Rat Hunting At The Turgid Goose Bar

Ixy giggles like a posh wife finding her husband's credit card, "So the classic rat hunting quest. Good luck Mr. Exterminator. Remember, you're more afraid of them, than they are of you."

You grimace, That's not how-"

*Ping*

Duin looks up at the sign above the rather large merchant's wagon that's been converted into a bar, or you guess a tavern from the setting, "The Turgid Goose. I don't even remember walking here."

The slopped wooden guard rails and the exterior are of a dark wood, it holds a shine that is off putting in the daytime, but might be more attractive to a stumbling drunk like a moth to the flame at night. The curtains are a dull green, draped across either side of the door and as clean as the windows appear you can't make out a single thing inside.

With a grunt you do the only thing you can and enter the establishment.

Walking in you see a rather lanky fellow. Short blonde hair, slicked back, a practiced smile and bartender's uniform clearly too expensive to just be a bartender's uniform. His face seems friendly, but something about it is a little off, however in the dim indoor light you can't really put a finger on it as you head towards the publican. He greets you as you come in.

The bartender greets you, "Hey there new fella, haven't seen you before. Welcome to The Turgid Goose. What're ya buying?"

You find his phrasing odd. It immediately starts the alarm bell in your head that anyone who's seen the Alien franchise should have. It could just be his odd way of talking, but addressing you as a new person AND pointing out he hasn't seen you before is redundant....unless he's also picking up that you're new to this world. You shake your head, you must be overthinking this, " Nothing, I'm here for the quest."

This guy definitely gives you ' If Frank Sinatra was a used car salesman' vibes.

He offers a closed mouth grin, "Ahh that. Thanks for the help, names Franc."

Your face holds, "Course it is."

"Eh?"

You shrug, "Nothing man, met a lot of Francs."

Franc taps his chin in a practiced fashion, "Common name round your parts I guess. So, to the quest. It's like overnight some rats started appearing in the liquor cellar. You'd think they'd start with the food storage? Either way after we spotted them we sectioned off everything else so they wouldn't spread. Be a friend and round up the miscreants would you?"

You raise an eyebrow. It's clearly more than one or two if they sealed off an entire cellar, "With my bare hands?"

Franc laughs, it's a normal jovial laugh, but the pitch seems a bit high, "Hahahaha, as funny as that would be I really want this done. There's a bag and a stun rod by the cellar door you can use."

You walk over to where he's pointing. A dark, uninviting corridor, but it's not like the drinking public frequents this part of a tavern, "And after I get them in the bag?"

Franc turns his attention back to polishing glasses, "Drown em, sell em, cook em for all I care. They just can't stay here."

"Hm, I'll see to it then."

"Thanks, you're a peach." Franc replies, alright tuning out your very existence.

You make your way down to the cellar and can't help shaking the feeling that something is off.

You talk to yourself, a bad habit to develop, but new world, new you," Man looks too rich to be a bartender and clearly gives the tone of someone in management. Or ownership...doesn't give off the same vibe as everyone else I've seen in this village. Albeit I've only been walking about for less than an hour it's strange. Fancy suits and small towns don't mix."

As your reach the cellar you see the bag and shock stick. The primal part of your brain lights up at the thought of tool usage and decide to see what your working with.

*ZAAAP*

"Jebazz Christo, this thing is a beast! Do I really need to become an adventurer if I have something like this?"

You open the door and close it quickly as you enter to not let any rats out. You fumble your hand along the wall looking for a light switch.

*Click*

As your eyes adjust you see the red beady eyes of a group of rats, tails interlocked, staring at you.

*Click*

You give it a second, "..."

*Click*

"Yep, still there. What the hell are you?"

The creature speaks, "We are the emissary of the Rat Queen."

You look at the thing up and down, "I just knew it would talk."

Rat Emissary speaks, it's voice sounding like a human being squashed under the weight of a thousand rats mixed with said rats squeaks, "He will give the Queen what he owes."

"He? Right, Franc?"

"Debts will be paid!" the Rat Emissary shouts.

You rest your hand on your hip and twirl your shock stick, "....right see I totally get you, dude feels sleazy, but I need him to stamp a piece of paper so I can get out of this town so might I recommend carrier pigeon next time you try to send a message?"

You begin walking to the Rat Emissary zap wand at the ready.

The creature laughs as you approach, "So you're not even a full fledged adventurer and you feel you can-"

*KRAKKOOM*

The two of you look at each other before the Rat Emissary speaks again,"....okay what the hell is that thing?!"

You grin like a child on Christmas morning with your new toy, " I know right? Most people start out with a wooden sword, but I got prison riot gear! So yeah, in the bag."

Angry squeaks are the reply," You dare!"

*KRAK, *ZAP* JOLT*

Rat Emissary: *fried whimper*

You sigh as you put the charred remains in the bag, "Job done... it just occurred to me I didn't get a wooden sword for rat catching... that bastard knew what was down here."

You walk up the stair with your charred quarry to find out what the hell Franc involved you in.

"Hey-"

You don't get the words out before he's walking over to you arms wide. "That looks, and smells like a job well done."

You try to control the conversation, "Yeah you-"

"Fantastic, I'll add a bonus for the quick service. You deserve every bit of coin, really." Franc begins leading you out the door.

You try to dig your heels in, but the floor is impossibly smooth, "Oh no, if you think- wait I get paid for this?"

With the same closed mouth smile, Franc answers "Of course you do, just give me that there to stamp-"

*stamp*

"And off to the judge you go. I'll take that and you can drop the bag in the bin out back. Good working with ya, free drinks next time you stop by."

*Slam*

With your shocky staff taken from you and outside of a very closed bar you realize you might have pissed off a large entity by involving yourself in this.

Duin: " But I get paid and free drinks."

You hum a tune to yourself as you throw away the rat remains and make your way back to familiar pastures.... "Hold on, that tavern was way bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside!"