He Who Fights with Monsters, #1
He Who Fights with Monsters
by Shirtaloon
Contents
72. Rat Race
Overview
Jason advances the rat-clearing contract with Colin, only to trigger hidden objectives as the rat count inexplicably drops. A surge of tunnel water disrupts him, and he discovers ratlings behind the final nest. He begins eliminating them while others mysteriously die, revealing a deeper threat shaping the infestation.
Summary
Jason and his leech familiar Colin scour Old City’s water tunnels for stone-chewer rats, finishing most nests and collecting minor loot. As Colin tracks life signs, the quest counter for remaining rats begins dropping without Jason’s involvement, prompting a hidden objective regarding the final nest.
To speed navigation, Jason recalls Colin into his bloodstream, using a single leech to point the way. The tunnels grow more decrepit and fungus-choked, and the rat objective completes, but hidden objectives prevent completion. A sudden operational water surge overruns the walkways before subsiding, leaving Jason annoyed he forgot he can walk on water.
Pressing on, Jason encounters a fleeing ratling, revealing a new hidden objective to eliminate ratlings. He dispatches it via leeches, then confronts multiple panicked ratlings, killing some while others fall into the water. He uses shadow movement and knives to hunt them down.
As he tracks the survivors, additional ratlings keep dying out of sight, further reducing the counter. Jason pursues the last few through the maze-like tunnels, guided by distant squeals that abruptly cut off. He ends the chapter with several ratlings eliminated and evidence that an unknown force is also culling them.
Who Appears
- Jason AsanoAdventurer clearing tunnel infestations; uses quest prompts, shadow movement, and knives; discovers hidden objectives and ratlings.
- ColinLeech familiar guiding Jason by sensing life, swarming targets, and assisting kills in tunnels and water.
- RatlingsCowardly, half-sized humanoid rodents; source of hidden objective; many flee, some die mysteriously.
- Stone-chewer ratsLarge tunnel rats initially targeted; eliminated as nests are cleared, preceding discovery of ratlings.