Of Rats and a Trap
The Deputy Mayor, Ethard requested their services in clearing out the townhouse lower cellars of vermin. “We need to clear out the lower Townhouse cellars to build more cells to house the raiders that keep attacking the town.” He offered them 50gp each for this task. The adventurers need to find out where the rats that keep getting into the Townhouse cellars are coming from. The unused cellar needs to be renovated to accommodate more prison cells. There is something more than meets the eye, because as often as they seal the sewer entrance in the old cellar something, or someone is opening it up.
The main cellar of the town house is used for storage and it houses three small prison cells which, until recently were rarely used. They are now full beyond capacity with hobgoblin and human bandits. The two other cellars haven’t been used for a number of years, except occasionally for storage. The cellar has proved to be too damp for most needs. An old escape passage runs from the cellars into the sewers below the village which leads down to the river. The sewers are rather substantial for a small town and are remnants of a larger town from long ago which has passed out of most Rovannans memory. Although the main sewer is still in use, many of the side branches have collapsed or have iron grates across them.
The first cellar is clean and airy, and houses three cells which are full to capacity with hobgoblin and human bandits. The Deputy Mayor leads PCs to the cellar, giving them a lamp each. The PCs request that Ethard goes with them but a row breaks out in one of the cells so he goes to quiet the prisoners down. He drew his short sword and growled at the occupant: “Keep the noise down or I will slice your tongue from you mouth.”
The second cellar:
As you step into the cellar, a rancid musty smell assails your nostrils. The light of a single torch in the wall to your right casts flickering light over broken barrels and crates lying rotting on the damp, slime covered floor. Moss and mould grow on the walls. Some building work on new cells has started, but tools lie scattered on the floor. A rotting door stands partially open, hanging off its hinges.
The a thick door is slammed shut behind them and a bar is drawn across. They have been double crossed. The cellar is seething with Dire, Giant and were rats which promptly attack. This is an unusual combination of creatures. Both Bevan and Thrugg are bitten and contract Filth Fever but thankfully their immune systems manage to stave off any development of the disease.
Whilst the battle is ongoing, Erkai attempts to break open the door by damaging the hinges. The door is solild and well maintained and proves difficult to crack. The only hope of escape appeared to be down the old escape passage in to the fetid sewers.
A short flight of steps leads down into the fetid darkness. A musky smell reaches your nostrils and you hear the scurrying of clawed feet and squeaks and grunts.
You recognize the sound of a rat swarm and know that they inhabit sewers and are aware that they will target one person.You realise these are no ordinary rats. Their fur and skin is hanging off, in places you can see through to the bone. They are Corpse Rats, dead rats, raised to serve an evil master.
Fighting their way through the rats and a rather nasty Crocodile, the adventurers spot a strange rat like humanoid escaping down the tunnels. Both Seigfreid and Erkai recognise it as Ethard the Deputy Mayor. During this subsequent battle, Seigfreid also contracted filth fever. They gave chase but once the sewer came out at the river, there was little sign of the Deputy Mayor in the market place. A few wet footprints led into the town but after that there was no trace.
