Rat Problem|Ilyamen

[Kender Bard]

The natural threat to Ilyamen is the appearance of gorge rats. These rats begin looking like a normal rat, both in size and appearance, save for a small set of horns on its head and red eyes. These rats, however, have a poisonous bite. When bitten, the victim is paralyzed. The rat will then feast on the victim, steadily growing larger the more that it eats. They are capable of growing to be the size of large dogs at maximum growth. They generally move as individuals but are capable of swarming in groups. They are most active at night.

[Kender Bard]

The rats continue to be a problem into the winter months. Even more frightening and gruesome is that there are reported sightings of the rats not only working together here and there, but these small swarms seem to be moving with a semblance of organization and taking down specific people or places.

[Kender Bard]

Throughout the winter, the rats have ravaged the people of Ilyamen. Left unchecked, many swarms grew to an impressive size and became truly dangerous threats. It did not become a terribly uncommon sight to find half-eaten carcasses in the street as the rats grew bolder and bolder with their attacks. People went missing. Loved ones often gave farewells to each other with the understanding that any day may very well be their last. The people of Ilyamen now live in terror of their vermin menace.

Many question just what it is that Evanlyn plans to save them all from gruesome death...

Or has she been taken to?

[Darastrix]

Without a clear leader during the midst of the continuing gorge rat menace, martial law has been declared in Haven. What citizens remain are expected to obey members of the guard and military without question, and there is a sunset curfew for the regular citizens.

Food is being rationed, due to the danger in bringing anything into the city by cart or horseback, and jobs are scarce. Many normal jobs simply have little to no customers with the current conditions, while others require materials that are now difficult or dangerous to obtain. The few who have private employment run the risk of finding themselves without a job if their employer is killed. At the moment, the best one can do if one isn't in the military or guard is to be part of a profession those two groups have use for: smith, armorer, leather worker, tailor/seamstress, healer.

Abandoned homes and buildings in strategic locations have been seized for use as small barracks and outposts, with adjacent buildings serving as storage for supplies. Inn space--of what inns still have keepers--is at a premium, but large semi-public buildings that are not in any strategic locations, such as the bards' guildhall, have been seized for use as free shelters. The temple remains open as a shelter as well.

Traders are being discouraged from entering and redirected to the smaller, safer villages, and a small, slipshod "market" has been erected outside the city proper at a safe distance for Haven's merchants who cannot or will not leave to keep up their business.

[Kender Bard]

Many buildings now have colored flags.

Gold = stores of essentials, mostly food
White = free shelter
Green = healer
Blue = guard post/barracks