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.