The four lights illuminate a square room with a dirt floor. There are wooden racks along the sides, some with old jars and containers covered in dust. A wooden cask is laying on it's side and has a large hole in it. It appears to be empty.
There are a couple cloth sacks the also have large holes in them. One has something that looks like flour spilling out.
There is another door on the opposite side of the room that is shut.
Tae Perception Check
The room is dusty and very much like a cellar. There isn't any obvious signs of something in the room or passing through.
Heec Perception Check
Something has obviously been through this room. There are scuff marks on the floor. They could be from the previous owners... Except there's also a pile of dirt next to a crate on the back wall next to the door and you faintly here rustling behind the door.
You hear the rustling on the other side of the door stop for a moment and then resume. Even in the dark you start to see a sizeable hole in the other side of the crate which, in theory, leads to the other room.
H: Whatever’s in there can just escape unless we put something in front of that crate. Let’s put a couple bags of flour in there and the cask too. We should be able to weigh the crate down and we can turn the crate so a non-hole side is facing the hole in the wall.
T: Whatever we do, let’s do it fast.
Heec and Tae set the plan in motion. Crate is now turned and filled with all the bags of flour.
The latch was stuck inside of the door so Heec kicks it open easily. The top hinge was rusted out and so the door crashes into the racks behind it and is hanging loosely on the bottom hinge. The room on the other side is lined on both sides with deep shelves and has a walkway only a little wider than one person.
A huge rat the size of a medium dog is at the end of the 10 foot long walkspace turned away from the elves. It throws up a large wheel of partially eaten cheese in surprise and shouts.
H: my name is Heecrid. You look like a Mike so let’s call you Mike. Mike Alkane. What are you doing here? Did you know the family that was here before?
T: Is there anything you’re not deathly afraid of? Come down, stay behind me and I promise nothing bad will happen.
H: His name is Emmett. He’s not big on spiders but I’m not sure how he feels about rats. He’s suppose to come down here but they sure are taking their time... were you just looking for shelter or are you just passing through?
T: Emmett, we’re going to leave this eat down here for you to deal with if you don’t come downstairs with me right now. I couldn’t care less one way or the other what we do. The choice is your’s.
R: 'E sounds like a nice fellow, yeah? I'm not too keen on spiders meself, vough am I? 'Ooks like we 'ave quite a bit in common already!
Mr. Alkane the rat looks around for a few moments. He finds the wheel of cheese he was eating and starts nibbling. Cheese crumbs get stuck on his whiskers and between nibbles he explains.
R: See, I'm from 'Everwinter Woods ven. Great place, just a great place vor a chap like meself. I can't remember much of vis next part but I came 'ere.
He stops nibbling and contemplates something.
R: Well I fink I was runnin' I was! I fink I 'ad to get out 'o 'em woods. I can't for the life of me remember wot it was I was runnin' from. Funny that. Well I fink I'd be noice to live 'ere for a bit. You can talk wif Emmett ven can't you?
Emmett let's out a weak whine but holds on to Tae's robe and follows him.
T: *whispers to Heec* I don’t want to be here all day.
H: *whispers to Tae* Me neither. *To the group* Okay. So now that you’ve seen him and know that he’s harmless, do you think you and Mike could co-exist? I’m sure he’d be willing to help you with smaller vermin and you could throw him a wheel of cheese from time to time.
The four lights illuminate a square room with a dirt floor. There are wooden racks along the sides, some with old jars and containers covered in dust. A wooden cask is laying on it's side and has a large hole in it. It appears to be empty.
There are a couple cloth sacks the also have large holes in them. One has something that looks like flour spilling out.
There is another door on the opposite side of the room that is shut.
Tae Perception Check
The room is dusty and very much like a cellar. There isn't any obvious signs of something in the room or passing through.
Heec Perception Check
Something has obviously been through this room. There are scuff marks on the floor. They could be from the previous owners... Except there's also a pile of dirt next to a crate on the back wall next to the door and you faintly here rustling behind the door.
*Heec pulls out his nunchuka and gets in defensive position.*
H: Get ready, Tae. Stay behind me.
*Tae puts on his newly purchased robes, takes out his quarterstaff, and also takes a defensive stance.*
H: Kill the lights. We won’t need those on to see him.
*Tae ends the Dancing Lights spell. The two elves walk closer and closer to the crate.*
Heec Passive Perception
You hear the rustling on the other side of the door stop for a moment and then resume. Even in the dark you start to see a sizeable hole in the other side of the crate which, in theory, leads to the other room.
H: Whatever’s in there can just escape unless we put something in front of that crate. Let’s put a couple bags of flour in there and the cask too. We should be able to weigh the crate down and we can turn the crate so a non-hole side is facing the hole in the wall.
T: Whatever we do, let’s do it fast.
Heec and Tae set the plan in motion. Crate is now turned and filled with all the bags of flour.
H: Kick it down?
T: Do it!
*Heec kicks the door.*
The latch was stuck inside of the door so Heec kicks it open easily. The top hinge was rusted out and so the door crashes into the racks behind it and is hanging loosely on the bottom hinge. The room on the other side is lined on both sides with deep shelves and has a walkway only a little wider than one person.
