Session 7 — The Cat Job & The Road South

Date played: June 28, 2026 | In-game location: Waterdeep → Road to Daggerford

The party followed up Bjorn's bird report from the training spar. Using Speak with Animals (ritual), Bjorn's bird had spotted a cat matching Pumpkin's description but didn't approach. The party set out to track him down.

The Cat Job#

Bjorn ritual-cast Speak with Animals and asked the bird where it found the cat. It led them to an alley where Pumpkin had been eating — but the cat had moved on. Investigation checks: Fenrir rolled a natural 1, Bjorn got a 4, Melech got a 16 and found food scraps and paw prints leading away.

Following the tracks took them to a second alley with three street cats. Bjorn spent 10 minutes bonding with them (Animal Handling: 12), then asked about Pumpkin. The cats confirmed they knew him and suggested he was probably at the bakery.

At the bakery, Fenrir spotted Pumpkin behind the building eating pastry scraps (Investigation: 18). Bjorn's spell was nearly expired — just enough time for a brief conversation. Pumpkin confirmed he was just exploring, as he does regularly. Bjorn bought him a pastry from the shop and walked him back to the guild.

Talia was at the desk and issued the 10 gp reward.

The Thornwicks#

The party delivered Pumpkin to his owners in the merchant district. Garrick and Maribel Thornwick were relieved — Maribel especially so. The Thornwicks own Thornwick Imports and Fine Textiles and offered the party their services.

Garrick, a retired adventurer, gave unsolicited but genuine advice on the way out:

"Don't try to overextend yourselves. If something starts going bad, just try to get out. There's no shame in coming back alive. I know a lot of adventurers who were cocky and didn't think they could do any wrong — and then they got killed because their pride wouldn't let them leave a situation."

Bjorn found this genuinely surprising — the concept of retreat without shame was new to him.

Maps & Departure#

The party purchased two maps from a shop near the apothecary:

• City map of Waterdeep — 5 gp
• Regional map of the surrounding area — 25 gp

Fenrir paid 25 gp from personal funds; 5 gp came from the quest pool. Fenrir holds both maps.

Gold split (end of session):

On the Road#

The party set out southeast toward Daggerford in the late afternoon. The goblin sightings were reported roughly 40 miles from Waterdeep, near the forest southeast of the city (Ardeep Forest area). At normal pace that's a two-day journey.

They traveled approximately 12 miles before making camp, finding a sheltered spot with natural backing. Bjorn cast Alarm on the most exposed side of the perimeter using a 1st-level spell slot.

~28 miles remaining to the goblin territory.

Rewards#

Notes#

• Fenrir gained Jack of All Trades at Level 2 (half proficiency bonus on non-proficient skill checks)
• Bjorn used two Speak with Animals ritual casts and one Alarm spell slot
• The Thornwicks are potential recurring contacts in the merchant district
• Pumpkin has a habit of wandering — the Thornwicks seem used to it