us to see."*

*"Perhaps if you had something to... jog his memory... or force him to loosen up his mind... if not we can move on."*

FLASH THE NAZAR AND ALL WILL REVEAL ITSELF

### Meeting with Kaagh

You are sat down in the Tavern building where you first met Muldoon. Griswold is beside you, Kaagh is on the other side of the table. You are mid conversation.

Kaagh - It's name is the Nazar - an ancient jewel crafted thousands of years ago to put the demon inside Pharaoh Jakaab-kep to bed. We have searched far and wide, up and down. It has eluded us all the way, only finding fragments... little hints of it's existence. But it must exist. It is circular, white and blue shaped like an eye. It is thought to have been created by Jakaab-kep's wife. This jewel is priceless. It has the ability to dispel all evil and end all wars.

You can ask Kaagh all the questions you'd like.

### Why do you want it?

For the reason I just outlined - the end of all wars, for world peace. It may not be the Cyrenian mantra but it's mine and it's the new Chapter Master's. The Emperor's Eye is a peaceful division - we have kept the inhuman residents of Sakathsar alive, we have not attacked Al'Ramard. All we wish for is peace and the Nazar will grant us it.

### What will Andras do with it?

We intend to split it. Take it to every cesspit every demon spawn in the world and cleanse them of their evil. After all, thats what the Emperor would have done if he knew of the Nazar's existence. Do you not think that would be his treasured possession?

### How does Andras know about it?

That, I'm afraid has to remain top secret. Let's just say we have our sources. IF PRESSED - We have in our employ... certain unconventional individuals who have the senses for this sort of thing.

## THE FINAL MEMORY

Everything goes white again, this time a misty grey-white. Not clear. You look around with even blurrier vision to see towering over you, a Dao genie. An ethereal being, body made up mostly of intangible smoke. Enormous grey arms that look like stone, a stone feminine face with an expression of fury and thunder. Long black locks and wielding a maul. He stares down at you.

*"BERTRAM MULDOON. I AM A SPIRIT OF BENEVOLANCE, PEACE AND GREAT REWARD. YOU ARE PROFESSOR BERTRAM MULDOON. YOU DO NOT DESERVE TO ROT IN THIS PRISON. I AM HERE. I AM HERE TO HELP YOU BERTRAM. AND YOU ARE TO HELP ME, JUST FOR A WHILE. AND IF YOU DO GREAT PRIZES WILL BE IN STORE FOR YOU - MEDALS, TITLES, LANDS, RANKS... I AM A CHARITABLE BEING AND I AM WORKING TO THE SAME GOALS AS YOU - A LITTLE GIRL MUST BE SAVED FROM THE EVIL CYRENIANS - THEY MUST BE STOPPED! IT IS WHAT IS BEST FOR EVERYONE. WE WILL HAVE FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE BUT HERE IS MY FIRST TASK. DISOBEY ANY OF MY ORDERS AND GREAT SUFFERING WILL COME OF YOU AND EVERYONE IN THIS WORLD. IN A FEW HOURS, YOUR FRIENDS TEDDY G. RIZZLY, LYSANDER AND GOOGAR WILL ARRIVE HERE AND BREAK YOU OUT. STICK WITH THEM, WHATEVER THE COST. DO NOT TELL THEM OF THIS - BUT THEY WILL SOON DISCOVER THE CORPSE OF THEIR DECEASED FRIEND EYUP. YES HE IS DEAD, VERY VERY UNFORTUNATE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, KNOW THIS - THEY WILL CONSIDER BURNING HIM, THEY WILL CONSIDER LEAVING HIM. MAKE SURE THAT THEY KEEP HIM. AT ALL COSTS DO NOT LET THE BODY BE DESTROYED. EVERYTHING RESTS ON THIS YOUNG ELEPHANT, BERTRAM. EVERYTHING RESTS ON HIM AND YOU. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"*

### The Seven Curses

1. The Bells - Your head will be full of my noise .
2. The Weakness - Your body and mind will weaken and rot
3. The Hatred - Everyone you interact with will despise you
4. The Memories - Your memories will change and alter
5. The Visions - You will see horrible things
6. The Sand - Everything you touch shall become sand, much like my plans when you touched them.
7. The Death

## Back to Reality

Everything begins swirling. Your head feels as if it is going to explode. Failed constitution checks will result in being sick and needing more water. When you emerge it is the opposite time to when you arrived. Semily and Sorl are asleep. Jack Toast is like "Lysander! You're awake!"

