Below the streets of Bolfell, below the vibrant markets and bustling neighborhoods, a set of wet, squelching footsteps echoed in dark tunnels. Two of them belonged to a pair of Ratfolk, and the third was a barely conscious man being dragged along by them. His face was wet with a combination of sewer runoff and blood, his clothes muggy and torn, and his legs too weak to keep up pace, leading to him being dragged through the slime most of the way. Finally, the two let go of his body and he fell face first into solid, dry ground. With some effort, he raised his face and looked upon a wooden door, torches blazing on either side bright enough to hurt his eyes. Next to the door stood a third Ratfolk, seemingly older than the two that dragged him here. His fur was matted and grey, and he had scars on his face and neck. His arms were crossed, and he leered over the man, frowning.
“You made a big mistake, human. You know the consequences of moving goods in the sewers without the consent of the Rat King.”
“Wait! No, I didn’t know. There were guards and I needed a way of getting past them. It was only a couple of crates!” The man pleaded, bowing low and avoiding eye contact.
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“Your excuses won’t work on me, human. I’m not the one who holds your life in his hands.” The Ratfolk banged on the door, and it slid open slowly. The darkness within seemed impenetrable. “He will judge you.”
“No! Please!” He begged, quivering on the ground and looking into the darkness. “I-I’m a member of the Merchant’s Guild! You can’t do this to me!”
“The Merchant’s Guild has no power down here.” The older Ratfolk nodded to the other two, and they grabbed the man by the arms and, despite his efforts to resist, hurled him into the dark room and shut the door behind him.
The darkness engulfed him, and he saw nothing. But, he could hear something, the skittering of little feet, and the sound of faint squeaks and sniffing. Then he saw their eyes, shining in the dark. Dozens of them. Hundreds of them.
The Ratfolk guard didn’t flinch when he heard the screams.