Rat

* Rat (Token)
* Rat (Portrait)

**Rat** (birthdate unknown) is a reborn rogue from the Republic of Luxengrand, likely from the western region given his accent. An eccentric yet proficient criminal, Rat draws on knowledge from a mixture of minds that dwell within his head. He uses this knowledge to augment his already-impressive larcenous talents, using arcane magic to elude enemies and repel attacks, as well as using his *mage hand* with uncanny dexterity to pick pockets and handle mechanisms from a distance. His insatiable greed and unpredictable neurosis makes him an incorrigible, risk-taking scoundrel - albeit one that gets results.

## History

### Origin

Rat has kept the details of his life private, often committing crimes independently. He often plied his trade in the city of Veltear, where he gained notoriety as a daring thief stealing from the city's aristocrats. Members of Veltear's lower class praise him as a rebel showing that the city's rich are not free from consequence, while the middle and upper class, as well as the City Watch, consider him a menace to society.

### Meeting the Party

Rat first encountered the party after taking a job for Bovark, leader of the Shark Head crime syndicate. The thief had originally been tasked with stealing a prized painting from Lord Daelhyr Eromir of Quel Lunadel when a panic ensued at the estate over the lord's assassination. Before Rat could relay news of what happened, he received a message from Bovark to return to Port Dairwane to assist with an ongoing crisis: a killer was taking out Shark Head's biggest clients, and demanded the delivery of one Cassian O'Daire or else the killings would continue.

On the way to Port Dairwane, Rat was instructed to make contact with Nix, who had joined the party in Quel Lunadel and was on the way via airship to answer Bovark's call as well. Nix was rightly suspicious of the strange rogue, nearly tossing him overboard before Rat explained that the two were, in fact, allies.

After aiding the party in taking out the real Cassian O'Daire, the true culprit behind the killings, Rat decided to take some jobs with Shark Head, finding opportunities for great profit by working with this outfit. Should the party need him, and the reward be tempting, Rat can be counted on to answer the call (hopefully).

## Description

### Appearance

Rat's appearance is kept secret from everyone he interacts with, hidden beneath a thick, hooded robe and a distinct mask. As a result, most people distinguish him by his raspy voice and strange speech pattern. He often refers to himself in the third-person while not playing a role, and has never explained why.

### Equipment

As a thief, Rat is equipped with a variety of tools and weapons that help him infiltrate secure areas. Like any rogue worth their salt, he carries a set of thieves' tools to open locks and disarm traps with ease, a shortbow to plug foes from a safe distance, and a rapier to fend off anyone that gets too close or to finish off deadly threats.

### Abilities

Rat's skillset makes him difficult to pin down, whether skulking through the shadows or racing across the field of battle. His agility lets him slip past enemies without fear of reprisal, and his underhanded fighting style lets him find openings in an enemy's defenses even skilled warriors might miss, letting him take advantage of a victim's weakness and deal devastating harm.

Besides these practical skills, Rat uses arcane magic to obscure his form and better defend himself, often using *diguise self* or *invisibility* to slip past threats unnoticed. He gets the most mileage out of his *mage hand* cantrip, which he can use to safely handle potential traps and pick pockets from physically-threatening marks.

When faced with new situations, Rat can consult with the many minds mingling with his own to draw upon their experiences. While he doesn't fully understand who these minds belong to, he knows enough about interacting with them to utilize their knowledge, whether he needs to navigate unfamiliar streets, fast-talk his way out of a group of city watch officers grilling him, or quickly find a cure for the poison that came with his sandwich.

## Inter-Party Relationships

### Elendar

Elendar and Rat aren't closely acquainted, though the sorcerer finds the rogue to be somewhat strange. The two share a professional respect, though it is uncertain whether either will be seeking each other's companionship any time soon.

### Ginny

Like Elendar, Ginny has yet to familiarize herself with Rat. At the very least, she seems to find the rogue harmless.

### Nix

Rat's and Nix's relationship had a rocky start, with the latter threatening the life of the former, but the two seem to have found some form of camaraderie. Though Rat was effectively tricked by Nix as part of a plan to get them in contact with Captain Louch Gaspard, he seems to hold no grudge towards the warlock, and worked with him effectively to dispatch Cassian O'Daire.

## Out-of-Party Relationships

### Bovark

Rat's relationship with Bovark is strictly professional. The sekolin crimelord values the rogue's skillset, even if he finds his eccentricities to be potential liabilities. Bovark convinces himself that he's worked with stranger folks, but deep down, he isn't so sure.

### Noster Wormtail

Meeting the Laughing Skulls representative at the Red Wake's parlor, Rat struck a memorable first impression on Noster by slamming down various poison vials and a *dagger of venom* on the table before him. Noster fears the day he may have to interact with the rogue again, finding his presence rather nerve-wracking.

## Achievements

* Evaded capture from authorities multiple times, and has a private cell designed especially for him in Veltear.
* Helped to bring Cassian O'Daire to justice for his reign of terror in Port Dairwane.
* Broke into the Gilded Galleon Bank of Holding after the bank updated its security.

## Trivia

* By strange coincidence, Rat's name is reminiscent of the inspiration for Veltear, a city directly inspired by the city of Dunwall in Arkane Studio's *Dishonored* franchise. In *Dishonored 1*, Dunwall suffers from a plague of diseased rats, assailing the city's lower class while its upper class keeps out of the plague's reach - or, at least, tries to.
* Aquired a Deck of Many Things, and proceeded to get lost in Limbo during a raid on Shark Head's HQ.
	+ Look, I don't have much trivia to go with yet, sue me.
		- *Wait actually please don't*