"Orianna, I'm so glad to see you, I was worried.... well, there are some of our friends that have met a terrible fate." William hugs her back, then turns serious. "We need to formulate a plan for resistance. They can't have our town; does anyone have any ideas?"
Orianna leads the party into the mansion. There you see almost everyone who hasn't died yet. Almost all of the towns pseudo-badasses are here.
There's the old fisherman, his son and his daughter-in-law.
There's the Farmer's daughter who he had once seen kill a snake with her bare hands while he worked there; the girl's father and brother are also there but sadly the mother is missing. She was always a sickly woman and probably wasn't able to escape the rats.
There's also the farmers from the farm across the street to Joben's farm. The father, the son and the mother are all there. However, Joben doesn't see the young girl who worked as the farmhand.
There's the baker's wife and the baker's daughter that William knows well. The baker himself is nowhere to be seen though.
The guard seems to be missing.
You don't see the hunter but you are informed that he's on look out in the attic. It's kind of a relief really, William would often see the hunter in the forest so it would be a shame if he died.
The carpenter and the cobbler seem to be engaged in the fine art of panicking with eachother.
The blacksmith may have been dead but his wife and his daughter are both here.
You see the young orphan who works in the general store and the urchin are both being comforted by the shopkeeper, the young orphan's boss.
Of course everyone who was a part of the mansion to begin with are there. You see the Rich dude worrying about the rats while his sister and the local glass blower who used to live with them comforts him. The butler is standing around like any ideal butler while the maid is holding a broom like a spear, standing around not like any ideal maid.
The Woodworker, his daughter and the cobbler all seem to be trying to keep a lot of children calm. Havena jumps with joy and runs over to her students. They instantly calm down when they see her.
Finally Orianna informs the party that some other villagers are still alive but confined to their own houses. She says that the Rat King is behind this attack. If you can beat him, then the rats will all retreat.
"Then it looks like we will have to kill the Rat King! It's probably the best way to deal with this rat problem. It sounds better than facing all of them at once. Does anyone know where the Rat King is?" Joben checks to make sure he has all his gear and plenty of arrows for his bow.
Orianna is about to answer, "The rat king is..." At this point, all of you feel an overwhelmingly powerful presence. The source seems to be coming from somewhere above you. The presence itself is not malicious though, it's just overpowering. Shortly after the feeling starts, Ori the hunter rushes down the stairs and tells everyone, "Come quick! You've got to see this!" He leads you to the attic and all of you gather around the large windows.
Through the windows, you see a humanoid figure floating in the sky. The figure is dressed like a nobleman. He has a gorgeous red coat that is open in the front. Underneath it, is an expensive looking silk shirt, also red. His clothes are lined with gold threads. He wears expensive leather pants. Around his neck hands a shawl lined with gold. A symbol of a hammer enclosed in a ring of flame is embroidered on the shawl. His gloves, boots and belt are made of cheap leather and covered in soot. They are very similar to the kind of boots and gloves a blacksmith has. On one side of his belt hangs a ornate rapier while the other side holds a silver flute. The parts between the shirt and the gloves which would normally have skin has yellow flames flowing down, almost like fur. Instead of a head, the man has burning ball of fire. Everyone immediately recognizes the man as Farel (CG), the god of fire, bards, blacksmiths, crafting and artists (includes anything that can be considered "art"). Farel is talking to what appears to be a suit of solid gold Animated Armor. The helmet of the armor is the kind that leaves the face open, thus it reveals that the suit is empty and the helmet floats in the air. The helmet has three long horns. The armor carries a great sword in its right hand and a large shield in its left. The symbol of a helmet and crossed swords is carved onto the shield. Everyone also recognizes this person as well. The animated armor is Romel (CN), the god of thunder, war and heroism. The two gods seem to be having a conversation.
Romel: Alright Farel, why did you call me here? You said there was a great battle that's about to happen but all I see is rats. Farel: Exactly! Rats! The rats organized themselves and occupied this village. *Pointing directly at the Rich Dude's house where you all are in* There's a whole bunch of villagers in there who've formed a resistance against the rats. They plan to kill the Rat King and.... Romel: *Stopping Farel mid-sentence* Wait, so you mean to tell me you've called me all the way here to watch rats!? You told me there was going to be, "An Epic Battle of The Ages". Farel: Yeah, the battle between the villagers and the rats will be EPIC! Romel: I have actually battles to oversee and real heroes to rally. I don't have time for a bunch of shit-tier villagers in a shit-tier village trying to kill Krate (You don't know who this is without a DC15 Religion check) damned rats! Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to get back to the plane that matters and oversee real wars. *Romel leaves* Farel: *Farel, annoyed at Romel, shouts at the sky* Fine then! See if I ever call you to see something cool. I bet Cragnar (Another god) would've loved to see this!
