The Miss Demeanor Ep. 9

### YouTube VOD

***Miss Demeanor* Episode 9** was streamed on BrettUltimus' Twitch channel on the 3rd of October 2020, and premiered on the World of Io's YouTube channel on 9th of October 2020.

## Summary

*Written by u/Sir\_P1zza, edited by u/Justa5crub*

The crew sails away from Northern Quethos, having reclaimed the treasures and the petrified person from Gubwater Keep and leaving the mysterious Void Maw behind. They choose to chase after the enemy they now understand and follow the sword of the Warlord Jiang. Following the sword’s lightbeam, they travel another week to reach Krakesque. On their travels, Wood Gnome awakens and now wears an eyepatch after getting varnish into his eye. He and Luna bond over their long lives with Luna already forgetting how old she exactly is. Wood Gnome finds this comedic. He also explains to the crew that although gnomes used to give birth like humans, they now hatch out of eggs, because that method is more efficient. Luna believes that’s due to the experiments the Gnomes perform on themselves and others. While the seas are calm, Layton and Armstrong try to teach Alice how to steer a ship, but it doesn't go well at first, prompting Captain Armstrong’s help. After a few days Alice suddenly gets a piercing headache, looks up, and sees a vision of Tremmer. This time he’s talking in a ruined lab clearly looking exhausted, Alice also sees his familiar before the vision ends.

After a troubleless week, the crew spots a storm at a distance and discusses what to do. Alice offers his help as a storm sorcerer to help out where he can. Captain Armstrong realizes that there’s something off about the storm and drops the anchor. After fifteen minutes they realize that the storm is not moving but shifting around something. Against the protests of Alice they sail closer and see that the water is churning and twisting like a vortex. Luna believes this to be magical in nature, but they can’t find anything else from a distance. Captain Armstrong sails the ship into the vortex, going along with the flow of water instead of fighting it. At first it goes well with the experience of Captain Armstrong and Alice helping out, but as they get closer to the center the sea level drops noticeably. The closer they get the more it looks like the sea is about to end, and they see towers and buildings rising from the sea bottom. This can only be the city of Krakesque. The ship’s speed becomes unbearable for the Miss Demeanor. Wood Gnome almost flies off the ship but Luna’s quick thinking saves him with Lightning Lure. The ship capsizes, and all goes black.

The crew wakes up on a beach and are still together luckily. The Miss Demeanor lies on its side with the main mast broken off. They look around and realize they’re on an island outside of the vortex with Krakesque being at the center and barely out of sight. The crew climbs the beach cliffs looking for shelter. Surprisingly they find a small hut with a lit flame inside. Captain Armstrong charges inside, and he sees a small kobold wearing the skull of a dragon wyrmling. The kobold does not appear to be hostile or surprised and invites the rest of the crew inside. He introduces himself as Sholo, witchdoctor and keeper of histories. His family passed the tales and history of Krakesque down orally. At first he asks on which side they’re on, Armstrong simply responds that they’re on the side of the living. Sholo then starts to speak about the history of Krakesque.

Long ago the city used to be the kingdom of Krakesque, a glorious and powerful nation and one of the first on Io. They lived in a golden age of peace and prosperity. During this time of peace one man believed this age would not last. He dubbed himself as the Warmaster, and he believed that kingdoms hidden in shadow would rob and conquer the nation for Krakesque had no army.  He sowed deceit and terror upon the people until there was an outcry from the people to build an army. He was put into power but he did not have the goal to protect Krakesque. Instead he wanted to become the lord of Krakesque. However, His plot was discovered, and the Warmaster and his followers were banished from the city. In desperation he made a pact with the Deep One, a squid-like creature the size of a small town. The Warmaster’s superstitious sailors believed that the Deep One is the god of chaos and consumption much like the ocean itself. In his arrogance the Warmaster believed he could weaponize the Deep One to take his revenge on Krakesque and told it the location of Krakesque. The entirety of the kingdom was swallowed up by the Deep One, but the Warmaster was eaten as well. Now that the Warmaster has returned with the Krakesque gold, he’ll be able to command an army. The one who holds the gold is the King of Krakesque, and the Warmaster has already arrived at Krakesque. The clock is ticking.

Layton pulls out his sword — now with a green glow instead of the usual light beam — and shows it to Sholo. Sholo explains that it’s the Sword of War, forged in Krakesque for the Warmaster before his banishment. It was said that it’s not only a weapon but a living entity that now has bonded with Layton to defend Krakesque against the Warmaster. Sholo also explains that the sword is required for the ritual the Warmaster must complete to revive Krakesque. Layton mentions that the Magi told him that he can control a kraken using the sword, and Sholo believes this is a way to communicate with the Deep One. Although Layton could summon it, most of the crew believes it would be a terrible idea. The crew asks if there are alternative ways for them to enter Krakesque. However, it’s now the city of the dead, and the living are forbidden and will wither away. Sholo is able to perform a temporary ritual to protect them, but he won’t be able to get them out of the city. Sholo then asks to speak to the two captains alone. The rest of the crew steps out of the hut.

Sholo tells the two captains that it’s possible for him to protect the crew, but only in trade of something. Sholo can give the crew an additional layer of protection and bring them to a safe location, but in return he’ll receive the soul of a captain. Layton offers himself, because this was his quest. However, Captain Armstrong also wants to sacrifice himself because of his age. They realize that they don’t know the intentions of Sholo. Although he does not have proof, Layton believes he might be the Deep One. Nevertheless, Sholo doesn’t seem to be lying. Both parties agree that Sholo will help them out if Captain Armstrong will give his soul away in a few years. To be safe, Armstrong asks for Sholo to prove himself. Sholo holds his hands out over the fire, and it becomes a deep dark purple color. Layton’s body suddenly falls limp without a pulse, and a small faint light hovers over his cold body. Sholo explains that the light is his soul, but Armstrong isn’t very impressed. The kobold can’t keep this up for long and gives Layton his soul back.

Convinced, Layton and Armstrong ask for ink and paper to draw up a contract to establish the terms and and put it on the fine print, but Sholo has no paper as he prefers a blood binding. He creates a bind with Captain Armstrong for his soul, and the rest of the crew are invited inside. The captains tell the crew that Sholo has additional protection in exchange for Luna’s hat. Both Alice and Luna don’t believe this, but Sholo interrupts them before they can say something . The shaman requires an egg from the Deep One, and one can be found from the shine to the east. The crew walks out, a bit annoyed at the lack of contracts in fine print but otherwise clear on their next goal.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Date is shown on YouTube VOD