A Storm Approaches: Episode 04

### Reddit Thread

***A Storm Approaches* Episode 4** was streamed on Arcadum's Twitch channel on August 10, 2021, and premiered on Arcadum's YouTube channel on August 12, 2021.

## Summary

*Summary originally written by u/AsAlternateAsItCanBe*

The man who calls out to them is an old Samurai named Wokou. He claims that he has come here because his wife Inuchio is trapped in a stasis of time; to break her out, he needs the Fable's power. The party demands something in exchange, so Wokou replies that he can help them train with their Blade Paths, which the party accepts.

To train them, Wokou spars with each of the party members. The first in line is Buroken. While he spars with Wokou, his body's ki is unlocked by the Samurai, granting him the first boon of the Deep Blade: Rumbling Deep. With this ability Buroken is able to reposition an enemy if they fail a Strength check. The next to come up is Mungus, in whom Wokou unlocks the potential of the Bane Blade: Spellblade. This ability amplifies the effects of a melee attack with a spell's damage. In addition, if he hits, Mungus can cast the spell again with advantage the next turn. As Wokou spars with Mungus, he notices an entity that's watching them. Mungus explains that it is the Gambler Black and asks the warrior if he knows a way to cut his ties with the patron. Wokou tells him that it is possible by rending the flesh where the mark of the patron is, but he warns Mungus that he then will have to fight the servants of the Gambler Black, as they will be coming for his head. During Socko's bout, she unlocks the first Shining Blade skill: Blinding Strike. This allows her to blind an enemy for 1 round if they fail their intelligence save. In addition, she gains 2 more Hit Points, as she rolled a nat 20 while sparring. Aisu is next to spar. During sparring — and debating religion — with Aisu, Wokou notices her fighting style is similar to Neve's, one of his associates and another follower of Crowley. Wokou strikes her on the side of the neck and unlocks an ability of the Singing Blade: Sonic Dissonance. It allows her to hit all enemies surrounding her with the sound of her weapon. The final person to spar with Wokou is Sus'ke. Wokou notices that the Path that Sus'ke chose is more burdensome than the Paths of the others. As they begin sparring, Sus'ke's weapons shatter and reforge into a long, sanguine whip embedded with blades. Sus'ke moves as if something is controlling him; he gets more violent. Wokou notices that something is possessing Sus'ke.

The Immortal Blade is forged with blood. "Blood of my blood." Usually, this has no special effects, but Sus'ke is a Changeling. And Changelings are mirrors. Wokou sees the movements; one of the Apprentices had already been named — the Shadow — and now Sus'ke is the Heart.

Despite this revelation, Wokou releases Sus'ke's chakra, but instead of the Path of the Immortal Blade, he will follow the Path of the Apprentice as a servant of the Mad Wizard Tyre. He unlocks a passive ability: Blood of my Blood. He'll never be disarmed, as he can make a Sanguine Whip at all times. This also marks him as the second Apprentice of Tyre, which teaches him the lesson "Nothing is Sacred." Along his wrists, there are strange red tattoos. Wokou explains what just happened to the rest of the party and what this could mean for them and Sus'ke.

Wokou then tells the party that next they should find the Storm Blade located in the middle of the Titan's Eye. He helps them on their way and opens a portal in the middle of the arena. But when the Mist begins pouring through, a large creature appears from the portal and attacks. A battle ensues; unfortunately, Wokou has to hold the portal open for the party to go through and is unable to join the fight.

The Mistwalker Vindicator moves towards Sus'ke and swings its morning star, smacking right into him. As it hits Sus'ke, the Mist surrounding it gets thicker. Buroken suspects that the creature will be weakened if it isn't in the Mist. He then fires a Guiding Bolt and critically hits the Vindicator, dealing a huge damage to the creature. Socko Enlarges Sock and tells him to flap his wings, which reduces the thickness of the Mist. Aisu casts Shield of Faith while Sus'ke critically strikes out with his blood whip. The Mistwalker then changes Stances and disappears within the Mist. Looking for the creature, Socko orders her owlbear to flap his wings again, removing a portion of the Mist. The others also walk and swing around to try and find the Mistwalker, but it is Mungus who accidentally bumps into it. He tries to hit it with a Spellblade charged with Dragon's Breath, but the creature dodges out of the way. It then swings down with its morning star, but Mungus deflects it by casting Shield. The Vindicator then leaps away from Mungus and disappears back into the Mist.

## Featured Characters

### Main Characters

* Aisu Kurimu
* Buroken
* Mamo Socko
* Mungus
* Sus'ke

## References

1. ↑ Verum Weekly: Summaries of Streamed Games of the Week (August 12th, 2021)