Ratman! It begins here (Solo)

[Bob Barton]

16th day of Fall 511 AV

Two days, and two days is cutting it a little bit too close to fully prepare for anything but it only got delivered today! Yes, it was the much awaited rat cloak that Bob had made out of the rat mother. While he was able to prepare most of it himself just days before with a little help from some of the other workers in the kennels, there were just some things that Bob could not and one of which was turning the skin into a cloak which he could wear for himself. "It is a woman's job!" and that was who he sent it to with the promise of a some silvers for a job well done according to his instructions to "turn it into a cloak. I know that it might just be an excuse for yourself but you can measure me now if you want" he told her with a smile because you had to be a special kind of woman to try and resist Bob's attraction and a chance to touch him, like Zandelia! Handing over to her the silvers and the rat skin before leaving it up to her. That was the easy part and just how hard did Bob have to prepare for all this? That is coming shortly but it was all worth it to show the people of the Berth how awesome the rat races were through its maker.

The cloak had to be made according to steps. The first was skinning the rat and it was just overly dramatically to say that it was hard. All Bob needed to do was to go to the regular gathering that some of the workers had among them to have a gamble for "the usual stakes I take it?" Instead of using mizas that they could do in a place like Tall Johnny's they made it so that the loser would have to help the winner with some simple tasks. A lot more better than risking the ill will of some co-workers to be sure. Working at Killroy's was already troublesome enough without needing to look over the back to see if someone was out to get you. For Bob, Killroy's was sort of a safehaven where he only had to worry about one kind of animal, the less dangerous ones compared to the ones of the Sunberth variety. "You do know that I am going to win right?" he asked them when they choose to play cards because Bob was an awesome gambler. If Sunberth was not so horrible he would have even dared to make it his way of living. "Yes, I know it is stupid that Killroy and Hannah won't allow us to use the animals to fight..." even if it was his own Jinsen. "Just wait for the next few days" when the rat races start. Bob was getting so excited that he could not help but to start getting people now.

But just how likely are they going to come when they are so simple to beat. Bob has been playing with them so much that he already knew what to look out for. This was going to be easy, Sunberth minds can never beat a Zeltivan especially one which has been honed only for the art of gambling. Even more when he had the other advantages. Normally he would not pinpoint a person directly but...today was special. He knew what he wanted and who he could get it from. When the game started it was nothing but leading his prey to continue on with him as Bob collected as much 'favor' as possible. A term they made for their continued games. Ignoring everyone else habits, the tapping fingers of Tito, the panicked rolling eyes of Gleen and the attempts of Horst to shy away unless they were signs that they were sure to win which would force Bob himself to withdraw, the midget only focused on Viel who he knew had a background in handling animals after their death. "So then, how has work been recently?" he asked as he took his card to make everyone think that this was just the usual.

The game they always played was perfect for the personality of Sunberth. Liar's dice has nothing on the even more cutthroat game of Blind. A game where the players employ skill, cunning, trickery or failing that pure primitive intimidation. The last one Bob sees a lot in Sunberth himself as much as he does not want to. What else did Bob see...well, a lot of those cards in front of him looked fine and safe. Too bad there was no way for him to see his own but "what do you think? Do I have a chance to win now?" he asked Gleen which he knew would always break from overwhelming results. Now that was bad, there was no trace of worry when he said no. Bob stole a glance at Horst who was also looking at him. That man unlike the usual was looking at Bob's card with a grin on his face. This was getting more and more worrisome especially when Tito impatiently tapped his fingers to ask him to hurry up. No need to think about anything else, "I'm out this round" he told them. What a good way to start the game but "there will be other chances right Viel?" That was right, he was going to lose everything he had to Bob.

[Bob Barton]

Thankfully the game went a lot better after that. A lot of the rounds went something like Bob starting off saying "a new round. Your luck might change wouldn't it?" but luck had nothing to do with it. It was all nothing but a trick to try and get the rest to continue playing because the greedy fool would be taken in by thinking "you still have a chance to win the round" but it would be too late. Bob has already controlled the game with all the favors he had on him and it was with the cushion offered by all those that he was able to give in more "here!" even if he saw all those intimidating pictures he would avoid under normal circumstances. There were only two things that he knew could effect the other players. The cards they could see in their opponents of their own that they did not know. Bob was hoping to play on that uncertainty when he kept raising and raising the amount of favors (which were represented by cat food by the way) until his opponents were forced to withdraw.

