Among the Reeds: Episode 02

### Reddit Thread

***Among the Reeds* Episode 2** was streamed on Arcadum's Twitch channel on June 23, 2021, and premiered on Arcadum's YouTube channel on June 28, 2021.
The party returns to the headman to report their findings and the daimyo's possible involvement with his daughter's kidnapping. They return to the tavern to rest, but not without trying Black Silver. Chaos ensues.

## Summary

*Originally written by u/Lrret1064*

While investigating the scene where the trail of blood ends, they realize the river leads to a nearby Daimyo’s land. The party decides to head back to Dozo to inform the headsman of the situation. He understands that there was nothing much that could have been done, and offers them double payment to rescue his daughter, to which the party agrees. They return to the tavern to discuss their next move. They learn from Block that the headman's daughter is not the only one to go missing, so they formulate a plan to disguise Rattacus as a woman to lure out the kidnappers, and find out their plan and base. While this discussion is happening, Kaju buys Black Silver from Scorb and shares it with Rattacus and Eli. They inhale the Black Silver and begin to trip, and end up waking in The Dream Realm.

Rattacus and Eli jump in the crystal lake nearby where they woke up, and disappear at the bottom. Kaju tries to look for them, but gives up easily and moves on to explore the dream. While exploring, he almost gets swept up by some of the storms that take place. However, he is saved by a winged woman. She introduces herself as Alyla Aurora, a Silent Knight who are protectors of the dream. She asks Kaju how he got here, and he explains that he awoke here with some of his friends after taking drugs, but they are missing now. Alyla asks him to describe his friends so she can help find them. She then senses someone else that may be dangerous that most likely found his friends, and flies over with Kaju. Rattacus and Eli wake up on a solid river made of the same crystal liquid in the lake, and meet a dragonborn woman named Nox, another Silent Knight. Nox begins to interrogate the pair about why they are in the dream, however she begins to grow impatient with them as their intoxication keeps them from giving a satisfying answer. Before it gets too dangerous, Alyla joins the group with Kaju in tow. Now that they are all together, Nox and Alyla get the full context as to how they got to the Dream and take note of the Black Silver. Alyla then cleanses them of their intoxication, because it tethered them to the dream, and Nox opens a portal back. As everyone leaves, Alyla has a symbol burned onto her hand, and she shifts into something else, a spirit with a smooth form. (This is a tie in to events happening in Callous Row, Arcadums VRchat world).

The trio wake up to find Rattacus in a poorly made women’s dress. The party then begins to make a plan to get Rattacus to pretend to be the missing daughter to collect the reward money, then get the real daughter, kidnap Rattacus and return the real daughter to collect double pay. They then notice Scorb is overhearing their plan and threaten to kill him which causes him to run away. Dik Cok sneaks into the headman’s home and steals a portrait of the missing daughter for Rattacus to disguise himself, as well as the deed to the house. Block witnesses all of this and Kaju tries to cast Suggestion on him to forget, but it doesn't work. Everyone heads outside to discuss what to do with Block as he quietly sneaks away to inform the guards. They notice him and Machio launches Dik at him to stop him, and Rattacus casts Suggestion on him return to the bar and hear them out. It works. Combat ends and Block takes his place behind the bar while the group discusses what to do with him. Rattacus wants to offer Block the deed to the lord's house. Kaju wants to tie him up or kill him. Discussing their plans in front of Block is awkward, so most of the group steps outside to argue amongst themselves while Machio is left alone inside the bar with Block. Machio walks over to a window and smashes it, urging block to flee. Perhaps still under the effects of Suggestion, Block stays in place. The group rushes back in and overwhelms Machio with conflicting demands. Machio raises his sword, saying "I'm sorry." Rattacus says, "Machio, no," but Machio paints the ceiling with Block's blood.

After Machio chops Block’s head off, the group notices some guards approaching, as they most likely saw the commotion outside. Thinking quickly on his feet, Rattacus disguises himself as Block, and convinces the guards that everything is fine. Machio begins to freak out after realising what he has done, and Rattacus tries to calm him down. While this is happening, Eli begins a ritual to Crowley at the site of a fresh murder, and convinces the rest of party to join in saying it will help. After the ritual is complete, Block’s body begins to turn to dust and flows into Eli’s eye along with all the blood. Crowly then begins to speak to the party saying a Crimson Ediction has begun, marking the village for slaughter and with every innocent killed, Eli will grow in power. After contemplating what they have done, the party quickly leaves to find the missing daughter.

## Featured Characters

### Main Characters

* Dik Cok
* Eli Bloodbane
* Kaju Magi
* Machio Manis
* Rattacus

## References

1. ↑ Date is shown on YouTube VOD
2. ↑ Verum Weekly: Summary of Streamed Games of the Week (June 24th, 2021)
3. ↑ https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1068802759?collection=xX3ZjHDziRZsTw&t=2h1m37s