Episode 5: Rats, Rats, We Fight the Rats

**Rats, Rats, We Fight the Rats** (C1E5) is the fifth episode of the first campaign of The Table is Yours: A Role-playing Adventure Show. The party goes to Old Maeve's to find out more about the Giant Rat Infestation in the Generta District.

## **Synopsis**

### Old Maeve

The party makes their way to a small brick house a few streets down to speak with Old Maeve, the sole survivor of the beast attacks. An elderly, lavender tiefling answers the door, and, after unbolting many locks, invites the group inside. The party informs her they are there to assist and that any clarity on the situation will help their investigation and, hopefully, prevent other attacks. Old Maeve is very honest and recounts the events of the night she and her friend were ambushed. She explains that the rats came from above; they crawled down the wall and pounced on her and her friend, about five or six of them. Old Maeve kicked the one attacking her in the stomach and scrambled away with just a few scratches. She then shows the group the marks on her neck from the encounter. Apparently the beasts tore out the throat of her friend, and Maeve confirms to the group that the beasts are large rats. After their discussion, Maeve asks the group if they can escort her to the tavern. They agree and contemplate their next moves on the way.  Terrance, ever the paranoid one, is convinced Maeve is suspicious, but the group quickly dismisses his apprehension.

### Looking for Clues

After depositing Old Maeve at The Absent Mandolin, the group decides to check out The Gray Grove, hoping it will help them learn more about the beasts’ origins. They make their way there and wander the weaving paths that lead through the woods. They stumble upon a woman tending to the flowers in the park, a woman Terrance seems to recognize. Terrance tells the group he wants to chat with her and that he will ask her if she knows anything about the rat issue. After some protesting from the group, they let him speak with her alone. It is revealed Terrance knows this woman from the park in the Second Precinct that he frequented when he was young, and her name is Aster. She greets him with a polite familiarity and asks how his experiments are going. Terrance lets her know they are going well, thanks to her. He rambles a bit about the ingredient she gave him way back when is the key to making the serum work, and he also thanks her for the advice she gave him. She smiles and says she is happy for him.

Aster explains she is in the Tenth Precinct because she tends to flora in all of the national parks. Terrance asks her about the ingredient she gave him and holds up what looks like a jar of spices. Specifically, he wanted to know what was in it, and she tells him she isn’t totally sure, but he should make good use of it while he has it. Terrance barely remembers to ask her about the rats: Aster hasn’t seen or heard anything odd, but with a wink she says she will keep an eye out just in case. Terrance returns to the group and thanks them for allowing him to catch up with an old friend. One, Wash, and Codex seem satisfied with their investigation into the Gray Grove and decide to head back into town to do some shopping and reconnaissance. Terrance and Shae choose to head deeper into the woods to see if they can find anything else.

The shopping trio heads back to the marketplace at the center of Generta and shops while scoping out places where they think the beast may next attack. Meanwhile, Shae and Terrance wander farther into the park and look for any signs of the creatures. They notice some scratch marks on the trees, and when they look up, they notice something hanging from the trees. Shae shadow-gates to the treetops and sees what looks to be burlap sacks filled with bile-like substance and remains of whatever was killed floating around inside it. Holding back her own vomit, Shae relays to Terrance her findings. He tosses her one of his vials and asks her to fill it with whatever is inside the sack. Disgusted, Shae holds her nose, fills the vial, and quickly corks it; she shadow-gates back to Terrance and tells him he is gross. He shrugs and says it might be useful.

### Quality Time

The party reconvenes at The Absent Mandolin to exchange information and develop a plan. They decide to wait until dusk to lure out the creatures. The party spends time together in the tavern while they wait for the sun to go down. Terrance proposes a game of sorts where they can ask questions to get to know each other better. Knowing that most of the group keeps their lives fairly private, he keeps the questions lighthearted. Terrance asks if anyone has any siblings and tells them he is an only child. One and Shae both say they are only children as well, Codex confesses she has a twin brother, and Wash says he has a sibling-like friend from his childhood. The game is awkward and feels a bit forced, but eventually a conversation starts when Codex talks about her father being a connection she has at the prison, considering he used to be held there. Terrance talks about his mother and how since she is a chef, he is a decent cook as well. One admits she likes cherries, while Shae and Wash are largely silent.

### Rats, Rats, They Fight the Rats

After some quality time at the tavern, the sun begins to set, and the group leaves to enact their plan. Because Maeve said the rats came from above, One and Wash plan to wait on the rooftops, while Codex and Terrance are “bait” in the alleys below. Shae will linger in the shadows behind them. Hopefully, Terrance and Codex will look unassuming enough to draw out the rats so that the party can at the very least have an idea as to where they are coming from or, ideally, kill them all. Terrance and Codex wander the alleys while their compatriots flank them on all sides. They make idle chatter until Terrance hears some scratching and squeaking coming from somewhere he can’t identify. He asks Codex if she heard anything, but after her dismissal, he tries to ignore it. Eventually, the sounds become too persistent, and he tells Codex it isn’t in his head and that it sounds like it’s originating from the walls.

Codex approaches the wall of the alley and puts her ear against it to listen. As she does this, a portal opens from the wall, and rats upon rats begin to pour out and attack them. Terrance fumbles through his bag for a serum as One readies her firearm, and the rest of the group prepare for the fight. Codex is in a very difficult place and is immediately surrounded. The beasts swarm her as the rest of the group rush to pull them away. Terrance, now Terry, begins smashing, kicking, and pounding as many rats as he can get his hands on. Wash, who realizes his proficiency in hand-to-hand combat isn’t useful from the roof, jumps down to join the fray. One fires down as rats begin to scurry up the walls to get to her. Shae pops in and out from the shadows and assassinates a beast in the blink of an eye.

The fight takes a turn when everyone notices Codex is unconscious and is being torn into by the rats. In a fit of rage, Terry reaches for another serum and becomes even more visceral to look at and, with bloodshot eyes, he begins to tear through the rats like they are nothing. As Wash gains his composure after falling from the roof, he notices Codex barely holding on. He tries to push through to get to her when he sees a pink wisp shimmering through the air. It circles Codex’s head and disappears into her mouth; with a start, an almost lifeless Codex gasps for air and sits straight up. Quickly, she gains her bearings and rejoins the fight. The portal from which the rats emerged continues to close as the party fights for their lives. Thinking quickly to help her friends, Codex shoots off a fire bolt directly into the portal. The rats go up in flames as the portal closes. The party breathes a sigh of relief as they calm themselves from the fight, surrounded by the viscera of the defeated infestation.