Soon there was only Bob and Viel since he was saving the best for last. "You know you'll lose" Bob told him as he slowly put the cat food one by one purposely taking a long time so that his opponent would realize that Bob had everything he needed. "I'll let you give up and save you the pain?" he asked when he pushed forward everything he had on the table. "It's your chance you know? To win it all" if only he wanted to. Bob knew he was taking a big risk because Viel had one of the highest cards in the game but there was no fun if there was no risk to it. Right now he was gambling on Viel's reaction because "I know you want to." However want and needs are two different things. What Viel needed to do was cut his losses and Bob knew that too so instead of calling of what he could have won, the man folded and when they revealed their cards Bob only gave a laugh because "what a pity. You should have believed me" and the man was on the verge of raging. "Sorry to cut things short but I'm going to collect now."

Now, because Bob was on a schedule. As for the rest of them "I'll collect from you next time" probably one for the rat races and one for Oktuberia. The best way for him to not do any work on those special days was to get others to do it for him which was why he joined in this games so much, and because he enjoyed it as well. Even if there were times he lost, he could always get another loser to pick up his favor if he still had some. Pity that when he does not he needs to do the work himself but then Bob was never the best at planning anything with value but his interests like this one? His plan was "you are going to skin this for me. Something I can spread out like a carpet. I want to step on this rat when it lies down on the floor" or something like that. Bob could not see this man being able to actually imagine a cloak which is why this was the best illustration he could think of. So "come on, lets go. I will help you along the way" if he could based on the little he learned the last season.

This was not because Bob geuninely wanted to help but because he knew he could never trust anyone, especially in Sunberth. Not after the way he tricked this man which actually meant that Bob is helping to keep an eye on him. "I don't really think I can do the whole thing properly so why don't you do the harder bits first and I join in when I can?" Taking a step back, Bob told the man when he was asked that "at least the top part of the head" because a carpet would look great with it or as a cloak maybe a hood? It was only the skin of course and the rest "Jinsen might like those" depositing them in his room with the dog before coming back down again to watch the work which was being done. Scrutinizing for any slipshod work, Bob asked "why is it that you use this method to cut here when over there you did this?" he asked using his straightened hand to show what he meant as he saw it when he pressed it on the rat. "That sounds reasonable...carry on" he said as he continued watching the methodological way which was used to cut into the rat and loosen the skin from the rest of it and when it was mostly done "take a break and let me continue here" because Bob at least learned how to do this much.

Bob put the knife to the rat's paw prepared to make a quick cut around the wrist but as soon as it touched skin Bob dropped the knife on the sword and backed away complaining that "I cannot do this!" but in the end he was going to have to since he already said he would but that did not stop him from complaining that "it is just so disgusting..." The man took the knife and forcible put it into Bob's hand telling him to just forget about the disgusting bits and cut around the paw and not with Bob's eyes closed. Frustrated he went and smacked Bob in the head to tell him to focus and think happy thoughts "but...what sort of happy thoughts can be related to this?" The man said he did not know with Bob but Bob better be fast because he had other things to do. Since it was early in the season Bob ran through his memory of everything which has happened like getting Koffurn to give him that nice thing but "it is too freaky" or the way that he got back at Darik with the meat but "it is too cheap" until he reached his most triumphant moment so far in helping Leiwinn which is probably one of the best times he had in Sunberth.

