Overview
Current Affairs is a short, Novice Sailing quest in Old School RuneScape that unlocks the current duck, a tool that lets you track ocean currents and explore more of the seas of Gielinor. It’s a light, combat-free quest built around bureaucracy and a bit of fishy political intrigue.
Quest Details
- Official difficulty: Novice
- Official length: Short
- Quest points: 1
- Start point: Speak to Arhein at the Catherby docks
- Combat: None required
Requirements
- 22 Sailing
- 10 Fishing
- Completion of Pandemonium Quest
- 50 coins
- Charcoal (obtainable during the quest)
Rewards
- 1 Quest point
- 1,400 Sailing experience
- 1,000 Fishing experience
- Access to Sea charting and ocean currents
- The current duck (used to track currents)
- The Mayor of Catherby
- 25 sawmill coupons (oak plank)
Quick Summary
- Start: Catherby docks (Arhein)
- Focus: Bureaucracy and tracking ocean currents
- Main tasks: Complete paperwork → replace the Mayor of Catherby → confirm your form answers → test the current duck at sea
- Combat: None required
- Mechanics learned: The dialogue-memory mechanic, current tracking, and sea charting basics
Location
Catherby docks (Arhein)
Complete Current Affairs Quest Guide
1. Speak to Arhein
Head to the Catherby docks and speak to Arhein to begin the quest. Ask him about the duck.
He’ll direct you to Councillor Catherine, located just north of the Archery shop in Catherby.
2. Fill Out the Form
Speak to Councillor Catherine inside the council office.
If you don’t have charcoal, search the nearby cabinet to obtain some.
Use the form she gives you and answer the questions. The answers themselves don’t matter — but you must remember exactly which ones you pick, because you’ll need to repeat the same choices later. If you’re unsure, pick the first answer each time.
After the dialogue, return to Arhein.
3. Replace the Mayor of Catherby
Ask Arhein about the mayor. He explains that the Mayor of Catherby is a fish that has recently passed away, and you’ll need to secretly replace it before Catherine notices.
Head to the Fishing shop and speak to Harry.
Buy a mayoral fishbowl and tiny net for 50 coins.
Use the tiny net on one of the aquariums in the shop to catch the new Mayor of Catherby, then return to Arhein.
4. Confirm the Paperwork
Return to Councillor Catherine.
You must now repeat the exact same answers you chose on the form earlier.
If you match them, she’ll hand you another form. Use it on the Mayor of Catherby, then return it to Catherine to finalise the by-law change.
With the paperwork done, return to Arhein.
5. Test the Current Duck
Board your boat at the Catherby docks and sail east toward the Obelisk of Water.
Look for a ripple in the ocean. Position your boat directly on top of it and release the current duck.
Follow the duck until it reaches the shoreline, collect it, then return to Catherby and speak with Arhein.
Quest Complete!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for Current Affairs?
You need 22 Sailing, 10 Fishing, and completion of Pandemonium, plus 50 coins. Charcoal is also needed but can be obtained during the quest.
Is there any combat in Current Affairs?
No. Current Affairs is entirely combat-free — it’s a short, dialogue-and-tasks quest with no fighting required.
What does the current duck do?
The current duck lets you track ocean currents and unlocks sea charting, which you use to navigate and explore more of Gielinor’s oceans as part of the Sailing skill.
Why does the form keep failing?
When you return to Councillor Catherine, you have to pick the exact same answers you chose the first time. The specific answers don’t matter — only that they match — so if you didn’t note them down, restart the form dialogue and choose a set you’ll remember.
