Musophobia!

It's late at night, but there's no rest for Adventurers. Particularly not ones sent out on missions. Monsters and mayhem know no hours and yet still manage more often than not to occur when least convenient. In this instance you find yourselves at a farm in the middle of nowhere. In fact its so far from anything you're not sure what the farmer grows here. There's not a speck of anything growing /anywhere/. In any case he's complained of something eating his crops and you're here to stop whatever it is.

The farmer in question is standing nearby with a pitchfork looing as though he's totally rested and ready to put his pitchfork to use. His keen eyes roam around looking for answers and finally land on all of you. "Well, don't just stand around. Go find whatever's eating my crops!"

Erendriel has never done this sort of thing before, but having been told about these guilds and things, she nosed around, managed not to insult the book casters long enough to get hired, and now here she is. It's late, so she's been having glowing dancing lights floating over her head the whole way. "Does anyone know anything about farming?" she asks the others.

Jeirath shakes his head at the farmer with a bit of a grin, then looks over at Erendriel. He rests his hand on the hilt of his rapier, folding his other arm neatly behind his back as he looks around as he replies to Erendriel.

"This one doesn't know anything about farming." He then looks back to the farmer. "What is it that you grow here, farmer? What is being eaten?"

It's far too late for anyone sane to be out and about. Which is probably why a gaggle of Adventurers are standing around, being berated by a farmer. And at his outburst, the smaller, armored one near the back of the group cannot suppress a rolling of the eyes. "Okay, so, dead field. When'd it start? What were ya growing? Animals go missin'? Or are we supposed to, like, magic the clues outta thin air? Give us somethin to start with, yeah?"

The farmer eyes you all and nods before leading you over to a small silo off to the side of the farm. "I grow winter herbs. Magic stuff for wizards and the sort." He motions to the silo. "Somethin's been breaking in here and making off with the seeds from my harvest, and worse it got into the dried stuff in my barn last night." He motions to the barn not a few feet away.

GAME: Jeirath rolls perception: (14)+8: 22

Erendriel slides into the back of the group, letting those who are talking do the talking. Not that she's bad at talking. She's just inexperienced with this. "Let me go light up the barn and the silo and we can look inside."

GAME: Erendriel rolls perception: (18)+5: 23
GAME: Donna rolls perception: (4)+8: 12
GAME: Erendriel rolls survival: (2)+1: 3
GAME: Jeirath rolls survival: (5)+1: 6
GAME: Donna rolls survival: (16)+6: 22

With the promise of light making their jobs easier, Donna nods curt approval at the farmer, and follows the group to the silo. Peeking in, she frowns at a few specks here and there, and when they get to the barn, her suspicions seem confirmed.

"Rats," she mutters with a sigh, tilting her head to one side until vertebrae pop. "Thank crap my sister ain't here... Hokay." Turning to the farmer, the small woman flexes her gauntletted hands. "Make sure any animals you got are shut up safe, then get inside and wait for us to call. You got a rat problem, and any dog you got'll be a light snack for one of'm. Get me?"

Jeirath perks up, turning to look at Donna. "Rats?" A confused look is plastered across his face as he listens to Donna's warning to the farmer. "Just.... rats? This one somehow suspects it cannot be that simple..." He slowly draws his rapier and lays it against his shoulder.

The farmer looks confused as well but he nods to Donna and starts calling his dogs in. Then he locks and bolts himself inside. Leaving all of you to fend for yourselves. Leaving you in the almost too-quiet dark to wait for... Rats.

GAME: Erendriel rolls perception: (3)+5: 8
GAME: Jeirath rolls perception: (11)+8: 19
GAME: Donna rolls perception: (11)+8: 19

And none to soon as here they come. A huge swarm of rats marked by a few as big as dogs like Donna had suggested there might be. They're headed right for you.

GAME: Stena rolls Perception: (18)+0: 18

"Yeah," Donna says, as the squeaking builds in the distance. "It ain't that simple."

GAME: Erendriel rolls bab + 3: (2)+1+3: 6

The rats rush forward enmass, heading straight for the silo which you are standing in front of. The sheer number of them is staggering. Tiny rats cover the ground and there are at least three much larger ones ready to attack you also.

GAME: Donna RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 8 temporary HP
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (4): 4
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+2: (7)+8+2: 17
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+1+2+2: (3)+1+2+2: 8

Donna bounces a couple times on her toes as the swarm continues to roil their way, like a boxer getting ready for her first round. Then, pale-blue lines begin to appear on her skin, crawling up her neck in half-legible arcane script, and finally blue fire begins to leak from her eyes.

