The Plague Rats

Waterdeep's dark underbelly has long been home to wererats, a lycanthropic plague that the Lords have never wholly eradicated. In recent years, as the number of threats occupying the Lords has grown, the wererat population has grown in number to its highest point in decades. Concurrent with this population growth, the rodent lycanthropes have been assimilated into the Plague Rats, an elite organization of thieves, assassins, and wererats active throughout the Western Heartlands and the North and dedicated to Talona, the Mistress of Disease. In Waterdeep, the Plague Rats largely operate in Dock Ward and the sewers under cover of darkness, although they perform clandestine missions anywhere in the city for hire. Currently, the group is focused on expanding their ranks and extending their reach into every aspect of Dock Ward's seamier side. Ironically, only the burgeoning power of the Shadow Thieves and the Xanathar Thieves' Guild is keeping the Plague Rats in check. Base of Operations: The Rat's Maw of the Rat Hills, Deloun Alley, and Skullport. Plague Rats(Expansive Criminal): AL LE, NE; 40,000 gp resource limit; Membership 436; Mixed (wererats 161, humans 87, half-orcs 78, halflings 44, others 66 Dues 50 gp/month (10 gp to join). Authority Figure: Plaguemistress Teltaera of the Seven Blights (LE female wererat [augmented Chondathan human] cleric 7/Talontar blightlord 3/assassin 3 [Talona]). Associated Classes: Barbarian, cleric, fighter, ranger, rogue. Associated Skills: Appraise, Hide, Knowledge (local), Move Silently, Sleight of Hand, Use Rope. Requirements: Do not divulge secrets of the guild to outsiders. Give Talona her due. Favored in Guild Fringe Benefit: Talona is inclined to be merciful toward you, and rarely afflicts you with her blessings. You gain a +2 bonus on Fortitude saves against disease. In addition, if you are an afflicted lycanthrope, you gain a +2 bonus on Control Shape checks. Special: All members must choose Talona as their patron deity and demonstrate a knack for stealth and skullduggery (2 ranks in Hide).