"Fire is easy. I think I could pull off some more." Rowan takes a look around the group, just now noticing that Quinry has disappeared somewhere. "I don't know where he went. Maybe to get an actual weapon, something more effective than his fists. I'm sure he'll be back, though."

"As for the creature..." In the span of a moment, a small, orange cat seems to slide into existence near Jormund's feet. It spends a moment weaving between his legs, then scampers up onto his shoulder. "This is Enya. I don't think she's really a cat, but I haven't figured out what she actually is yet. And I don't think she's related to the rats at all. She's been here for a month or two nd I haven't heard of this rat thing happening before now."

Alright, with Jared's nature check, of course, you are deeply familiar with the local area! This is your town, after all!  You know of two spots that could suit your needs. 

If you are trying to release the rats and not kill them, The Carrion Mound might be a good choice. This is a place about 2 miles out of town, hidden behind two hills about 500 yards off the main road, and is the dumping ground for ranch animals that were sick and ruined for meat or riding.  There would certainly be plenty of food for the rats there. 

If you are looking for a kill box for the rats, the Weeping Falls might be a good choice.  It is a secluded canyon carved out by a stream flowing down a cliff toward the Desarin River, and is enclosed by sheer cliffs on 3 sides, and has a narrow opening about 20ft wide at the mouth of the canyon.  The Weeping Falls is so named because of a local tale of two star crossed lovers who used to meet there. Once, one slipped on the mist-covered rocks while waiting for their lover, and died upon the rocks below. Their lover leaped off the falls as well when they discovered the tragedy.

Quinry runs back up, panting. "sorry everyone! I needed to get my weapon, because it seems we may be attacked! anyway to those who don't know me, I'm Quinry Fatrabbit. who are you all? I only know Ann and Rowan"

Jared

When Jared makes it back to the rest of the party he will share all the information he knows about the area. "I think our best bet might be Carrion Mound' he suggests. "Once we figure out how to break the spell cast on them they should scatter and there is food, of a sort. What's there may be just enough to distract them long enough for us to get away. Also, I wouldn't suggest staying there too long. It is a place where disease thrives and I for one don't want to spend the end of my days fighting some horrid disease."

Jared turns to Jormund and says: "I can not wait friend Jormund. I can almost taste the victory of our catch." he says with a smile.

If Jared is there when Quinry arrives he will respond: "Well met." Jared says with a slight bow. "I am Jared L. Talon, Chef at the Boar & Tankard." 

Appearance:
Jared stands about 3' tall with long brown hair-kept in a ponytail, hazel eyes, and fair skin. As he walks with the party he finishes dressing in his gear, dropping things here and there and stopping to pick them back up. 

"I wasn't sure what we might face so, I thought I should bring what I have".: he says with a smile. 

 Bryn mentions the snake and the rat to Vedui and his desire to see if they can find then on the way back to the group since the rat turning to attack the snake was not a rats normal response and finding them may help shed light on what they are dealing with. If they are unable the find the rat and snake, Bryn relays the details about his experience with the cabin, how he came across Vedui, the corpses he was transporting, and the condition they were in.

Vedui

"My experience with death began at a younger age....you might note from my elvish that it is not so  fluent.  My family was lost at a young age and I was raised in a monestary of sorts."    Vedui pauses here, as he remembers his early life and grimaces slightly.  "I spent years there....and not all good.  However the study of death and the power associated with it was what they were interested in...it was what I was solely focused on.  It was only later that I recognized some of what they are up to was evil...what they did in pursuit of their dark knowledge...and I left.  This town is the first time I stopped hiding and running.  And I still have this fascination with death....so the mortuary."

Vedui will also notice the snake curiously.   "Something is not right here.  Did It also seems the musician was surprised a little as well?  Perhaps we should approach the party from the rear stealthily, just to make sure no one else if following..."

Vedui will try to approach the party / rats from the rear to search for others following...hoping that the Bryn agrees...

Stealth   11

Perception  10

 Bryn and Vedui, you see nothing as you approach the party, being as silent and stealthy as you can. 

Bryn nods and follows Vedui’s lead.

Stealth: 6

Perception: 18

"I.. was gone getting my weapon, so I dud not here, where are we going?" Quinry asks Rowan after walking over to her.

"Carrion Mound," Rowan replies once Quinry arrives. "The plan is to stop the musician playing once we're there. Either the rats calm down and start doing normal rat things, and we leave while they're distracted, or a fight breaks out and we're far enough away from anything that we don't risk more damage or death."

Quote from rustleinthewoods >>

Jormund 

Quote from ArtymisMoon >>

 "... There's one I finished recently that I'm pretty proud of. It lets me summon a creature from a different plane into ours." At this point her smile has only grown wider, and she looks like she's itching to show someone.

 

When Jared returns Jormund greets and asks, "Hallo! Well met again. I know we've got some fish to catch. But given the potential loss of life here... Anyway, fishing later, yeah?"

"Did you notice? There were some interested parties scuttling in the shadows and backdrops back there in town. Any idea who they could be or how we could find out? Once this business be done, I mean."

"Oh and where're we goin'?"

 Jared

'There was alot going on during all this. I am sure there were people interested but, the intrigue of Waterdeep is alive and well in this small town and it will take some time to sort all of it out." Jared says. 

Vedui

Rather distracted by the rats, Vedui is not sure if he would have noticed anything following.  Standing behind and watching the rats swarm after the musician, Vedui turns to Bryn "We can catch up with the others and find out where they are going...I don't see anything following besides the rats.  Alas, I may just be paranoid"

(Did Bryn see where the snake and rat went?)

Bryn turns to Vedui and in a low voice says in elvish, “Let’s remain hidden for now and watch the group. Though they were fighting the rats in the market, we do not yet know their true intentions or who’s side any of them are on. How they handle the rats may be telling. If they get in over their heads we will be close enough to ‘arrive in the nick of time’ to help. What say you?”

(I assume both Vedri and Bryn are using Mask of the Wild.)

Vedui, Bryn, you are unable to find the snake or anything more than a few tufts of fur from the rat. However, you continue trailing the group, intent on watching and only intervening if necessary.

As your group begins to turn off of the main road toward Carrion Mound, the sickly sweet smell of rotten flesh begins to fill the air, and you see swarms of vultures circling the area. 

About halfway along the trail leading through the hills toward the Carrion Mound, a man in a blood red tunic emerges from underneath the shade of a nearby oak tree and stands in the middle of the road. He is holding a ledger in one hand and a quill in the other. He appears startled by the mass of rats, and growls. "Well now, what's all this? We can't be having MORE rats coming into our Carrion Mound and disturbing the lovely atmosphere. We've enough rats and vermin as it is! Be off with you, back from where you came!"

Anybody proficient in insight give me a roll. Jormund, roll with advantage.  Bryn and Vedui, since you are hanging back but observing, give me a perception check instead.

Jormund Thinks to himself, "... MORE rats? ... "  

Insight 24

Jared

Insight: 14

"Well, we can't take 'em back. They were attacking everybody in town."

Jared wonders who this person is and why they are out here.

History: 14

"Have many others brought you rats recently?" Rowan asks the man who suddenly appears to block their path, subtly tucking away her book and wand. 

Perception: 24

Vedui Perception  18

Vedui

"I have no problem staying back, as maybe we will be more useful here, however so far the others seem to have fought on the side of good...."