And so the man told him to do it again, in his mind to keep him off the fact of what he was really doing. It was a very familiar experience but today Bob did not have the time to do it. He had to do this fast before he got really freaked and as he cut through the skin on all four legs all he could think about was "oh, the happy days" that he had experienced as if the rat paw he was holding was the woman's hand like after they found that diary. When it was all done Bob found out that "I have to do more?" No, "no more!" because he was getting used to the happy thing to affect him enough and he gave the knife back saying "you will have to do it" as he went off to the side to let the sickness overwhelm and leave all at once. When he came back he found out that his cutting was not too good so he had to do another that was left "from the neck to the tail?" Even if it was explained as one straight line Bob could not see himself seeing it through. The man just told him to do it as far as he can and Bob pushed in the tip and dragged it back but it was not a third through when Bob started going a little stir crazy again. That was when the man fully took over and cut through the rest.

[Bob Barton]

With the most important thing out of the way and that is actually having the big piece of fur and skin to wrap around him, Bob only needed to make it something wearable. Not that he could not wear it already but he wanted to be able to wear it without people making any looks at him, unless it was one of awe. With the prize that he got Viel to cut out for him, Bob went to find a seamstress or something along those lines himself. It would have been far too convenient if someone like that was also in Killroy's. But since no one would think about anything if Viel was able to direct him to someone who he had past dealings with, Bob did not think twice asking "Who? Where?" Just some crazy chick the man knew, no big deal. She could get the job done but Bob just had to deal with the crazy first but there was no challenge that the midget would not take up so with a grin he told Viel "try me, but you still didn't answer the question..."

After he found out, Bob had to make his way out of Killroy's and thankfully the unreal mist incident still did not happen yet. He had the roll of rat skin with him when he walked through the streets mostly unmolested until he stupidly decided to cut through an alley. Why would Bob do something as stupid as that especially in Sunberth? Because the Sunset was famous for that nice old lady but that was probably the only thing nice about it. A duo of pathetic thugs tripped him as he was walking through asking him what was the hurry and for some "charges for passing through? Why would I even do that?" Safety, protection or whatever reason they gave Bob knew it was a form of extortion and held out his weapon because "I have all the protection I need right here so back off." Seeing that the two was not convinced, Bob drew a little bit of the steel and asked "anytime today?" He really did not have time to deal with these people today and told them "if you keep me waiting I might just have to..." They were not going to understand anything he said and action always speaks louder than words so Bob drew the whole sword out and pointed it straight at them.

That did not scare them off at all and instead they took out their own knives as well. "Seriously? Mine is bigger!" so even outnumbering him it would not do any good if they could not get close. Bob was convinced with that fact each time they tried to get to him with their knives only to be forced back when he thrust his sword forward at them. "Eventually it's going to draw blood" at this rate because his reach was a lot longer. Getting tired now and seeing that the two were becoming a lot more cautious against the Bob who was a far superior wielder of the far superior weapon as shown by the trophy at its hilt, Bob took a step forward and made a sloppy thrust in a hasty attack missing his target right at the side. Before he could try another attack the partner came and kicked the sword away causing Bob to ask "what the f-" before getting kicked back himself when he got hit in the shoulder.

Giving a cough Bob could admit that the attack was "nice, but not nice" because he got hit as well. He tried to look around for his weapon to take them out as soon as possible since they just proven how much he should hate them. He only got to spin his head around once to try and find it only being able to take note of discarded waste and trash in the alley before he saw the flashes of steel from the thug's own daggers, barely hopping back to dodge out of the way and doing it again as they followed up. A few more hops back with the daggers barely missing his chest and face Bob leaped to the side and circled around the thugs going behind them and pulling out his whip from the side admitting that "there is more where that came from" because in Sunberth he found out that he could never have too many weapons. "I'll give you all sorts of pain if you don't leave now" he yelled while he snapped the whip at one of the thug's behind letting out a loud crack and a not as loud yelp of pain when it connected.

Like the animals in Killroy's Bob told them to "get your asses out of here" while he drew back the whip again. As high as he could to give the next thug as much pain as possible when he brought it down on his ass. Without giving them a chance to advance or retreat even when they turned back to face him he continued the multitude of blows hitting one thug on the face, the other on his leg, then back to the face, one of the arms across and so on asking "are you going to give up yet or do I have to hurt you more?" In the end they dropped their daggers and tried to escape. Unfortunately for them Bob was already too worked up and while one was able to run, the other one was tripped because as soon as Bob saw him trying to flee, he sent the whip across towards a leg. Coiling around the leg he gave a tug backwards against the motion causing the thug to fall face first on the ground. "Now my friend, we are going to have a nice talk" but with that menacing grin on his face, the thug would know it is anything but nice.

