Our group of adventuring friends is drinking ale at the Fallen Tower Inn in Neverwinter. Or at least, Vistra and Kiya are drinking. Tyener is hanging out. There is a carnival in town, called the Clockwork Carnival. It is filled with exciting attractions.
A cat approaches us with note “follow me”, we follow. It brings us to the bad part of town, and turns down an alleyway. A half ogre mistakes us from some weak-ass lowbies, attacks us, and gets resoundingly wrekd.
The cat speaks, introducing himself as Asparagus “Gus” Whitesocks, and we follow him to the Congress of Cats.
We learn that the king, Morpholomew is missing. Their laws state that he can only be absent three nights before losing his kingship, and tonight is the third night. Time is short. The cats ask us to help them find King Morpholomew:
- Black cat with star on his face and purple eyes
- Normally sleeps in house
- Last cat to see him was Bombalina, a young energetic grey cat, who saw him going outside
- Mortal enemy of the Rat Boss, who hangs out in the alleys + warehouse.
- Recently made a new alliance with the Worg Lord, and they don’t know where he is.
- Bombalina says that the wayside oracle may know where Morpholomew has gone.
The Wayside Oracle
We visit the Wayside Oracle, who is an older female gnome on the corner begging. She saw the king a few days ago when he wanted advice on Warg treaty: distrust of wargs. Rats would benefit if the treaty fell apart. She mentions Balink Sparkneedle, who runs the sideshow in the carnival and is allied to the rats, and says he might know something too.
The Rat Boss
On Rock Edge Road we enter a warehouse that is quite dilapidated. There is nothing on the first floor, so we go upstairs. We are set upon by some rats, and we threaten their nest to stop the fight. In the next room, we meet the Rat Boss who is a were rat, a shape changer.
He suspiciously suggests that the Stinkrock Crew have kidnapped King Morpholomew, down by the docks. When we ask him about Balink Sparkneedle, he jumps out the window.
We search the room and find a Silver necklace (v. 30 GP) – Kiya
Rather than take the stairs, we stealthily climb/fall out the window too. Just in case. Gus has nothing to say about our discoveries.