The Black Russian Searches a Shack: House of the Beast 1

THE BLACK RUSSIAN elects to investigate the STINKING SHACK and rides forward with his motley crew.



AND MAKES A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY.



 

The Ninjirates gasp –




FYODOR?!


The decomposing body – clearly a day or more old – belongs to Fyodor 9 Fingers, one of the friendly Ninjirates that THE BLACK RUSSIAN had previously instructed to continue hunting the villainous and elusive MONKEY KILLER.

From his wounds, it's clear that Fyodor was attacked by multiple assailants. If this is the work of the MONKEY KILLER, it would seem the lone wolf is now working with ACCOMPLICES…

What's more, there's something odd about the body's pose… One hand points straight North. The other straight South. Was Fyodor trying to leave a message? …Or did his killers pose him after his death for their own nefarious purposes?

THE BLACK RUSSIAN surveys his surroundings…



 

In front of him, the cobblestone road splits. One branch heads NORTH, between the KEEP and a CLIFFTOP TOWER. On the left of this path, a stone stairway leads up the cliff. The SCUFFLING NOISE coming from the cliff has intensified into a genuine RUCKUS.



 

The other branch heads EAST, past the MUSHROOM field. The cause of the strange murmuring, SNORING noise is now apparent – next to an enormous crate of snacks, an oddly dressed man stirs in a fitful slumber.




zzzZZZZZzzzzzZZZZ… Far out… ZZZZZZzzzzzZZZzzzzz… Man… zzZZZzzZzzZz



 

But the unconscious gourmand is not the only thing to come into view: further down, the path branches again – one side curving around the KEEP, the other heading into a narrow cliff-lined PASS. THE BLACK RUSSIAN can see MOVEMENT on both sides. It looks as though someone in front of the KEEP is hitching a HORSE to something just around the corner. The movement at the mountain pass is harder to make out – someone, or something, is trying to stay out of view.



 

BEHIND, the cobblestone road heads SOUTH, around the BURIAL MOUND. There is more movement in the distance – something stirs in the JUNGLE across from the BURIAL MOUND.



 

It could be just a trick of the wind, but it almost sounds as if there are distant cries from the far SOUTH, on the other side of the BURIAL MOUND. The wind picks up again, whistling through the rocks atop the MOUND with a low, eerie GROAN.

What will THE BLACK RUSSIAN do?

Head NORTH and…


1. Climb the cliff's STAIRCASE and investigate the RUCKUS at the top of the CLIFF.

2. Follow the cobblestone road FAR NORTH, past the CLIFFS and the KEEP.

Head EAST and…


3. Pick some mushrooms in the MUSHROOM FIELD.

4. Wake up the SLEEPING MAN and ask him if he knows anything about FYODOR's murder.

5. Steal the SLEEPING MAN's crate of SNACKS.

6. Follow the cobblestone road FAR EAST, past the MUSHROOM FIELD, and investigate the movement on the other side of the KEEP and in the PASS.

Head SOUTH and…


7. Investigate the BURIAL MOUND. It's the wind that's making that GROANING noise, right? Right?

8. Cross the SOUTHERN ROAD and try to find out what's moving in the JUNGLE.

9. Follow the SOUTHERN ROAD and see if those distant cries really were just the wind.


















 

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