[Bob Barton]

A little bit of convincing with a few slaps on the face to hurt the thug's pride and a kick or two to the shins to bring them down to his level and Bob had his answer to "where is she?" That was pretty near and "I can go on my own from here." If Bob beating them was not bad enough he went straight at them and patted their shoulder telling them that "you should consider getting a real job" because being a thief was not working out for them. One of them tried to take the chance to pounce at him but Bob took a step back out of the way saying that "you did not learn your lesson?" before punching him in the face that stunned him long enough for the midget to follow up with a kick. He intended to to for the stomach but his height only allowed him to reach the groin so "opps" but that fine for him either way especially when it showed the other that he really meant business because "I don't have time for your games."

An important fact they should remember because playing games with Bob would always need money that he wanted to win. These two thugs are worthless because "this is all you have?" Some toll they were charging for but that would not stop Bob from taking the meager sum despite their protests. He did not have much time to waste on those two any longer so he left them with only a "thanks for the directions." They should be happy about that since that should be somewhat a rarity in Sunberth along with the good advice he had given them earlier.

Finally he made his way to the seamstress his friend told him about. He told her that he wanted a cloak with a hood on it, like some of those shadowy people he saw walking around the streets at night. "Can you do it?" for a price of course. At least Bob came prepared but the mizas are going to be as little as he could spare. "You only need to do some sewing to get this done." It was already all prepared for her with Bob having to take part in doing the disgustingly gross job of skinning it himself until he got sick in his stomach. "Fine, fine...I can appreciate that it is a rush job" and he wanted it to be as good as he could for his debut but "I'm still handing everything over to you nice and easy to handle..." How was Bob going to get this greedy Berth to just go with the flow. Oh, yes some Zeltivan smartitude could work here. Berth's were not too bright unless they were burning on a pyre anyway. The simple question came out that "what is the cheapest cloak you got?" and since Bob was already giving the materials, "I'll give you those silvers to make this." She should be happy she was getting that much in his opinion.

But Bob was displeased when he got the cloak a few days after. "What is this?!?" He asked for a glorious design showing off the magnificent way he finished off the rat, the same way when he told her the story that "the brave midget stepped up at the front of the rat while his cowardly allies hid in the forest. Even when it charged towards him he waited" more like in faer "until he went up the tree as he planned" if he was not already so panicked "before jumping off and plunging his sword into the beast. You'd think the others would congratulate him instead of stealing the kill and bragging rights from him." It was just as bad as the design he saw in front of him. "What is this? Is the rat giving him a blowjob?" Bob cannot wear that, what would other people think?

These Berth have no pride in their work and she had the nerve to demand her pay? Bob did not want to give her anything but she was recommended to him by someone. What if she told that someone? His already strained relationships would worsen. "Fine, take your petching money!" he said squeezing the coins into her hand with a scowl in his face telling her that this will be the last time he would ever use her. The next time, he was going to look for the professionals. Probably someone from that pampered rich gated community. He knew that there were a lot of luxury goods to be obtained there.

[Bob Barton]

That was right, the cloak was done now but that did not mean that Bob was done with it especially as hideously looking as it was. "Bestiality..." with a rat of all things. The Berths really have some strange fetishes but Bob was not a person who was going to make any judgement. He was going to fix it beginning with getting rid of this horrible design as much as possible. It took him nearly the whole night then just to cut the very small stitches outlining the image and he had to do it with a dagger since the scissors did more harm being unwieldy in his hands. At least it was all gone when he was done but it looked as plain as ever. No one would be impressed with it. Maybe if it was in bright colours but this was rat fur. Dull and boring. Bob could have tried dying the cloak but he could not think of any good colours to go with it.

