Storm Catchers: Chapter 2 – Curiosities and Fascinations

–Modified from the Murkmire Malevolence–

Unbeknownst to anyone but Dr. Cassee Darnell, the Arkin Natural History Collection, and potentially all of Port Damali, is in grave danger. Eiselcross explorers unearthed an ancient curiosity dubbed “the Murkmire Stone”. This object is actually a Calamity-era creature’s egg, and it’s about to hatch. The characters must infiltrate the museum, steal the egg, and return it to Dr. Dannell to be neutralized before it DOES BAD THINGS.

Adventure Background

Dr. Cassee Dannell provides what information she has, a roughly sketched map and some background information about the Arkin Museum of Natural History and the Murkmire Stone.

Dr. Dannell, a brilliant academic educated in the Tri-Spires district of Zadash, provides her speciality of knowledge about Calamity-era arcana to the Cobalt Soul. She conscientiously applies her skills to monitor new curiosities from the the northern continent of Eiselcross that have begun to be unearthed and opportunistically sold to the highest bidders. With the new “Eisel-craze” captivating the attention of collectors, among which there are many in Port Damali, Dannell has had more than enough work trying to keep tabs on items purchased at auction, and whether any of them could be dangerous.

Alda Arkin, one such collector with a particular interest in Exandrian natural history, had her attention utterly captured by a strange object at the resplendent Exalted Collection Auction House in Port Damali. She feverishly outbid other would-be possessors. Light green, opaque, and with a gemstone-like sheen, this ovoid stone was covered in strange furrows. The stone seemed ritualistic in nature, but it matched no recorded historical practices, and no one could identify its composition. When Dr. Dannell saw this item at auction, which the auction house dubbed the Murkmire Stone, she had an intuition it was not created by any known civilization, pre-Calamity or otherwise—and might be dangerous.

Archivist Dannell continued to research the strange stone. Her concern turned to dread when she found descriptions of similar objects from the sparse Calamity-era primary source writings within the Soul’s archives. These objects were, in fact, the eggs of experimentally engineered monstrosities created by now snuffed out Age of Arcanum societies. She learned that such could eggs lay dormant, but once the eggs are unearthed, the creatures within rapidly develop and hatch. The resulting creatures are ravenous, grow exponentially as they feed, and unchecked can eventually overwhelm entire villages. The eggs are nearly indestructible, but the tomes claim encasing the eggs in pure crystal can neutralize them.

According to Archivist Dannell’s research, the Murkmire Stone is due to hatch in a matter of days. She frantically attempted to presented her findings to the Soul, who while concerned did not agree with her conclusions and found that any intervention would be premature and expose the Soul to too much public scrutiny or criticism. Without adequate “monetary incentives”, Dr. Dannell knew that attempting to persuade any sizable mercenary cohort herself would be fool’s errand, and that the gravity of the situation would be lost. Desperate, Archivist Dannell snuck into the museum after hours and tried to steal the stone, but she was caught. The Soul disavowed her actions and has restricted her access to the rest of Soul’s resources. With mere hours left in the Murkmire Stone’s gestation period, Dannell is nearly out of options.

The Gala

Not knowing each or their capabilities well, Artemis, Rocky, Vellym, and Morgryn spend some time to prepare and plan for the heist. Artemis and Rocky helped Morgryn with a disguise, and Vellym makes sure they have the right supplies. The gala is a grand spectacle, armoured guards lining a grand staircase, and patrons dressed to the nines. Alda Arkin welcomes each individual guest, scrutinizing each one as if memorizing their faces suspiciously. The graceful elven woman is holding a clutch behind her back, that gives off an aura of abjuration magic.

“Name?” the entrance guard asks Morgryn as he steps up, feeling especially rediculous with his oversized (and fake) handlebar moustache and styled salt and pepper wig. Swallowing through slight discomfort, with his high necked plum suit, he responds in a tone much more pompous than his new acquaintences are used to.

“Good evening. I am Willem Defaux, pleasure to accept this inventation.” Morgryn confidently hands over the gala ticket to the guard and is waved on through.

Next, Vellym slowly walks up the stairs, favouring one leg and leaning heavily on his cane. A blue sash and red lapel being the only splash of colour on his otherwise dark and slim fitted suit. Maybe a little too slim fitted, as the security guard narrows their eyes removing Vellym’s thieves tools from their hiding place amongst his layers. “Oh, I forgot about those.” Vellym doesn’t fight the guard who takes his tools away.

“You can get these when you leave.” The guard tells Vellym, in a neutral tone, like he’s already said this a dozen times tonight to other guests.

Artemis goes next, posing as a traveling performer named Anastasia Bell. But when security reveals the horn instrument she carries, this attracts the ever watchful eyes of Curator Alda Arkin.

“No worries, this is my bard!” Fortunately, Morgryn has slid into character and smooths things out convincing Arkin that Artemis is in fact part of his entourage along with Rocky, his personal security detail.

Rocky draws attention because, well it’s difficult for him not to. He’s larger than most other people at the gala, and blue dragonborns aren’t very common. In addition, Rocky’s choice in ‘formal wear’ includes a dark leather jacket with faux fur lined around the neck and cuffs and mirrored aviator sunglasses. He’s left his weapons stashed elsewhere, but sports a new pair of ornamented brass knuckles that spell out ‘LOVE’.

Finally all in the museum, the team gets to work, scouting and planning for entry and exit points, and investigating potential traps and alarms. The gala is full of colourful characters including Three Earrings a tabaxi privateer, her snow white coat and leopard patches a perfect canvas for her eccentric outif and jewelry. A freshly shaven dwarf, with a strawberry blond ponytail and well tailored suit introduces himself as Duurek Kronst. Duurek owns a skyship in the port, and is seeking adventurers to join him on an exploration mission to the far off Blightshore.

As the night progresses, everyone makes their way upstairs, where a gigantic life-sized Allosaurus looms over everyone in the hall next to the gemstone collection. Cocktails and champage glasses are handed out. Rocky knocks a few back and Artemis slowly sips one until she gets the chance to discretely dump the majority of contents down the toilet. Vellym stuffs his pockets with rich cheeses and meats, and Morgryn fights hard to keep his disdain for grandure off of his expressions.