Farel turns around annoyed and sees all of you at the window. He flies over to you and says, "So... ... ... you guys heard that huh? Well, whatever. Farel the Flame Baron. I'm sure you've heard of me. So who wants my autograph?"
"Oh yeah, I definitely saw him. He's at the town square, near the well." Farel says as he magically materializes a piece of paper and writes his autograph on it. "The Rat King is pretty darn pissed at his Rat Marines for letting you guys get away. That was funny though, the hold-a-table-over-your-head-and-run plan. Can't believe it worked. Also can't believe the rats thought you were furniture. That bit had me in stitches." He hands a sheet of paper with his autograph written on it to William and another to Joben. He then says, "Now, you're probably going to ask me to help you out with this. How do I know that? I'm a god, I know these things. So anyway, I'd like to tell you that I won't be able to help you actually fight the rats. Abphony (Goddess of Death, Destruction, Darkness, Order and Afterlife - True Neutral) will kill me if she finds me messing with the affairs of her domain." This last sentence strikes you as a bit odd. Abphony's domain is Hell or rather, the two largest sections of it: Purgatorium (where souls go after dying to be punished for their sins before they ascend to heaven) and Infernum (where souls who's sins are too great and unforgivable are sent for eternal torment). You guys aren't in her domain, you guys are all on the material plane... right?
Farel wasn't lying. When you ask the question, Farel's fireball head flickers and he hisses. The hiss isn't one of anger or annoyance, it's the kind a person makes when he realizes he said something he shouldn't have. "You... didn't know did you?" He looks around and says, "Alright, I'll tell you but don't tell Abphony okay?" He clears his non-existent throat and says, "Okay so... you guys aren't in the material plane. You guys are in Purgatorium. In fact, all of Nowhere is in Purgatorium. This section of Purgatorium seems very similar to the material plane and everyone here seems to be going by real-life rules where if you die, you die and not by Purgatorium rules where if you die, you resurrect somewhere else. I don't know why you've been put here. I'd tell you to ask Abphony but... you know. Since you're here though, I am pretty sure all of you died for one reason or another in the material plane and then was sent here. It seems you guys don't have any memory of the past life. This is a bit strange. I am guessing you're living your second life here. Abphony works in weird ways."
The look on William's face is one of shock. "I mean, rat marines speaking in common did seem rather weird, but Purgatorium?!?" He says, as he sits down on the closest flat surface, looks down at his weapon and wonders if that explains the voice he sometimes hears emanating from the ax.
"I have so many questions, but it sounds like if we die here we wink out of existence. I suppose our sense of urgency dealing with the Rat King is still the number 1 priority. Shall we prepare to head to the town center for the showdown of our lives?"
"I'm not sure we have much of a choice, but if the remaining townsfolk will also wink out of existence if they die, we have to try. This Rat King must be challenged and defeated!" Joben exhibits an uncharacteristic burst of heroic bravery.
Farel scratches his flames and says, "Well... you don't blink out of existence... dying here means you'll probably go to Infernum or Hell." He sees the horrified expressions of the other villagers and says, "Yeah... doesn't sound much better... Well, I'll be watching the fight from the sky and playing battle music. Maybe you'll be able to come up with some way to beat the Rat King." With these parting words, the fire god flies off into the sky.
The owner of the castle, Francis the Rich Dude says, "My man, you guys are tired and wounded. My house is fortified enough. I think you should rest before going out there." (Suggests Long Rest)
Havena steps forward and says, "The three of you are now our village's biggest hope. If we are going to fight the rat king, then you need to be at full power."
"Everyone inside, who knows how long we can fool the rats for." Joben looks through the open door expectantly, "Orianna, how many others are here?"
Orianna looks behind William and sees the party and the villagers she says, "Now that you're here, that's most of the village."
"Orianna, I'm so glad to see you, I was worried.... well, there are some of our friends that have met a terrible fate." William hugs her back, then turns serious. "We need to formulate a plan for resistance. They can't have our town; does anyone have any ideas?"