However the rats gave him an excellent idea especially when he remembered the way they were eating each other. Now he had the opportunity make the cloak look more manly instead of queer. He took it with him to the cages where he kept his own rats and started clanging on the bars, getting them as excited as he could. Then he shouted at them because "you're not asleep are you?" Last season they would be hissing so loud that even the other animals would get affected. "Come on, get angry with me!" he growled while he wildly shook the cages until the rats retaliated, trying to either bite and scratch him because that was all that Bob wanted from the rats. "That's the way" that they were suppose to be acting because without the viciousness how is he going to put on a good show? This would be the private preview for him and all the other animals around could be the special guests if they really wanted to be.

Not a fight but the same vicious display of the capabilities of the rats. Bob put the end of the cloak into the bars and waited for the rats to rend into it like they should have but "you think you are too good for this now?" Spoiled creatures. All they did was scratch the cloak with their claws a little but what good is that? "Be more you rats!" he shouted while jarring the cages with a quick kick and still not getting the reaction he wanted. "Fine have it your way!" They can starve for a day or so so that they would not be too picky with what Bob wanted to feed them with. Its not that he wanted the cloak to be eaten but he wanted the rat's to use their fangs a little. It would not be an issue since the bowl in there was already half empty. Only a matter of time now.

Bob came back to the rats periodically trying to get them to react. Again with the shouts, shaking and kicks which did nothing much except getting a few howls from some of the other attention starved animals behind him. "Wait until after the races you mutts!" He was not being paid enough by Killroy to work properly when there are other ways to get some mizas. Giving up with the should be ravenous rats after putting the cloak through the bars once more he decided that it was time for some extreme measures. With the starving rats he held out some of their food in front of their cages asking if "this is what you want?" bring it close to them to see if he could get any reactions. When they moved closer he took the food away and told them to "watch" what he was going to do with it next. In a moment he was rubbing the food on the end of the cloak telling the rats that "this is the only way you are going to get your food!" Hopefully they are as smart of the dogs that they were already matching in size.

Size was the only thing that should matter for animals and Bob had to underestimate the rats. His joy lasted only for a short while until he got into a tug of war with the rats and had to struggle to pull the cloak out. "Stay, stay, stay!" he shouted out like he would do with any dog in the kennels but the rats were nothing like those. With a few kicks to rattle the cage he finally for the cloak out and even if it now had the messily torn bottom to give the cloak its worn look, there were some extra holes on the body too. Holes that Bob did not want. Sighing it looks like "I'll have to mend this because of you!" It was partly his fault but he was going to push the blame all on the rats. Maybe some other time when he would have to use the cloak for more than appearances. With the way it looked now Bob did not mind testing it out to look like a roguish adventurer especially with the masses in Sunberth. Happy with a job well done, he filled up the bowls with some food and gave it to the rats because "it might be your last meal."

[Archelon]

Thread Award "..." And the Results!!!!: Bob Barton : SkillName 1-5 How/why? Gambling 2 butchery 2 See note. negotiation 2 animal husbandry 1 Bullying caged rats Canesword 1 Whip 1 Intimidation 1 Failed attempts count. Negotiation 2 "... One should know what they are asking for. Shopkeepers in sunberth are astute businessmen." Butchering a rat. Loot: -15 gm profit from gambling - 5 gm from the thugs Net gain from payment for both shop's services: 15 gm Item gained. - 1 fair quality Rat hide cloak. The fur is actually starts atop where the cloak joinsthe shoulders and is held in place by a copper holding pin, the pin has a flat circular area which is engraved to show the face of a rat hissing in at an enemy. Unfortunately, Bob thinks it's supposed to join around the waist... Note: so far your pc did the butchery aspects of tanning to help remove the pelt, not the actual tanning itself . It's still good for this skill though, so I did the best I could . So you know: Tanning is the preparation, drying, and curing of the hide so you can actually wear it. The process if brain or lye tanned to preserve the fur or not takes a day or two as well due to the curing and drying process . I'll just assume the non named npc did it for you for the materials for the cloak's fashioning. For the future: Time's passage is *very* important in threads like these. Would you like some extra turtle sauce ? : Sorry this took so long.