[Riverfall Location] The Rat Hole

[Gossamer]

A small tavern located in the lower portion of the city, there are few who would go to the Rat Hole just to enjoy its food or drink, though the establishment does indeed serve cheap ale and poor meals. The Rat Hole is more often frequented for more nefarious reasons. It is where deals are made, and information is sold. Often such information regards matters that might be considered illegal, but the establishment's owner is also a willing informant to the city authorities, giving them enough useful information to keep the place from being shut down. None of this is a secret, and it is only because of Tom's uncanny ability to gather information on just about everything that people even dare to buy or sell their secrets in his establishment. Aside from being a place to buy and sell information the Rat Hole also serves a dual purpose, one that is not so widely known to the public. Behind a hidden door in the back of the building is another room, and it is in this room that agents Rhysol meet. The owner of the establishment, Tom Volus, is in fact an agent of the Black Sun. His bouncer, Ardan, is his Ebonstryfe bodyguard. Whenever agents of Rhysol pass through the city, it is at the Rat Hole that they check in. Only the Chaon are allowed into the back room, where they can find an altar to the Defiler, as well as beds to rest in until they are ready to move on, or receive new directions. Twice each season a courier from Ravok comes to collect reports and issue new orders to any agents staying in the safehouse.   Tom Volus Name: Tom Volus Race: Human DoB: 477 AV PoB: Ravok Title: Owner, Acolyte of the Black Sun Skills: Intelligence 65, Rhetoric 30, Politics 25, Interrogation 20, Carpentry 20 Gnosis: Chaon - Rank 2 Tom, a Ravokian man, has been stationed in Riverfall since he was twenty-three years old. He joined the Black Sun at a young age and came to work with another agent who was trying to establish a base of operations in the city. Eventually that agent moved on to do other things, but together the men opened the Rat Hole. Tom is a dealer of information, as well as an agent of Rhysol. He has a knack for find out information, as well as spreading rumors, sometimes real, and sometimes false. Tom is the eyes and ears of the Black Sun in Riverfall, though there are few who are aware of it. Biography Tom Volus was born into a family of shipwrights, and in his early years help his father build the fishing boats for the city of Ravok. He was not destined to be a shipwright like his father, however, and aspired to serve the Defiler in a more direct way. Tom's knack for bartering information first surfaced when he overheard a plot being formed by one merchant to ruin a rival merchant's reputation. Acting quickly, Tom went to the rival merchant and sold the information to him in exchange for a few gold mizas. From then on Tom realized his calling, and it wasn't long before he was selling information to the Black Sun itself. Eventually one of the Acolyte's at the temple took an interest in the young man, and began educating him in the ways of Rhysol. A few years later he received his mark and was made an agent of the Black Sun. Tom was eventually sent to Riverfall to assist one of the Acolytes there who setting up a base of operations for their members in the city. Tom and the fellow agent worked together to open the Rat Hole, and eventually Tom was promoted and put in charge of the establishment himself. When Tom isn't at the tavern, he is out in the city learning what he can. Personality Tom is an amiable man, and always knows just what to say to get someone to talk to him. He has a knack for gathering information without outright interrogating a person, and people tend to trust him despite their better judgment. Or perhaps they know that as long as they have more coin than their rivals, Tom's lips will be sealed. Tom enjoys spreading rumors, whether they are true or not, and has been known to stir up trouble just to see what chaos comes of it.   Ardan Name: Ardan Race: Human DoB: 486 AV PoB: Unknown Title: Bouncer, Ebonstryfe Soldier Skills: Brawling 55, Shortsword 40, Intelligence 15, Interrogation 25 Gnosis: Chaon - Rank 1 Ardan was born a slave, and still bears the mark of it burned into the top of his right hand. The brand, however, has become a symbol of pride for the man as it is also where Rhysol's blood first touched him, making him one of the Chaon. Ardan is the bouncer at the Rat Hole, but he is also a soldier of the Ebonstrfye. He was assigned to protect and assist Tom in any way necessary. Ardan is a grim, rough man, and won’t hesitate to throw a body out the window just to make a point. Biography Ardan was born a slave and spent most of his childhood being passed from one slaver to the next until he finally ended up in Ravok. He was purchased by a member of the Ebonstryfe, who trained him in the arts of combat. Korgan earned his freedom when he saved his master from a Syliran spy who tried to kill him. His master, impressed by his slave, set him free and invited him to join the Ebonstryfe. Ardan excelled and earned his mark making him a full soldier in the Ebonstryfe. He was eventually sent to Riverfall, where he was assigned to protect an Acolyte named Tom Volus. Ardan arrived in Riverfall in the year 509 AV, and lives in the back room of the Rat Hole. Personality Ardan is a grim man with a hard personality. Growing up a slave, and after that becoming a member of the Ebonstryfe, he did not know much joy in his youth, and thus has trouble expressing it. He enjoys women, ale, and good food, and little else. Ardan isn't much for conversation, but he is skilled in prying the words from someone's lips through other means if necessary.   Services Mug of Ale - 4cm Poor Meal - 2sm Information - Varies Room and Board - Free (Chaon only) * Credit goes to Sira for this location!