Orianna leads the party into the mansion. There you see almost everyone who hasn't died yet. Almost all of the towns pseudo-badasses are here.
There's the old fisherman, his son and his daughter-in-law.
There's the Farmer's daughter who he had once seen kill a snake with her bare hands while he worked there; the girl's father and brother are also there but sadly the mother is missing. She was always a sickly woman and probably wasn't able to escape the rats.
There's also the farmers from the farm across the street to Joben's farm. The father, the son and the mother are all there. However, Joben doesn't see the young girl who worked as the farmhand.
There's the baker's wife and the baker's daughter that William knows well. The baker himself is nowhere to be seen though.
The guard seems to be missing.
You don't see the hunter but you are informed that he's on look out in the attic. It's kind of a relief really, William would often see the hunter in the forest so it would be a shame if he died.
The carpenter and the cobbler seem to be engaged in the fine art of panicking with eachother.
The blacksmith may have been dead but his wife and his daughter are both here.
You see the young orphan who works in the general store and the urchin are both being comforted by the shopkeeper, the young orphan's boss.
Of course everyone who was a part of the mansion to begin with are there. You see the Rich dude worrying about the rats while his sister and the local glass blower who used to live with them comforts him. The butler is standing around like any ideal butler while the maid is holding a broom like a spear, standing around not like any ideal maid.
The Woodworker, his daughter and the cobbler all seem to be trying to keep a lot of children calm. Havena jumps with joy and runs over to her students. They instantly calm down when they see her.
Finally Orianna informs the party that some other villagers are still alive but confined to their own houses. She says that the Rat King is behind this attack. If you can beat him, then the rats will all retreat.
"Then it looks like we will have to kill the Rat King! It's probably the best way to deal with this rat problem. It sounds better than facing all of them at once. Does anyone know where the Rat King is?" Joben checks to make sure he has all his gear and plenty of arrows for his bow.
Orianna is about to answer, "The rat king is..." At this point, all of you feel an overwhelmingly powerful presence. The source seems to be coming from somewhere above you. The presence itself is not malicious though, it's just overpowering. Shortly after the feeling starts, Ori the hunter rushes down the stairs and tells everyone, "Come quick! You've got to see this!" He leads you to the attic and all of you gather around the large windows.
Through the windows, you see a humanoid figure floating in the sky. The figure is dressed like a nobleman. He has a gorgeous red coat that is open in the front. Underneath it, is an expensive looking silk shirt, also red. His clothes are lined with gold threads. He wears expensive leather pants. Around his neck hands a shawl lined with gold. A symbol of a hammer enclosed in a ring of flame is embroidered on the shawl. His gloves, boots and belt are made of cheap leather and covered in soot. They are very similar to the kind of boots and gloves a blacksmith has. On one side of his belt hangs a ornate rapier while the other side holds a silver flute. The parts between the shirt and the gloves which would normally have skin has yellow flames flowing down, almost like fur. Instead of a head, the man has burning ball of fire. Everyone immediately recognizes the man as Farel (CG), the god of fire, bards, blacksmiths, crafting and artists (includes anything that can be considered "art"). Farel is talking to what appears to be a suit of solid gold Animated Armor. The helmet of the armor is the kind that leaves the face open, thus it reveals that the suit is empty and the helmet floats in the air. The helmet has three long horns. The armor carries a great sword in its right hand and a large shield in its left. The symbol of a helmet and crossed swords is carved onto the shield. Everyone also recognizes this person as well. The animated armor is Romel (CN), the god of thunder, war and heroism. The two gods seem to be having a conversation.
Romel: Alright Farel, why did you call me here? You said there was a great battle that's about to happen but all I see is rats.
Farel: Exactly! Rats! The rats organized themselves and occupied this village. *Pointing directly at the Rich Dude's house where you all are in* There's a whole bunch of villagers in there who've formed a resistance against the rats. They plan to kill the Rat King and....
Romel: *Stopping Farel mid-sentence* Wait, so you mean to tell me you've called me all the way here to watch rats!? You told me there was going to be, "An Epic Battle of The Ages".
Farel: Yeah, the battle between the villagers and the rats will be EPIC!
Romel: I have actually battles to oversee and real heroes to rally. I don't have time for a bunch of shit-tier villagers in a shit-tier village trying to kill Krate (You don't know who this is without a DC15 Religion check) damned rats! Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to get back to the plane that matters and oversee real wars.
