Rat Bastards

11 November, 595

Hiring the youths again reveal some more graffiti results:

• "Drakthar owns this"
• "Drakthar is the fog!"

With more clues, Plenty is beginning to think that this sounds like what she has heard about vampires. She goes off with Selivia to the Bluecrater Academy to see what she can learn on the subject.

On his way back to the temple, Nodonn is approached by a short, plump woman wearing leather armor and a sword hanging from her belt. She seems to know what the group is up to and freely offers information on the goblin infestation, stating that the goblins come from Orak's Bathhouse on Lava Avenue. It is run by a one-eyed dwarf, who could potentially be a formidable opponent. The lady disappears almost as quickly as she appears.

Later in the day the group is told about the new information, so several of them decide to check out the baths before they close. There they meet Orak, who offers shows them around the small building and leaves them to enjoy their baths. They surrender their weapons and armor and partake of the warm waters. While casually nosing around, Throckmorten notices a secret door in one of the walls.

Meeting back at the inn, Plenty and Selivia divulge what they have learned about vampires. Apparently, they are susceptible to holy water, and cannot be hurt by normal weapons; only silvered and magic weapons can affect them. Finally, to destroy a vampire, one must drive a wooden stake through its heart while it lies in its coffin.

Around midnight, the group decides to scope out the bathhouse. Lyra attempts to scale the next-door building but the rain causes her to lose her grip and she falls. Orak appears from his door and asks what is going on. Lyra pretends that she is drunk and her friends are helping her home. Satisfied with that, Orak closes and locks his door. Ash scrambles up the side of an adjacent building and the group takes up hiding places in the vicinity. A few hours later a group of goblins is seen leaving the building. Nodonn takes aim as they walk away, but before he can let off a shot, he is attacked from behind by a man with a rat head. The rest of the group discovers that 3 more of these rat-men had sneaked up on them and combat ensues. Bruinor easily downs one of them and rushes to Selivia's aid, who had thrown her dagger at another and backed away, unarmed. Firing from the roof, Ash's bow shot goes wild and hits Nodonn who was engaged with another. Eventually, Nodonn's opponent is the last standing. He attempts to grab the creature but it changes into a large rat and bites him on the leg. Before it gets away, Nodonn again grabs it and attempts to subdue it. It again changes into humanoid form but is knocked unconscious by a blow to the head. The captive is tied up and the ears of the other ratmen are removed.

The group discusses what they should do next.

The Execution

10 November, 595

Hiring the children proves to be fruitful, as more graffiti is found. Checking out what they have found reveals the following quips in goblinese:

• "As a wolf, Drakthar hunts"
• "Drakthar has bat ears"

Based on these clues, Plenty thinks that this Drakthar person may be a reference to some kind of shapechanger.

The party attends Keygan's execution, which is held in the Lakeside Pavilion, in the center of town. The crowd awaits anxiously and starts to get restless, until Keygan is brought out in shackles and brought to a chopblock. The executioner's axe flies high in the air, and in a single swing, Keygan is no more. His head is presented to the crowd and they cheer boisterously. Plenty hastily makes her way up to the platform before his corpse is carried off, and asks that care of the body be given to her. She takes Keygan's body to the temple of Wee Jas, and there meets Nodonn, who accepts the body and entrusts it to an acolyte of the church.

Not long after, a young cleric approaches Nodonn's sleeping quarters and introduces herself as Selivia. After a few unintentional innuendos, Nodonn discovers that she was sent by Ike Iverson, a high ranking cleric, to assist him in his godly quest. He welcomes the child and tells her to meet up with him after he has rested.

Selivia is introduced to the group and another foray into the city is planned for the evening. This time, one of the groups strikes paydirt, coming across another graffiti in goblin-speak, which says, "Drakthar is dead! Long live Drakthar!" Bruinor and Throckmorten actually encounter a quartet of goblins, but they elude the pair and disappear into the night.

The Trial

9 November, 595

Some of the group decides to attend Keygan's trial, which is held in the town hall. A great crowd is gathered, and when Keygan is brought out in chains he gets many jeers and hisses. The tribunal consists of the arresting officer, the captain of the guard (Skellerang), and Lord Vhalantru, who is filling in for the Lord Mayor. The officer presents the charges and describes how Keygan is found guilty of abetting kidnappers and slavers. When it comes time for the defense to present his case, Keygan chooses to remain silent, putting himself at the mercy of the tribunal. After a brief adjournment, the tribunal reconvenes and Keygan is found guilty. He is to die by public execution on the morn. Upon hearing this, the crowd eruptions in cheers and applause. "The mob has spoken," mutters Bruinor.

That evening the group ventures out again to search for goblins. They also hire some rapscallions to be on the lookout for goblin graffiti and offer them money for any info they can find out. During the course of the night, Plenty comes across some graffiti which she translates as: "Who builds town in volcano? Stupid humans."

About Town

8 November, 595

The next day Throckmorten awakens and is given a letter of invitation to see Terseon Skellerang, the captain of the town guard. Accompanied by Plenty, he pays a visit to the town hall. The captain is a busy man and gets to the point - Cauldron has been terrorized in recent weeks by bands of goblins that have gone amok. They are robbing citizens and leaving their graffiti in various places about town. Captain Skellerang offers the group 5gp per goblin ear if they can find the goblin lair and eradicate the menace. He asks that they keep him informed of the progress when they discover new information.

Meanwhile, Bruinor gets a bit steamed reading the account of their rescue in the Cauldron Chronicle, and heads off to Izzy Brambleshade's (the reporter) house. Not finding her at home, he leaves a message by carving words into her front door: "We need to talk - Bruinor."

When everyone meets back up at the Drunken Morkoth, Throckmorten is introduced to a wild-looking man who has been asking about him. Over a round of drinks, the stranger introduces himself as Ash, a man of the wilderness, and offers his services to the group. His employment is accepted and he is quickly put to work, but not before the group pays a visit to Skie's Treasury, where she provides the identification of the potions that were left with her the day before. After looking around a bit and gawking at the high prices, Ash and Nodonn decide to stake out Keygan's shop. The pair arrive at Keygan's and find members of the guard present, bricking up the secret entrance to Jzadirune on orders of the captain.

Throck and Plenty pay a visit to Keygan in jail, in an attempt to garner some information about the goblin situation. Keygan is distressed about his upcoming trial, and no sympathy is offered to him from his visitors. Keygan does not recall encountering goblins and the two return to the inn.

That night, the group splits into two and patrols the town, but no trace of any goblins are found.