We head to Clockwork Carnival: etd a few years back in Neverwinter. Sits alongside river. Revitalized the clockworks industry because everything is run on clockworks. Near Tower district.
We visit the carnival. Ogres rewinding attractions, city guards around. Sideshow Alley: unique sights at north end of carnival grounds. Five tents: The Giant Gorilla, The World’s Ugliest Boy, The Will-o’-Wisp, The Mermaid, The Chain Devil.
We ask gnome barker of Mermaid tent where Balink Sparkneedle is. Kiya casts Suggestion on the Chain Devil barker, Sam, making him think Balink Sparkneedle will reward him if he helps us find him. He goes around, asking people if they know where Balink is.
- Will o’the whisp – asks the Steve the gnome barker where to find him “Balink doesn’t talk to us”
- World’s Ugliest Boy – same response when he asks
- Becomes clear he doesn’t know and can’t find out.
We ask Sam to get us into the Mermaid tent. He pays our admission to the Mermaid tent: A glass pool of water w/miserable mermaid in it. (Seriya) She has not seen Balink but knows where he lives. She says she is from the shallow seas to the far north, was captured while traveling. WE MUST RESCUE HER
It’s 200 yards to river, guards patrolling. The plan: light tent on fire and carry her out with her tail disguised as legs. Fire will distract guards and they won’t pursue her if they think she’s dead. And hopefully Balink Sparkneedle will show up when his tent catches on fire.
Kia’s firebolt catches the tent on fire but rouses suspicion of magic. We notice gnomes with fake “Will-o’Wisp” lanterns leaving tent. We hurry, but the illusion on Seriya’s tail dissipates, leaving Tyener carrying what is very obviously a mermaid.
>> Buy a cloak for next time.
Guards chase us. Kiya falls behind. She blinds one guard and charms another, telling him, “see that no one follows us.”
We finally get Seriya to the water. She tells us: Balink lives in Mulberry Cottage in the Bluelake district. She asks us, who are we? We are called “knights of justice” ( – Kiya, faintly from distance)
We go to the Bluelake district and ask a guard where to find the Mulberry Cottage. A woman stands in the doorway and invites us in.
We enter the house and discover King Morpholomew chained to a table, with the Rat King standing beside him, and Balink sitting behind a deck. It is revealed that Asparagus betrayed the king to gain the throne. Gus offers us money to walk away, but we refuse. He’s also insulting.
The wargs enter, led by Bombalina, and fight to defend the king of cats. Together, we take out the rats and the rat king. Gus is taken by the cats for punishment. Balink pays us to go away.
We gain allyship of Wargs and Cats, and +50 GP each.