After exiting the traveling Inn at the End of the Road, the Witchlight Lost are trying to decide whether to investigate the large tree stump they see in the distance, or head to Downfall, where they will likely encounter Bavlorna. Fearing they aren’t prepared if they encounter her, they decide instead to head to the tree looking for information.
As they walk and talk, they little notice that another has joined them. The hooded figure is quickly noticed by Bother. When she points out their new guest, he throws off his hood and announces himself as Agdon Longscarf and takes off running. The party is split on giving him chase, until Bow realizes that the harengon bandit stole the false wings of the Witchlight Monarch he got from the carnival.
The group splits up, with Thissalus and Bow chasing the thief directly, while the rest of the group try to head around the outskirts to flank him. A cast of entangle, and the quick hands of Thissalus, and the bandit prince it caught. Rather than the fight he was hoping for, Thissalus instead finds that Agdon immediately turns into a blubbering mess, seemingly unable to escape from his own scarf. To gain his freedom, Agdon shows the party the way to the brigands’ camp.
At the camp, the rest of the brigands seem annoyed with their would-be prince. They immediately turn on him due to his cowardice and start idolizing the party. They reveal that Agdon was caught by Zybilna and nailed by the scarf to the tree for his crimes. When Zybilna disappeared, they tried to cut down the tree to free him, but the magic kept him pinned. It wasn’t until Bavlorna (who the brigands call Slack-jawed Lorna) came and offered the harengon thief a deal that he was finally freed. After some quick questioning, Agdon said that he has to give at least 1 thing off every person he steals to Bavlorna, with her preference being for memories.
After some rest, the brigands are able to lend the party a skiff to take to downfall. The group brings Agdon as a Once in the swampy city, they are greeted by amicable bullywugs, who escort them to a pier to disembark. As they head around the town, they see a strange weather balloon off in the distance that looks like a storm cloud.
On the bridge to the royal court, they encounter a little scarecrow named Clapperclaw. He is trying to find his head, which he describes as a glorious stag skull. However, he’s currently stuck with a gourd that seems to have something clinking inside. He is speaking with the heads of the deposed previous monarchs of the court. They surprisingly respond to the little scarecrow, but none have seen the skull. When the party approaches, Agdon hides behind the group, and they quickly piece together that the harengon must have taken the skull. They promise the scarecrow to keep an eye out for the skull.
At the Soggy Court of Downfall, the group is introduced to His Royal Majesty Gullop XIX. The bullywug royal is courteous to the newly arrived party and listens to their story of lost items. Luckily for the party, the king has come into the possession of the Big Book of Bad Blood, basically Bavlorna’s burn book. He suggests that they use it to parley with Bavlorna, but there’s a problem. According to the King, only a member of the Soggy Court can speak with Bavlorna. One of them can join, but the party is unsure and think it a trick. In the end, the oddly silent Thala is chosen to become a member of the court.
The bullywug royals instruct her to head to the palace and wear the clothing of the Soggy Court. On the islet behind the court, Thala is made up in the swampy clothes of the bullywug royalty. She discovers a note hidden in the clothing, that she will share with the group soon.
But first, the party decides to head over to the storm cloud balloon they noticed earlier. Attached to the basket of the cloud is a little shop with two darklings running the stand. The items seem a little strange, and the darklings are more than a little rude. However, Bother is able to barter for their Moonlight monocle by giving up the clothes on her back. Luckily, she had an extra set and was able to immediately change after getting the magic monocle.
With Thala in her regalia, and the rest of the party behind her, the group heads to the Soggy Court to be escorted to Bavlorna.
