Stopwatch

Stopwatch is a sidequest trinket that adds a 5-second real-time countdown over each cat's tile during battle. Any action — moving, attacking, or using an item — resets the timer. If the timer expires, that cat performs a random action instead, punishing slow decision-making. Complete the Stopwatch sidequest to earn the Stopwatch weapon, which grants a controlled bonus turn instead.

The 5-second timer is a real-time pressure mechanic in what is otherwise a turn-based game, forcing players to decide and act quickly. Letting the timer expire gives up control — the random action could be harmful, wasted, or occasionally beneficial, but is never reliable. Players who are comfortable making fast decisions under pressure can treat this as a minor inconvenience; players who deliberate over each action will find it severely disruptive.

Complete the Stopwatch sidequest as fast as possible to replace the real-time pressure with the Stopwatch weapon's controlled bonus turn. During the sidequest phase, practice making fast but informed decisions — prioritize clear best actions and accept imperfect plays rather than losing turns entirely to the timer. The sidequest is a skill challenge as much as a mechanical one.