195: Open Up and Eat the Rainbow!

## Summary

The party meet Gwen and Dew obtains his mysterious book.

## Synopsis

The party are in Crumplemeyer's Post Station and Will has just received hand-delivered letter from Vera saying only *"HELP"*. Will quizzes the postmaster about the letter and who brought it in. The postmaster says Gerald was working when it came in and Will tries to find out where he lives. They leave the post office and in the street they notice a young, beautiful women with bright pink hair pulled back in a pony tail, wearing an expensive dress and a haughty expression on her face.

Dew arrives at Celestial Confections just as someone is locking up the store. She gladly agrees to open up again and gives Dew the chocolate turtles as requested. She also explains that she was trying to obtain a book from Bella, which sounds very similar to Dew's. She decides to come back to the book shop with Dew having heard that he is travelling with a group of "heroes" who might be able to help her find her missing money that she desperately needs to pay her rent.

The group are introduced to Gwen and they go back to Crumplemeyer's Book Bin and exchange the chocolate turtles for Dew's book. Bella reveals that Gwen was the "tip" she promised on how to open the book because Gwen has been studying the gnomish symbols on its lock. Gwen offers them special marshmallows to put up their noses which completely eliminate the sulphurous paper mill smell. Dew is very happy. Will refuses to do it. Gwen asks everyone if they would like to stay at her place and they accept.

As the group go to leave a town crier announces the evening news, *"Breaking News, the Prime Arbiter of Six Rivers is reported to be deathly ill. She has not been seen outside of her chambers in a few weeks."* This is strange news to the group who know the Prime Arbiter to be a young boy. The town crier continues: *"Young Morla recently celebrated her 10th birthday, but the usual celebrations were not held in public! Suspicions run rampant! There may be a severe illness she is dealing with!"*

He goes on to say *"Announcing the exciting beginning of the 'Quarterly Crumplemeyer Cryptic Crusade'! Starting tomorrow morning, as always, Cliffside shops giving out different puzzles with minimum purchase! Solve the most for a reward and an audience with Merrick Crumplemeyer himself! Maybe you'll be the next paper prodigy!"*

The group head back to the Waterside, paying to go through the wall and arrive at Gwen's small apartment (near Threaded Stock). At Gwen's apartment they discuss what might have happened to her money. Will suspects that Ricardo Ulysses has stolen it. They settle down for the night. Mo, Hilula and Gwen go to sleep, but as usual, the rest of the party cannot.

## Trivia

* Fun Fact - The young beautiful woman with pink hair that the party saw is actually a nod to the character Denise plays in her Waterdeep Dragonheist campaign - Jerika Fischof.... KT may have been lead to believe that was who would be joining the party. I don't think Jerika and Will would have gotten along.... at all.
* This episode contains Raphina's recitation of the history of the Pineapple Wars!
* The episode title quotes Abby. The party have recently met Gwen and are talking to Bella at the book store about the animosity between Cliffsiders and Watersiders. Will is pretending to be from Cliffside and hate all Watersiders and Bella wonders why he and Gwen are talking to each other. KT/Will: *"I thought she was gonna beat me up. Look how giant she is. She's huge."* Denise/Gwen: *"Well, sometimes you just have to try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud."* KT/Will: *"Oh my..."* Abby/Raphina: *"That's right, Marko!"* KT/Will: *"Oh gosh, you guys..."* Abby: *"Open up and eat the rainbow."* Eric: *"Does Will back up into the post office again?"*