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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 8135042" data-attributes="member: 2012">Akos and Tuck:[Spoiler="Knowledge (arcana)"]Akos is certain from Tuck's description of the rat creatures that they are dealing with magical beasts not normal animals. The lead rat could be some sort of shapechanger, but without seeing the creature, Akos cannot be sure. Besides wererats, Akos has also heard of another type of shapechanger known as a ratwere.Perhaps the rat creatures are touched by the planes, but if so that could make them extraplanar creatures, which would be troubling. From the description, they are definitely not fey.The Loremaster has heard of a magical beast known as a cranium rat, which have powerful mental abilities. They are thought to be the creation of mind flayers. (The last mind flayer being near Bluffside [on the surface] that Akos has heard of was defeated in the Dragon Sands by the dragori over 100 years ago.) Cranium rats have a very distinct appearance, however. It is unlikely that Tuck missed a cranium rats exposed and enlarged brain.There are other dangerous rat-like magical beasts that become highly intelligent under the light of one of Kulan's two moons, but moon rats aren't as dangerous during the daytime, which makes him doubt that these magical beasts are moon rats -- unless the creatures are some sort of offshoot that retains its intelligence in the daytime. Akos has also heard of a rat-like creature known as as osquip. They are roughly the size of a small dog but are hairless. Osquips are very territorial.[/Spoiler]The Regulars ponder Tuck's question and quietly discuss an incident before the patrol's leader, a bubbly halfling woman named Herleva Astagnory, turns to Tuck and nods her head."Yes, there was a complaint from Kimnal Slatescar about being attacked on the street by a swarm of animals that could have been rats, but he wasn't sure. The old dwarf's eyesight is going, and this attack was at night.  They sounded like rats to him and he's lucky he trained to fight in the dark during his years as a Bluffside Mountain Ranger. He fought them off, but they hurt him badly.""He's recovering in the Temple District, I think," another Regular says. A tall human male. "He's had to shut down his tavern, The Gray Bear.""Yes, the attack was investigated thoroughly by the Elites, but they came up with nothing," Herleva adds. "That was nearly a month ago. In truth, with the Old City Killer on the loose, no one was very concerned about rats. Still, the Ratcatchers have been on high alert and every once in a while one of them snags a dread rat (*) in a trap."Those things are nasty," a short female Regular says."Dread rats are not that tough, Zaquiel, but a swarm of them could be deadly," she says to her underling. She turns to Tuck and adds. "The attack was close to Kimnal's tavern so the Elites and the Ratcatchers went through the place several times but saw no rats or even any signs of rats." She pauses at looks towards the Bakery. "I assume this has to do with Walther's bakery. The Ratcatchers have gone through the building. While they did find some large droppings, they didn't see any rats.""Herleva, we really should check in with the main barracks if we're going to help them out," the tall human says. He seems to be the second-in-command of the patrol. "Vilmos is the fastest runner. We should send him ahead to let Commander Mildenhall know.""Sensible," she replies. She turns to a lanky guard and nods to him. "Vilmos, go tell the commander we're going to help track some rats and that he should send the Ratcatchers to help."The young guard nods and quickly heads off north towards the Masque Arch. He moves incredibly fast even in his armor."Now, how can we h-?" She pauses and turns her head towards the theater in the distance. "Roland, did you hear that?""No, what is it?" Her second-in-command asks,She motions for silence and takes a step towards the theater. She then looks at the revelers in the Song Garden. "I could have sworn that I heard a man shouting. He sounded angry." She shakes her head. "Bah! I'm probably imagining things. Last night was so eerie."[OOC]*Dread rat is a local nickname for dire rat.Tuck & Mutt (as well as Akos) can make Listen checks (DC 18) to hear the other PCs beginning to fight against the Rising Swords. I'm just going to assume that round one is well under way. Your PCs get a +2 bonus to their rolls due to Herleva making an "Aid Another" check. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />If either Akos or Tuck succeeds, they clearly hear the sounds of battle. If Mutt hears the noise, he'll begin to growl and begin to pace back and forth in front of Tuck. He won't rush towards the sound unless Tuck allows him to go.It will take 2 rounds for Akos and Tuck to find the other PCs if they hear the battle.[/OOC]</blockquote>

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