189: We Do Not Dip Our Toes Into The Cheese

## Summary

The party test their new water-breathing ability and check in on Will's investment opportunity, *The Lazy Currant* tavern. While there, they learn about the magic paper produced in Morrow's Inlet. The bartender Kenny claims the money he was paid is getting heavier, but Will denies any knowledge. It's later revealed that he did in fact know, and he storms out. Will examines his sting from the Warping Scorpion, his leg starts winking in and out of existence and he passes out.

## Synopsis

The party emerges from the Trout Temple where they've just had another audience with the Rainbow Trout and been granted their Water Breathing ability. Snow is still falling. Will wants to test that they have indeed been granted water-breathing ability. Batthwack grabs him and says *"We're goin in!"* before plunging them both into the river. Batthwack can breathe underwater, but Will is flailing around under the water holding his breath. Eventually Will can't hold his breath any longer and he discovers he can indeed breathe underwater. The rest of the party are just watching. Raphina jumps in because she wants to know if she now has gills, but she doesn't feel anything on her neck. Will climbs out, trying to maintain some composure, but is very angry.

The party want to get some food so they head to *The Lazy Currant* tavern. Will also wants to see how his business investment is coming along. On the way Batthwack goes into the general store to pick up some more trail rations. In the *The Lazy Currant* they chat to Kenny, the bartender. He says their mission to vanquish Chilchirah has been the talk about town, so he knows all about it. Raphina asks if it was in the local newspaper, but is told there is no such thing. She resolves to introduce journalism to the area. He also says that while they were away he picked up a few things to expand the menu with: pheasant, grapes and a few types of cheese and crackers. Will pretends to be impressed. Batthwack asks the bartender for another bottle of Bufflin whiskey. The bartender agrees to make everyone an omelette and also says he needs to talk to Will about their investment so Will and Batthwack go with him into the kitchen to talk.

An eldery male dwarf named Pothos talks to the rest of the group. He tells them about the magical paper used by wizards in Morrow's Inlet.

The bartender expresses his concern to Will about the weight of the gold he paid him for the inn. It has got heavier still since they left it there and he's clearly very suspicious of Will. Will is lying through his teeth saying that he knew nothing about the gold getting heavier. The bartender takes food out to the rest of the party and quizzes them about coins getting heavier. They are excited to hear someone else mention this strange problem, innocently revealing Will's deceit. *"We should tell Will, he'll feel a lot better!"* says Raphina.

Will and Batthwack debate what to do about the heavy money. The conversation comes round to their contract and they remind each other of the terms of breaching it, i.e. if Will breaks the contract he has to be Batthwack's magical butler for six months. If Batthwack breaks the contract he has to give Will his waterfall necklace. Kenny comes back in and interrogates Will about the heavy money as he now knows that Will was lying.

The rest of the party hear raised voices in the kitchen and come through to the join them (except Mo who remains in the dining room). Kenny explains that he is very perturbed that Will misled him by not telling him about the money situation and pretending not to know about it. Will storms out. Kenny tells the rest of the party that he's open to finding a resolution and continuing the arrangement. The problem is that at some point the money will become unusable.

Will has gone outside to find somewhere to sit, away from *The Lazy Currant*. He still doesn't feel like he is part of this group, and he knows it's his own fault. He investigates his leg, where the Warping Scorpion stung him. He scratches at the wound a little bit and is inspecting it closely when suddenly it moves two inches further up his leg. It then jumps back to where it was to start with. Then it jumps two inches up his leg and back again. Will is staring in shocked disbelief at this when his whole ankle fades out of view for half a second before reappearing. Then he passes out.

## Trivia

* The episode title quotes Eric/Kenny the bartender at the *Lazy Currant*. He's been telling the party about the new foods he's been getting in to the improve the menu, such as *"different types of cheese."* He later asks if they should be helping themselves, but Will admonishes him for the suggestion. Kenny clarifies his position *"I personally do not 'dip my toe' into the, er..."* Dew finishes his sentence for him: *"Cheese?"* Kenny: *"That's right sir, we do not dip our toes into the cheese here. That is something we pride ourselves on. I was planning on putting that on some of the marketing/promotional items that we are going to be circulating here to promote the growing* Lazy Currant*."*

## References

1. ↑ Eric reveals that the drink that so intoxicated the party in the lizardfolk lair (see episode 186: Don't Drink the Parsley!) came from the *Log* *of Ulin* (like Lagavulin whiskey)! He says *"He grows these mushrooms that are then fermented into this drink.“*