*Romel leaves*
Farel: *Farel, annoyed at Romel, shouts at the sky* Fine then! See if I ever call you to see something cool. I bet Cragnar (Another god) would've loved to see this!
Farel turns around annoyed and sees all of you at the window. He flies over to you and says, "So... ... ... you guys heard that huh? Well, whatever. Farel the Flame Baron. I'm sure you've heard of me. So who wants my autograph?"
Religion: 5
William looks around nervously the sheepishly raises his hand for an autograph. 😂
Joben peeks out from behind William, "Could I have an autograph, too?"
“Noble Farel, I regret to admit we don’t know where to go to find the rat king. I don’t suppose you saw him from your perch high in the air?”
Persuasion: 24
"Oh yeah, I definitely saw him. He's at the town square, near the well." Farel says as he magically materializes a piece of paper and writes his autograph on it. "The Rat King is pretty darn pissed at his Rat Marines for letting you guys get away. That was funny though, the hold-a-table-over-your-head-and-run plan. Can't believe it worked. Also can't believe the rats thought you were furniture. That bit had me in stitches." He hands a sheet of paper with his autograph written on it to William and another to Joben. He then says, "Now, you're probably going to ask me to help you out with this. How do I know that? I'm a god, I know these things. So anyway, I'd like to tell you that I won't be able to help you actually fight the rats. Abphony (Goddess of Death, Destruction, Darkness, Order and Afterlife - True Neutral) will kill me if she finds me messing with the affairs of her domain." This last sentence strikes you as a bit odd. Abphony's domain is Hell or rather, the two largest sections of it: Purgatorium (where souls go after dying to be punished for their sins before they ascend to heaven) and Infernum (where souls who's sins are too great and unforgivable are sent for eternal torment). You guys aren't in her domain, you guys are all on the material plane... right?
“Wait.... huh? Where exactly are we?”
Insight? 6
Farel wasn't lying. When you ask the question, Farel's fireball head flickers and he hisses. The hiss isn't one of anger or annoyance, it's the kind a person makes when he realizes he said something he shouldn't have. "You... didn't know did you?" He looks around and says, "Alright, I'll tell you but don't tell Abphony okay?" He clears his non-existent throat and says, "Okay so... you guys aren't in the material plane. You guys are in Purgatorium. In fact, all of Nowhere is in Purgatorium. This section of Purgatorium seems very similar to the material plane and everyone here seems to be going by real-life rules where if you die, you die and not by Purgatorium rules where if you die, you resurrect somewhere else. I don't know why you've been put here. I'd tell you to ask Abphony but... you know. Since you're here though, I am pretty sure all of you died for one reason or another in the material plane and then was sent here. It seems you guys don't have any memory of the past life. This is a bit strange. I am guessing you're living your second life here. Abphony works in weird ways."
The look on William's face is one of shock. "I mean, rat marines speaking in common did seem rather weird, but Purgatorium?!?" He says, as he sits down on the closest flat surface, looks down at his weapon and wonders if that explains the voice he sometimes hears emanating from the ax.
"I have so many questions, but it sounds like if we die here we wink out of existence. I suppose our sense of urgency dealing with the Rat King is still the number 1 priority. Shall we prepare to head to the town center for the showdown of our lives?"
"I'm not sure we have much of a choice, but if the remaining townsfolk will also wink out of existence if they die, we have to try. This Rat King must be challenged and defeated!" Joben exhibits an uncharacteristic burst of heroic bravery.
Farel scratches his flames and says, "Well... you don't blink out of existence... dying here means you'll probably go to Infernum or Hell." He sees the horrified expressions of the other villagers and says, "Yeah... doesn't sound much better... Well, I'll be watching the fight from the sky and playing battle music. Maybe you'll be able to come up with some way to beat the Rat King." With these parting words, the fire god flies off into the sky.
“Ok, let’s head to the town square. Any thoughts on how we might get there without having to fight all the rats from here to there?”
The owner of the castle, Francis the Rich Dude says, "My man, you guys are tired and wounded. My house is fortified enough. I think you should rest before going out there." (Suggests Long Rest)
Havena steps forward and says, "The three of you are now our village's biggest hope. If we are going to fight the rat king, then you need to be at full power."
"Yes, if we're safe here we should rest up and be as ready as we can be for the fight with the Rat King." Joben looks for a place to sleep.
The house is big but it is pretty full thanks to the majority of the villagers taking shelter here. Joben finds a place to sleep on the floor.