A huge rat the size of a medium dog is at the end of the 10 foot long walkspace turned away from the elves. It throws up a large wheel of partially eaten cheese in surprise and shouts.
R: Gor' blimey!
*Heec looks surprised by the rat’s ability to talk. However, they did encounter a talking spider too so perhaps this shouldn’t come as a shocker.*
H: What are you doing here, creature?!
T: Do you align yourself with the likes of spiders?!
*Both decide to sense the rat’s motives before going too far in the conversation.*
Tae rolls a nat 15.
Heec rolls a 25 (crit).
The rat holds a paw to it's chest and tries to control it's breathing.
R: Spiders? You talking 'bout that chap up in the 'ouse? 'E's always looking at me innin 'e? Looks to be a bit o' a bugger.
The rat stops and realizes the joke it made.
R: Bugger! Good one innit?
Tae and Heec Insight Checks
This rat is pretty friendly! You've never talked to a rat before but this one is the friendliest!
*Heec and Tae holster their weapons seeing that this rat wants no harm done to them.*
H: Tae, go grab Emmett.
*Tae nods and heads up to bring Emmett down.*
H: So, strange beast. What is your name?
*Tae makes his way out of the cellar.*
T: Emmett. Come on down. It’s just a big rat but he’s actually very friendly. I’m sure we’ll need your input on this.
The rat clears his throat.
R: My name is... Well, it's just rat innit? I don't fink anyone ever gave me one! Wot's your name ven?
Emmett starts trembling.
E: Rat? Did you say rat? Why did it have to be rats.
He starts to make some moaning sounds and rocks back and forth.
H: my name is Heecrid. You look like a Mike so let’s call you Mike. Mike Alkane. What are you doing here? Did you know the family that was here before?
T: Is there anything you’re not deathly afraid of? Come down, stay behind me and I promise nothing bad will happen.
R: Mike Alkane? I fink I likes it. You did good ven 'Eecrid. So 'oo owns this 'ere 'ouse?
Emmett doesn't seem willing to go. He is still shaking and looking at Tae with pleading eyes.
E: Can't you get rid of it? Wait. You said it TALKS???
H: His name is Emmett. He’s not big on spiders but I’m not sure how he feels about rats. He’s suppose to come down here but they sure are taking their time... were you just looking for shelter or are you just passing through?
T: Emmett, we’re going to leave this eat down here for you to deal with if you don’t come downstairs with me right now. I couldn’t care less one way or the other what we do. The choice is your’s.
R: 'E sounds like a nice fellow, yeah? I'm not too keen on spiders meself, vough am I? 'Ooks like we 'ave quite a bit in common already!
Mr. Alkane the rat looks around for a few moments. He finds the wheel of cheese he was eating and starts nibbling. Cheese crumbs get stuck on his whiskers and between nibbles he explains.
R: See, I'm from 'Everwinter Woods ven. Great place, just a great place vor a chap like meself. I can't remember much of vis next part but I came 'ere.
He stops nibbling and contemplates something.
R: Well I fink I was runnin' I was! I fink I 'ad to get out 'o 'em woods. I can't for the life of me remember wot it was I was runnin' from. Funny that. Well I fink I'd be noice to live 'ere for a bit. You can talk wif Emmett ven can't you?
Emmett let's out a weak whine but holds on to Tae's robe and follows him.
H: Hmmmm... that’s a little concerning, for a number of reasons... I think I hear them coming now.
*Tae and Emmett make their way down to the doorway where Heec is standing.*
T: See Emmett? Everything is fine. Our rat friend is quite nice, indeed.
The rat puts down his cheese, brushes himself off and looks up at Emmett.
R: 'Ello! 'Ow do you do?
Emmett is hiding behind Tae clutching at his robes.
E: Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods oh gods...
The morning light doesn't reach this far back in the cellar and it's quite dark for those with vision not accustomed to such things.
*Tae casts Dancing Lights so Emmett can see Mike.*
Emmett's eyes adjust to the lights after a few moments. The rat tries to peer around at Emmett.
R: 'Ello! Forgot not every person can see in the dark like I's can.
Emmett looks at the rat and then buries his face in Tae's robe and whimpers. The rest looks at Tae and Heec.
R: Wot's wrong wif 'im?
T: *whispers to Heec* I don’t want to be here all day.
H: *whispers to Tae* Me neither. *To the group* Okay. So now that you’ve seen him and know that he’s harmless, do you think you and Mike could co-exist? I’m sure he’d be willing to help you with smaller vermin and you could throw him a wheel of cheese from time to time.
T: He does seem might helpful, Emmett.
*Tae makes a persuasion check of 17 (16+1)*
Emmett takes his face out from Tae's robe. He has a few tears on his cheeks and his nose is running a little. He wipes his face on the robe.
E: Do you really think he's safe?
H: I assure you he is. You guys could even become close friends. What do you say, Mike? Could you fathom living here and helping each other out?