"KILL THEM WITH FIRE," she roars, her outline melting into one long, blue-black smear in reality as she hurtles forward, one spiked fist looping overhead, brought down on one of the three largest rodents...

...caving its head right in.

Erendriel sees the rats, and with a squeak, she points her finger at one, and a streak of fire shoots out of it... and hits the ground not especially close to one of the rats.

GAME: Jeirath rolls melee+3 (finesse)+1 (masterwork): (8)+3+3 (finesse)+1 (masterwork): 15
GAME: Jeirath rolls 1d6+1: (4)+1: 5

Jeirath watches as Erendriel tries to blast at the rats with magical fire. He also watches as Donna rushes in and smashes one of the larger rats' head in. Not one to be left behind, Jeirath darts in shortly behind Donna. Taking up a traditional duelling stance, he tucks his left arm behind his back as he flicks the tip of his rapier out violently, sticking it into another of the larger rats. "HAVE AT THEM!"

GAME: Stena rolls 1d20+7: (12)+7: 19
GAME: Stena rolls 1d12+6: (9)+6: 15

"Oh for... WHY IS IT ALWAYS RATS?"

Stena is annoyed. She does not like rats. "I'm going to need to have a word with my mom about this.." She grumbles, bringing her great axe one handed and lazily down to cut a giant rat in half.

It's a giant rat, okay? This is not terribly hard it would appear.

The swarm attacks, crawling up bodies and biting, scratching. It's all over the place now.

GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2: (9)+8+1+2: 20
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+1+2+2: (6)+1+2+2: 11

And now all that remain are the little ones. The smeary, smudgy blur that is Donna stomps and punches and flails about the ground, crushing rat after rat after rat. ...If she could keep this up in a line, she would do *wonders* creating roads…

GAME: Jeirath rolls melee+4 (finesse)+1 (weapon focus)+1 (masterwork): (4)+3+4 (finesse)+1 (weapon focus)+1 (masterwork): 13

Jeirath lets out a short yelp as he is bitten by several rats. The smaller ones proved harder to kill, as when he goes to stab at the swarm it just kinda skitters around where his blade would land.

GAME: Stena rolls 1d20+7: (14)+7: 21
GAME: Stena rolls 1d12+6: (10)+6: 16
GAME: Erendriel casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15
GAME: Erendriel rolls 1d4+1: (1)+1: 2

"Augh! Friggig rats?" Sweeping at them with her axe, many die on Stena's blade but others get in her armor and chew on her toes and the angry Aesir gets even angrier.

Erendriel shrieks when she was BITTEN by one of the nasty things, and backs way the heck out of there, and flings her arm out, this time successfully sending a pure little burst of arcane energy into that rat's nasty face.

GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2: (4)+8+1+2: 15
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+1+2+2: (2)+1+2+2: 7

Dust begins to puff up around Donna, as the rats savage her legs, and fists and feet pound at the earth. Finally, when the last squeaking body is pumped under her fists, she straightens, a wild look in her eyes as she struggles to catch her breath, gaze swivelling here and there to see if any threats remain.

"....That it?"

Jeirath looks around, dusting some rat-filth off his feet by giving them a bit of a kick. He then lightly drags his blade across the pelt of one of the dead rats, wiping all the blood off it. "This one is disgusted to have sullied his blade on vermin such as this..."

Erendriel dusts off after being BITTEN, and fires up lights again to illuminate where the rats came from.

"...well, then. That seems to be that," huffs Stena, putting her axe by her side with one hand. She's looking around to make /sure/ of that. "Everyone okay?" she asks, low voice.

Suddenly the ground shakes and then bursts outwards from right in front of Stena. Standing before her suddenly is a massive rat-man. Long claws drip with some kind of black ichor and his eyes are pure button-black. He growls and snarls as bristles raise from his spine quivering. He doesn't look the least bit natural.

GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2+2: (5)+8+1+2+2: 18
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+1+2+2: (1)+1+2+2: 6

Still blurred and flickering with blue fire, Donna's head whips toward the emerging rat-man. When the creature looses its challenging snarl, she drops into a runner's crouch for a moment, than pelts forward, fist raised as she looses her battle-cry.

"THAT AIN'T WHAT YOUR MOMMA SAID LAST WEEK!"

As battle-cries go, it probably needs work. So does her swing, as it glances off the creature's barrel chest.

