Post by Forfeit on Aug 22, 2023 15:22:37 GMT
A writeup of Rats in the Basement
Featuring:
Forfeit, Tiefling, Level 3 Warlock
Ronkk, Goliath, Level 2 Bard
Kelkor, Dwarf, Level 2 Wizard
Ramsy, Tiefling, Level 3 Paladin
Thurghor, Bugbear, Level 4 Fighter/Druid
Continues after Dance of Swords
Did Daring Heights exist before I arrived? Perhaps whoever trapped me in this body and stripped me of everything I own conjured up a pocket dimension of grubbiness and mediocrity and humiliation especially for me.
To test this theory, I decided to visit an even worse place. A place more grey, dirty, miserable, feral than Daring Heights. I am, of course, talking about the pit of squalor known as Port Ffirst. And let me say, it certainly gives Daring Heights a run for its money.
Speaking of money, I agreed to accompany a team of mercenaries into the basement of the Cavernous Seashank, in order to resolve a rodent issue. As if the Seashank isn’t already the filthiest establishment in Port Ffirst, the landlord was complaining about a rat infestation. Some of his staff had been down into the basement to fetch ale, and had not come back. This seemed like carelessness to me, and a sign of a poor manager. The solution was perfectly clear – if you pay your underlings too generously, they’ll doubtless take the money and run… I know I would, naturally. If you pay them less, what other option to they have but to dutifully return for more work?
I was not being paid to educate the ignoramus about labour economics, so I decided to simply do the job, watch in amusement if any of the mercenaries died, take the money, and get the hell out of this city at the first opportunity.
A wall in the basement had fallen in and the rats were popping up from the sewers, so we proceeded as far as was comfortable – and reasonable for the job – and slaughtered enough of the creatures to be considered adequate for payment. I wielded my umbrella in the form of a battleaxe, and it proved satisfyingly lethal against these creatures.
I understand the Port Ffirst sewage system is extensive, so it is likely there are many more of these disgusting creatures spawning underneath the entire city. Not my problem, not my concern. I had had my fill of Port Ffirst, and I was ready to return to the surface and leave the rats to take over.
When we returned to the Seashank, our Dwarf put up a temporary wall in the basement to keep the vermin out, which was more than we had bargained for and did not earn him a copper bit more than the rest of us.
See? The less you pay, the more you get. And that’s how to treat a hireling.
The Dwarf: I enjoyed seeing him plunder the inn’s stocks of ale in lieu of payment. A great entrepreneurial spirit, that one. Unfortunately, the ale compromised his faculties rather comprehensively while we were on our rat hunt. But to my surprise, he survived the fight.
The Bugbear: Extremely tall and initially ragged, but endeavouring to transform his appearance. He is gathering bright colours to wear and carry – a pink whip, a gold shirt, a living mushroom on his shoulder. Growing into a versatile caster and a useful frontliner.
The Tiefling: A youthfully exuberant, chosen warrior of Helm. I thought he seemed familiar – and then he reminded me of the time we robbed a politician in Kundar. He was mildly sheepish when I praised his thieving ways, but I shall endeavour to keep working on him. He was fond of a good scrap.
The Goliath: A master negotiator and expert at reverse math. He equipped an organic, rat-based crossbow creature and combined its attacks with his own off-kilter insults, which proved a deadly combination. When someone doesn’t treat a fight with solemnity, it makes the whole thing such delicious fun.
The Rats: Not what I expected – I can only assume Prime Material rats are different from Fey rats. These were insectoid or reptilian, and hatched from black, chitinous eggs. They had venomous bites and shed black, acidic blood. We despatched multiple hatchlings and one juvenile rat. We got the impression there were many, many more throughout the sewers. Perhaps they will rise up and swarm over the city in a wave of destruction. Now that would be quite the spectacle.
Continues soon
Featuring:
Forfeit, Tiefling, Level 3 Warlock
Ronkk, Goliath, Level 2 Bard
Kelkor, Dwarf, Level 2 Wizard
Ramsy, Tiefling, Level 3 Paladin
Thurghor, Bugbear, Level 4 Fighter/Druid
Continues after Dance of Swords
Did Daring Heights exist before I arrived? Perhaps whoever trapped me in this body and stripped me of everything I own conjured up a pocket dimension of grubbiness and mediocrity and humiliation especially for me.
To test this theory, I decided to visit an even worse place. A place more grey, dirty, miserable, feral than Daring Heights. I am, of course, talking about the pit of squalor known as Port Ffirst. And let me say, it certainly gives Daring Heights a run for its money.
Speaking of money, I agreed to accompany a team of mercenaries into the basement of the Cavernous Seashank, in order to resolve a rodent issue. As if the Seashank isn’t already the filthiest establishment in Port Ffirst, the landlord was complaining about a rat infestation. Some of his staff had been down into the basement to fetch ale, and had not come back. This seemed like carelessness to me, and a sign of a poor manager. The solution was perfectly clear – if you pay your underlings too generously, they’ll doubtless take the money and run… I know I would, naturally. If you pay them less, what other option to they have but to dutifully return for more work?
I was not being paid to educate the ignoramus about labour economics, so I decided to simply do the job, watch in amusement if any of the mercenaries died, take the money, and get the hell out of this city at the first opportunity.
A wall in the basement had fallen in and the rats were popping up from the sewers, so we proceeded as far as was comfortable – and reasonable for the job – and slaughtered enough of the creatures to be considered adequate for payment. I wielded my umbrella in the form of a battleaxe, and it proved satisfyingly lethal against these creatures.
I understand the Port Ffirst sewage system is extensive, so it is likely there are many more of these disgusting creatures spawning underneath the entire city. Not my problem, not my concern. I had had my fill of Port Ffirst, and I was ready to return to the surface and leave the rats to take over.
When we returned to the Seashank, our Dwarf put up a temporary wall in the basement to keep the vermin out, which was more than we had bargained for and did not earn him a copper bit more than the rest of us.
See? The less you pay, the more you get. And that’s how to treat a hireling.
* * *
The Dwarf: I enjoyed seeing him plunder the inn’s stocks of ale in lieu of payment. A great entrepreneurial spirit, that one. Unfortunately, the ale compromised his faculties rather comprehensively while we were on our rat hunt. But to my surprise, he survived the fight.
The Bugbear: Extremely tall and initially ragged, but endeavouring to transform his appearance. He is gathering bright colours to wear and carry – a pink whip, a gold shirt, a living mushroom on his shoulder. Growing into a versatile caster and a useful frontliner.
The Tiefling: A youthfully exuberant, chosen warrior of Helm. I thought he seemed familiar – and then he reminded me of the time we robbed a politician in Kundar. He was mildly sheepish when I praised his thieving ways, but I shall endeavour to keep working on him. He was fond of a good scrap.
The Goliath: A master negotiator and expert at reverse math. He equipped an organic, rat-based crossbow creature and combined its attacks with his own off-kilter insults, which proved a deadly combination. When someone doesn’t treat a fight with solemnity, it makes the whole thing such delicious fun.
The Rats: Not what I expected – I can only assume Prime Material rats are different from Fey rats. These were insectoid or reptilian, and hatched from black, chitinous eggs. They had venomous bites and shed black, acidic blood. We despatched multiple hatchlings and one juvenile rat. We got the impression there were many, many more throughout the sewers. Perhaps they will rise up and swarm over the city in a wave of destruction. Now that would be quite the spectacle.
Continues soon
