<div align="center">(https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjYwLjAwMDAwMC5RMkYwYldGdVpIVWdVR0ZzWVdObC4w/catshop.regular.png)</div><br/><div align="center">(https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/007/392/768/large/byung-cheol-febud-hive-town.jpg?1505832626)(https://cache.desktopnexus.com/thumbseg/2385/2385556-bigthumbnail.jpg)(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRBjWVQnJGwJ9wpqs9WlFu1EtAcY9bQt7QaO3YwDyovsRdZTDUw)</div><br/><div align="center"><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Festival Music</div><div class="spoiler_body">https://youtu.be/hTPxqUtlLdo</div></div></div><br/>Catmandu Palace was full of noise and color. Glowing red paper lanterns rose from the palace’s courtyards. Glowing fish kites carried by performers on sticks swam through the air, exciting and amazing all. Music from Arabian flutes, mridangam and kanjira drums, and sitars filled the air. Belly dancers popped their hips as bells rang in concert with the celebratory music. The palace was covered in cats in human form (though some were in cat form). It was the most cats ever seen in a year, and it was only on one special day: Bast Day. In the main palace, a golden statue of a resting Sphinx cat sat in a chamber dedicated to the goddess. At the statue’s feet were various baskets of food, cloth, and precious jewelry. The room resembled a treasure trove with how brightly the gold and splendor shined at the goddess’s feet.<br/><br/>Vendors set up shop at the top of the stairs, which led up to the palace doors. There were many a master sushi chef, milk brewers (not the dairy kind), and other delicious foods and materials being sold by cats from various region of the world. As plentiful as the crowds were, the king’s elite guard were just as plentiful. They stood out in the crowds, tall, towering, and holding large pikes. The jagged and curved blades of the spikes stood over the cat guards’ heads like beacons, glinting in the light of the moon. They were keeping a close watch of all the visitors, only allowing the majority to party outside the palace. Only those offering gifts to Bast were permitted within, and then they were closely escorted out.<br/><br/><div align="center">(https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/white-persian-cat-yelena-kolotusha.jpg)(https://cache.desktopnexus.com/thumbseg/2026/2026719-bigthumbnail.jpg)<br/><em>From left to right: King Bahadur (cat form) and Queen Apinya</em></div><br/>King Bahadur was in the throne room. He rested on a plush red pillow with gold trim, his white fur combed into a silken sheet that spilled over the sides of his pillow nearly causing it to disappear beneath him. The cat liked to use his thick fur as an excuse, but everyone knew that the king was actually a fat cat. His master was wealthy and babied his Persian with the finest cat food on the earth. While in his cat form, his tall red and gold crown sat above his smashed face. His golden eyes watched the festivities occurring in the main throne room with his emissaries and ministers. There was much milk drinking, feasting, and flirting as belly dancers shook and swayed sensually before the royal staff.<br/><br/>Queen Apinya was seated next to her husband upon the throne. Her hands were folded neatly in her lap and an amused and cheerful smile was curled upon her pink lips. She had been laughing here and there at the antics of her people. Bast Day was her most favorite day because the entire realm was truly at peace.<br/><br/>The Persian parted his maw and yawned. Blinking his eyes, he searched about the room with the turn of his head. “Where’s Himalaya?” he asked.<br/><br/>Queen Apinya blinked when she realized that she hadn’t seen her daughter all day. She gazed about the throne room and muttered, “She must be around here somewhere.”<br/><br/>King Bahadur frowned at his wife. “Don’t give me that. If she isn’t in our sights, then she’s up to no good. I want her found immediately.”<br/><br/>While the queen summoned a servant over, nine monks veiled in white robes stopped before the steps leading up to the king’s throne and knelt before him. Their heads were hidden in their hoods as they announced, “My King, The Nine have all been summoned and should be arriving soon.”<br/><br/>King Bahadur nodded. “Good. I can’t have them missing such a mementos occasion.”<br/><br/>No one was exempt from Bast Day. Not even The Nine! The king didn’t want to risk the goddess’s ire over a no show.<br/><br/>The nine monks oddly always seemed to be capable of locating The Nine no matter where they were around the world at the time. It could have been their patience and dedication to search the globe or an odd un<em>familiar</em>magic. No cat knew for sure.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>GM Note:</strong>Players are free to write whatever intro they please. It could be the monks finding the cat and telling them about the king's summons, the cats leaving their masters to traverse into Catmandu, or they could already be at the festival. Have fun!