Really enjoying the writing in this one so far. Good descriptions, good use of language.

Summary of episode 3.

Going to Pondside

Mabel 🐭, Helga 🐸, and the gang head to Pondside to see the aftermath of Maha’s attack. They chat about their pasts as they walk over.¹

Pondside is destroyed. No one is left. Footprints suggest that everyone fled to Haymeadow.

Squirrels

They spot two squirrels digging in the ruins and the gang eavesdrops on them:

• Maha attacked another place recently.
• Someone called Cruelclaw assigned them to this job.
• Their colleagues are going to Three Trees City.

The gang fights off the squirrels and their skeleton army. They decide to head to Three Trees City to track down those squirrels and investigate Cruelclaw.

Before leaving, Helga takes an etched copper orb and a wand from the ruins of her grandparents’ home. This feels like foreshadowing.

Three Trees City

The gang arrives by river boat. Mabel and Finneas 🐰 ask around if anyone has seen those two squirrel necromancers but stumble upon a boisterous otter.

The otter’s also looking for someone. Unknown species, blue cloak, and… tattoos? What are tattoos?

Helga shows him a drawing of a vision she had of a fox that matches his description. Things get tense when the otter starts hassling her for more information and Mabel steps in.

Flood

Before the altercation gets worse, panic erupts at the docks as the tide rises absurdly fast.

The Flood Gar, a Calamity Beast, arrives, carrying in a huge wave. Together with the otter, the current sweeps the gang away from Three Trees City. They climb out of the water into a damp cave, face to face with a bunch of rats that don’t welcome them.

[1] Small talk

• Helga was born near Three Tree City and later moved to Pondside. She got along well with her grandparents but not the rest of her family. She learned magic under King Glarb until she got kicked for a “mistake”.
• Finneas is a farmer from a long lineage of farmers. This is his first time leaving Goodhill.
• Gev 🦎 and Hugs 🦡 once travelled past the Outer Woods. Gev claims they fought squirrel necromancers, but he’s probably masking a traumatic experience.

“He’s not alone. There’s a lizardfolk, with green and black scales, and yellow eyes. And another small creature who’s hard to see. A dark cloud follows them.”