1.2 - In Search of Sanity - The Dead Don't Dream

With the fight over, Elias relaxes and lowers his sword. Stepping up he listens in as the Ratling tells what it knows.

Wretched little thing, Axon thought.

Axon recognizes this creature as a Ratling, a hideous amalgamation of rat and human. Within the ratling’s humanoid mouth can be found long, yellow incisors more akin to those one might find in the jaws of a rat. These teeth are remarkably sharp, and when combined with the blood-thinning qualities in the ratling’s saliva, are capable of inf licting particularly dangerous, bleeding wounds. A ratling is just over 2 feet long (although half that length is its long, ratty tail) and weighs 10 pounds.

They are very intelligent, magical creatures, inherently evil but tend to steer clear of larger folk. Axon gets the feeling this ratling likely came to the surface due to the opportunity presented by the disruption in the hospital.

They have a boundless thirst for knowledge and unquenchable curiosity, often taking up residence in the basements of libraries and universities where they can pilfer scrolls and books to consume.

"You didn't cause this. Your kind come from the depths to learn. Then tell us what you've learned, ratling, starting with who 'he' is and what 'he' wants."

Axon smirked.

"We may even have information to share... if you don't make us kill you for lying or doing something else stupid."

One at a time, ratty, Axon thought.

"Where is this lord of nightmares from? What plane? And how was he brought here?"

"And this Briarstone Witch, what do you know of her?"

Razhel listens to the exchanges between Axon and the ratling, but has no questions to put forth of her own. She is eager to finish their sweep of the area and find a path back to the survivors to report their finds and further study the information they have collected so far.

The names and concepts were almost bewildering but Axon had to focus on the here and now.

"And the current troubles? The earthquake? This fog? The changelings and monsters? How did all this start?"

Whatever a bhole was, the ratling clearly thought it was the source of the earthquakes. The power of something able to do that was terrifying but Axon had even more terrifying things to consider.

"Any idea what might have attracted such a powerful oneiric entity's attention to this island? What do you know of the arcane research in this place?"

"In a minute. Perhaps not purely arcane research, then. What of the mind and the unlocking of dreams?"

Axon had followup questions about Ariadnah and the rest of the ratling's nest in the library.

Axon smiled.

"I think we'll take you up on that offer but I have some last questions. The Lord of Nightmares, who did he serve and who does he serve? And do you know of any way to banish him?"