GAME: Donna rolls will+2: (15)+5+2: 22
GAME: Erendriel rolls will: (11)+4: 15
GAME: Jeirath rolls will+3: (14)+1+3: 18
GAME: Stena rolls Will: (12)+1: 13
GAME: Jeirath rolls melee+4 (finesse)+2 (flank)+1 (weapon focus)+1 (masterwork): (4)+3+4 (finesse)+2 (flank)+1 (weapon focus)+1 (masterwork): 15
GAME: Jeirath rolls 1d6+1: (3)+1: 4

Jeirath is able to steel himself, despite the abrupt appearance of the massive rat man. He furrows his eyes and assumes a defensive posture, pointing the tip of his blade towards the large rat-man. While Donna engages it, Jeirath begins moving into a position behind it to set up a flank. "This one will cut this vermin down to size!"

"OH FUCK," says Stena loudly.

And then she bolts, leaving her greatqaxe behind her on the ground.

"AHHH! STUPID RATS!!!"

She is loud. Very loud. And terrified. And pale. Paler than usual.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (20)+4: 24
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (2)+4: 6
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+1: (4)+1: 5
GAME: Stena rolls Fort: (20)+5: 25 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)
GAME: Erendriel casts Charm Person. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (14)+4: 18
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (14)+4: 18
GAME: Donna rolls fort: (11)+6: 17
GAME: Donna rolls fort: (16)+6: 22
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+1: (4)+1: 5
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+1: (3)+1: 4
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2+2-2: (19)+8+1+2+2+-2: 30
GAME: Donna rolls finesse+1+2+2-2: (16)+8+1+2+2+-2: 27

The rat turns in a quick circle, swiping at Donna twice and scoring deep lines in her. The dripping ichor on its hands leaves a trail behind as well. One that... time will tell.

GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+1+2+2: (3)+1+2+2: 8
GAME: Donna rolls 1d6+2+2: (1)+2+2: 5
GAME: Donna rolls fort: (19)+6: 25

Heedless of the ichorous claws shredding past armor and into flesh, Donna's flaming eyes widen, as if *offended* that a rat-man would have the gall to slash her. One fist lances forward to crack its jaw, then the other rips the air in a looping haymaker that audibly breaks something in the ratman's skull, sending it to the ground in a heap.

Erendriel glares at the ratfolk when he completely bypasses her blink of an eye and attempt to sway him. Winding up to try to poke him with fire, well, he goes down as her teammates do the job. Then sighing, and rubbing her leg where she got BIT. "This was nasty. But I guess I have to do it."

The look of disgust on Jeirath's face is so strong that it could almost make someone feel sorry for him. He gives his rapier a quick flick, away from him, sending blood flying off it. He repeats the earlier motion of wiping the blade against the carcass of the ratman. "This one will need to scorch his blade in order to clean it of this filth... ughhh..." He looks over to Erendriel. "Are you injured?"

"...is it dead?" calls Stena, quietly, as she returns. She sheepishly goes to pick her axe up.

Unwisely, hearing the commotion come to an end the farmer has come back out, wielding his pitchfork just in case. As he notices the ratman he glances around at you and nods his thanks stoically. "Wait there..." He pokes the ratman with his pitchfork and it rolls over completely onto it's stomach. "It's wearing my neighbor's pants! You can tell because 'Joe' is written on the pocket!"

"...oh no," says Stena.

"I... hate to be the one to tell you this, but I think your neighbor might be a weird rat monster." She nudges the corpse.

Fire and light scatter into nothingness, as whatever power Donna took hold of is released, for a time. When the adrenalin leaves, however, awareness of her injuries rushes to fill the space left behind, and she sinks to one knee, hissing as she claps a hand over the bloody furrows dug in her arm.

When the farmer comes out, however, and identifies the corpse as a neighbor, Donna grits her teeth. "....Welp. Gonna get seen to by Temple healers... then I'll be back, mister. 'F he wasn't always like this, then somethin's up an' this ain't the end of it."

Jeirath's look of confusion returns. He looks to his compatriots, then he looks to the dead rat-man. His gaze lingers for a moment before he looks back up to the farmer. "You're neighbor was... a rat-shaped man?"

"Weren't that I ever saw. Maybe the rat-thing stole his pants? Or maybe he got changed. Things have been awfully odd around Alexandria lately." The man motions toward the barn. "You're all welcome to the barn for the evening as my thanks. I'll even make you breakfast bright and early. If you don't mind my cooking that is."

"....Ain't gonna say no to breakfast," Donna sighs, checking the ichorous slashes on her arm. "Mean it, though. Gonna be back. Don't like this."

"Wouldn't be the first time something changed some poor farmer into something else," replies Stena with a sigh. "Let's do it. Yeah." A nod to Donna.

Jeirath nods. "This one is in agreement. If something turned this man into a... rat... then we should find out the cause of it." He then looks over to the barn. "This one does not want to sleep in a barn however. We should return to the city and rest before we return."

-TBC