Ratpack

**Ratpack** is an experimental Greater Undead chimera created by Zolgrish the Lich.

## Appearance

Ratpack is a small humanoid with pale grey skin and thick grizzled hair. He has small pointed ears, pitch black eyes, jagged teeth, claws at the ends of his limbs, and wears a yellow mage robe that used to belong to Zolgrish as a child.

## Equipment

Zolgrish granted his minion the **Coward's Mantle**, an artifact capable of letting him merge with shadows and protect him from harm made from Abomination skin. He also wields the Coward's Knife, and due to being part-elf, can use Soul Vision, though it is unstable.

## Background

Ratpack was made from assembling the corpses of an elf child and a Balor, before being raised from the dead with Necromancy as a vampire. He was intended to be the ultimate being - an immortal, natural shapeshifter vampire in perfect tune with the world energy like an elf, and with a Balor's Evil Eyes, capable of amplifying each of his spells. However, instead he kept the build of the child and was unable to handle the world energy of the Balors. Becoming a vampire messed things up even more because neither elves nor Balors usually become undead.

After Lith kills reverted monsters Draga and Caliel, Ratpack attempts to enlist Lith's help to free Zolgrish, who was taken prisoner after his servants Dann'Kah the orc shaman and Yozmogh the Balor rebelled. He brings Lith through the floors to the 8th floor where Zolgrish is held prisoner and guarded by a Balor named Trou'Bleskamuz the Fierce. He attempts to give Lith his "chainmail" (literally envelopes linked by chains), though Lith declines the "gift."

After killing Trouble, Lith meets Zolgrish, who has been reduced to an old battered skull with a life force weaker than a regular human's. The lich explains his current predicament and how the monsters are linked to his phylactery. Ratpack is able to see Solus using Soul Vision and describes her appearance, unlocking some of Solus' memories. They make their way to the 4th floor where the lab is located, but Zolgrish carelessly disables the protections to allow Lith in, inadvertently letting the monsters in as well. Ratpack hides in a closet's shadow.

Zolgrish bluffs his way into encouraging Ratpack to stab the orc shaman with his Coward's Knife. This distracts the orc long enough for the lich to Warp himself and Dann'Kah away where he assimilates his former servant. Ratpack later accompanies Zolgrish as he meets with Lith again a year later and establishes a partnership for the silver mine.

The Council organizes a test for their apprentices at a reconstruction of the ancient city of Urgamakka. Ratpack accompanies Zolgrish and the latter's new master Inxialot as they oversee the test. The Liches release the Gargoyles to attack the apprentices, though Ratpack manages to lower their output after a call from Council representative Raagu Drerian. The two Liches attempt to feast on a hearty meal but had forgotten how to eat, leaving Ratpack to clean up their bodily messes.

The two Liches ignore the warnings of Vareen the Plaguespreader breaching the city's defenses, putting the apprentices' lives at risk. Ratpack unsuccessfully attempts to alert the Council.

## Quotes

* *"Master and you peas in a pod."* (Ratpack to Lith, Chapter 533)
* *"'Ratpack, the human seems to be a little touchy. Are you sure he is the strongest, smartest, bravest champion you could find?' Zolgrish asked. 'Of course, master.' 'What makes you so sure about it?' 'He only survivor. All others died, so he best one.'"* (Ratpack to Zolgrish, Chapter 540)
* *"Master, no sense hiding phylactery if you tell where it is...Master, names wrong and we not friends. We said nothing all time."* (Ratpack to Zolgrish, Chapter 976)

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chapter 1499
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chapter 532
3. ↑ Chapter 533
4. ↑ Chapter 539
5. ↑ Chapter 534
6. ↑ Chapter 537
7. ↑ Chapter 542
8. ↑ Chapter 546
9. ↑ Chapter 976
10. ↑ Chapter 1503
11. ↑ Chapter 1522: Spreading the Plague (Part 2)