Arcane Academy Ep 4

### YouTube VOD

***The Arcane Academy* Episode 4** was streamed on BrettUltimus' Twitch channel on Aug 6, 2020, and premiered on the World of Io's YouTube channel on Aug 10, 2020.

## Summary

The party wakes up to the feeling of losing their familiars. Tremmer immediately looks through Otto’s blurry eyes and sees the interior of some ruins. Gazing around the area more reveals an unconscious Malcolm. Before the familiar connection is cut off, he hears sounds of the sea. Shij then comes in with bad news. There are missing students and familiars, but that isn’t the worst of it. Ellie’s party went down the wrong hallway during the test and were found dead by the time the mages got to them. Tremmer takes the news badly but internally. Shij also mentions the three missing students: Nigel, Malcom, and Alice. Everyone tries to convince Tremmer to check up on Elenora, but he storms out of the dorms without saying a word. In the female dorm, Elenora wakes up in a sweat and shakes the nearby Brunbush, asking about Lumi. Elenora asks if Brunbush has her familiar, and in response the Orc produces Mudball, her pillbug familiar. At this point, the boys enter the female dorms. Shij mentions that Chrotek, the Warforged from the Delgado’s library, went to the instructors to search for his missing familiar and went missing since then. Shij suggests that they should investigate by themselves, because the Academy canceled classes without talking about the missing people. Eventually, he suggests going into the Forbidden Archives to see what is happening.

Coincidentally Tremmer has already entered the Archives with a lantern in hand. He noticed that the main library is empty, and even Madam Hush is gone. The Archives themselves show signs of abandonment. Tremmer finds a notable sealed book and takes it. While he travels down a hallway, a chill fills his body and increases in intensity when he reaches a pile of burned and scorched books. There is a spell book called *Death’s Grasp* and a book titled *Making Friends with Magic*. Amongst the books is a note.

> *Deep underneath the academy is the Exodus Labyrinth - a set of catacombs that has existed in these mountains for a lot longer than the school. They say this is a place where students may train their new magics, but I'm not buying it. These catacombs reach deep underneath the mountain - probably some sort of old dwarven fortress of long ago - before the gnomes came and wiped the majority of them out.*
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> *Underneath though between the folds of reality is said to be a room that houses the power of a djinni. If you stand in the center and think real hard about a wish - you are said to be shown the way to achieve it.*
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> *The unfortunate finding however is the fact this room is only located in a sort of dimensional fold. The only riddle I've been able to discover is this....*
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> *"Deep Underground in the circular room - the ELF shall guide you"*
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> *What could this possibly mean?*
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Tremmer pockets the note, and when he hears the rest of the party entering the archives, he douses his lantern a bit. Tremmer investigates the pile and learns that the fire was started a few days ago. In addition, he finds a torn up book with a badly burnt page. The only legible writing is the signature of Headmaster Demetrius Valiensworth. Tremmer then quickly hides and dims his light even further. Meanwhile, Gideon leads everyone through the library and eventually reaches the same pile of burnt books. Just right as he investigates the pile, a voice calls out, “You shouldn’t have come.” An aberration with the face of Madam Hush manifests itself, and the party readies themselves for a fight. Most of the students launch volleys of Magic Missiles at the creature, including the still hidden Tremmer. When the aberration is about to be defeated, she lets out a piercing wail which almost kills Elenora. However, a Check from Aldoras puts the aberration out of commission.

Tremmer reveals himself to everyone. Tremmer attempts to investigate the remains of the aberration, but she doesn’t leave a trace. Brunbush gives Rageweed to Elenora which fully heals but Poisons Elenora. Gideon continues his investigation and finds a map. On the bottom is the word “Djinn”, and the destination is below the school. Tremmer and the rest affirm to each other that they are here to look for information on their familiars. They share the note and the map with each other. Tremmer tells the others what he saw through Otto, mentions Malcolm’s condition, and his hypothesis where they are. The only place they can think of would be the ruins of the Old Academy that are on the other side of the continent. Eventually, Tremmer brings up his suspicions of both Shij and Brunbhush. Shij says that they are the closest thing he has to friends. He’s also shaken for his own safety, because other members of his own labyrinth party are missing. Brunbush simply states that she is there for Elenora.

Everyone returns to the male dorms. Tremmer gets Aldoras out of an awkward situation between him and the girls by asking him about the sealed book. The book is locked behind a circle and the word “echo” is found on it. Al remembers about “Basic Runes Vol. 1” in the library. Elenora and Tremmer have a small study session, and Elenora masters Charm Person while Tremmer has a novice understanding. Elenora then casts the spell on Shij and asks if he was lying or omitting anything about what he said in the Archives. After he says that he was being truthful, Elenora ends the spell. Now no longer charmed, he confronts her on the matter. Al misunderstands the conversation and is about to expose the secret of the bucket switching. Both Elenora and Tremmer interrupts the flow by confessing that she did use Charm Person. Once the conversation is over, Tremmer drags Al out of the room and to the library.

At the library, Tremmer tells Aldoras to get *Basic Runes Vol 1*. Al finds the book, and as he flips through the pages, a new Madam Hush asks him if he’ll be checking a book out. He lies about having any books checked out and checks out the book in his hands. He then returns to Tremmer. Meanwhile, Tremmer finds the charter of the Old Academy and finds an image of Demetrius. He was a pale man who has long white hair and red eyes, and he dons crimson night robes. He was the final Headmaster of the old Academy. There are more, but the notes are scribbled out. Upon seeing Al, Tremmer pulls him close. He wishes Al to never mention the bucket swap and confides that it was a mistake. Al says that it was simply fate, but Tremmer says he wishes to change fate. Tremmer gives the sealed book to Al, asking him to open it. Tremmer then goes to Madam Hush and begins to ask about the Old Academy. She answers that she cannot discuss the matter for it would be too upsetting. Tremmer returns to Al who finally draws the proper rune. The seal on the book is undone.

> “Lost within the frosted tip of the mountains of Ishtar, a wandering knight walks through the frost lands. His blade sheathed and motionless and frigid like the cold lands around him. Treat this knight as a friend, and he’ll echo a friendly introduction. Continue to speak, and their voice may change. Some said that the voices sound of a man. Others a maiden. Hundreds of voices resonate from this being’s plate; mostly friendly introductions.
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> It isn’t until it is too late do you realize that this fiend is copying the tone of those it had felled by its blade. The Howl Knight has not its own voice. It can only mimic others, like the well trained raven. Engage it in battle, the tones resonate something more fearsome as it emanates the screams and death wails of those it had slain. Of final sounds every uttered, ever uttered from its victims.
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> Beware the Howl Knight. It is not a kind traveler.”
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The book also gives the knowledge on the spell Seek Howl Knight. Al states that he has a way to find the familiars. The two of them then return to the dorm rooms with Al screaming out “ELF.” Within the rune book are pieces that make up the ELF rune. The missing piece of the puzzle is the location of the circular room. The party decide to skip dinner, rest their bodies, sneak out during the night, and re-enter the Exodus Labyrinth.

## Cast

### Player Characters

* Elenora Mordove
* Tremmer Kushions
* Otto
* Gideon Snowfall
* Aldoras Theletian