Malaisea, the unhealthiest town in Zamonia, is home to Echo the Crat, a multitalented creature resembling a cat but capable of speaking any language under the sun. When his mistress dies, Echo finds himself out on the street. Dying of starvation, he is compelled to sign a contract with Ghoolion the Alchemaster, Malaisea's evil alchemist-in-chief. The document gives Ghoolion the right to kill Echo and render him down for his fat, with which he hopes to brew an immortalizing concoction. In return, he promises to regale the Crat with exquisite delicacies until his time is up. But Ghoolion has reckoned without Echo's talent for survival and ability to make new friends. These include the Leathermice, the Cogitating Eggs, the Golden Squirrel, the Cooked Ghost, Theodore T. Theodore the one-eyed Tuwituwu, and, above all, Izanuela Anazazi, the last Uggly in Malaisea.