### SUKMADIQ

Your friend is fucked. Of all the situations to be in, this is perhaps the worst I have ever seen. Bertram has been tricked, possessed almost by a malevolent genie masquerading as 'Vrede - a god of peace and wisdom'. He has clearly failed to obey her and has made it impossible for her to fulfil her genie duty of fulfilling her wish. Or wishes. There are two ways of alleviating this. One is to fulfil the wish or wishes. As Vrede has established this is impossible. The second way... and you may not like this... but the second way is for you to travel to the Earth Plain and defeat this genie for yourselves.

We have the power to transport you - or to give you a magical item that will transport you there and back when you chose. This will require a great, great price.

#### The Price to Pay

I believe this will benefit us both. There is a book referenced in many tomes we have researched over the years. It used to belong to Sakathsar - hidden in the catacombs but it was taken in order to hide the truth from the Yuan-ti. It was taken by their leader Kar who resides in the Pyramid of Sseth. The reason I say this could benefit us both is that this book. Or scroll. Or papyrus or tome or whatever it may be... Purportedly holds the truth of the Yuan-ti slave sacrifice and revert the effects of Sseth's hold on the people. Meaning that your baby here could be made purely human. Not Yuan-ti pureblood. Just human.

This book will be in the home of Kar - Sseth's Fang - the mountain next to Sakathsar. It will be difficult. Kar lives far from his people so as not to induce nightmares in them for how innately fearsome he is. It will require great constitution and strong minds. If you wish to save your friend, you must go and bring us this book. If not, we may as well just put the poor fool out of his misery now.

# THE NIGHTMARE DUNGEON

## IDEAS

* Doctor Kaleido \*
* Der Glücksritter
* Bertram and pals turned to sand \*
* Eyup, on fire \*

#### General

* Keeps getting colder and shadows are moving
* Something is watching you
* Keep rolling dice and frowning and laughing

### Sseth's Fang

You approach Sseth's Fang, a tall mountain that looks eerily like the fang of a snake, the yellow-brown ish stone starts to turn white at the top with a black tip. At the base of the mountain is a circular door made of wood - it is closed with etchings around the edge.

Translation Book will reveal it to mean "BEWARE THE HOME OF THE ANATHEMA - SSETH'S CHOSEN. SURRENDER A YOUR BLOOD TO ENTER". There is a small basin speed like a coiled snake next to the door, it's mouth open.

### ENTRANCE

You step into an enormous stone room. There are carvings of mutlated snakes on the wall. Some have 4 heads, some have severed heads. Some are cut open. The floor is stone tiles and slightly moist. The ceiling is a dome shape with painted snakes twisting around it.

#### Roll Constitution

Lysander, all of your teeth fall out at once and scatter on all over the floor. It caused you no pain, although you feel that your mouth has gone numb.

Teddy, you will piss yourself.

Googar your leather armour disappears from your body, your naked mychonid form exposed to the world.

## THE ROOM OF DEAD CHILDREN

The room you enter is circular and stone. There is another door right opposite you which is made of stone, almost blending in with the wall. The room is immediately freezing cold and you even feel your feet crunch on the floor. In the middle of the room is a human person laying face down, frost covering his black trousers and white poet shirt.

He has short black hair.

If Teddy or Googar inspect him, they will see only that he is dead, slashed in the stomach which has stained his white shirt.

If Lysander is to examine him, he will find the boy familiar as Ruford Gelod - the boy from Ludenguard who five years ago you killed. Lysander must then roll a WISDOM saving throw. Failing this, he will believe this to be the real body of Ruford Gelod.

### The Door

The door appears to have five slots, each marked with a message:

* *The Mind -* Remember your sins
* *The Heart -* Feel their effects on your own flesh
* *The Eyes - See the future and prevent more grief*
* *The Voice* - Speak and confess your sins.

## THE ROOM OF FREYA

Teddy roll a WISDOM saving throw with advantage.

The room lights up and the door slams shut behind you.

It is a similar circular room, this time with a red sofa in the middle. The door ahead of you opens up and a tall, slender bearfolk opens the door. He has fluffy long blade hair and is wearing a pink dress. She look objectively beautiful.

*"Oh...Well hello, Teddy Bear. I heard that you had... Quite the Rizzly.*