The Drunken Rat

Trollskull Manor was a whirlwind of activity. Veek was coordinating food vendors, Nettie was in the ear of carpenters and masons, Ristrien was taking notes on everything, and Flynn was overseeing it all. Pete was mostly just in the way, insisting that more samples of food and drink be brought back by the various vendors. But as the day turned into night, an eerie quiet began to descend on the Manor. The streets were thick with fog, and the old building was not up to the task of keeping that out. Drifting wisps wafted through the floors, settling down stairs. But behind that damp stillness the sounds of scrabbling could be heard - rats in the walls! Curiosity aroused, it appeared that they were heading down into the cellar in numbers. The hatch door in the kitchen seemed to be accumulating the mist from the upper floors. It was sealed or stuck, and wouldn't open. Finally, Nettie rigged up a contraption that slid the bolt from the underside. There was a dank but not unpleasant odor arising from the cellars. Rushing down the steps, the earthen floors were covered with the bodies of rats. The keg that had been delivered that day had an open tap, just a few drops remaining to trickle out. Pete was lying under it, milky white eyes wide open while he snored like a thunder god. The only creature still awake was the Baron, who stood on Pete's stomach while licking the last few drops from the keg. He looked up at the intrusion and you could swear he said "Bring on the Goddam Cat!", followed by a loud belch then he too passed out.