Note on sick-leave, report on were-rat attack

[A Former User]

Last night, I have been cordially invited by the Malagent de Verthan in Tilverton to discuss two charges she wishes to raise against a certain new Banite Sorceress. One charge is for a serious crime of impersonation of an official clergy member (i.e., the Malagent de Verthan). The other, I believe, is a lesser charge for Religious Blasphemy and Harassment of the faith of Talona and one of its official clergy. I shall adequately file these charges once I have re-ordered my notes, which are presently in a certain state of disarray due to subsequent events that have occurred after this requested meeting.

While the meeting with the Malagent was both constructive and polite, I must report that I have been attacked again by that pair of monstrous were-rats on the return journey to Arabel. The Malagent was so kind as to escort me back to the caravan outpost. However, we had to find that it was closed for some type of unexpected repairs of a not further specified nature. The Malagent de Verthan, therefore, offered to escort me back to Arabel on foot. While I considered asking to stay that night, which in hindsight might have been the wiser choice, this would have been impolite, and disrespectful of her gracious offer.

On the way back, at about the half-way point of the distance between both cities, I was suddenly attacked by the two were-rats jumping at me from the shadows. I still heard the Malagent angrily and forcefully ordering them to stop, before I lost consciousness and they dragged me into some sort of off-the-path ravine. They tortured me there, despite the indignation and condemnation of the Malagent de Verthan in response to those deeds. Alas, she must have seen that verbally expressing her fury was truly all that she could try to do to help me in that situation. She attacked neither myself nor the were-rats at any point. While the were-rats appeared to offer her enough respect not to attack the Malagent in these circumstances, they paid her rather little mind with respect to my continued maltreatment by them.

The were-rats demanded of me that I should cook for them. And I denied them. Then they asked if I would ever cook for them - and I denied them again. I expected to die then, as I was both helpless and entirely "uncooperative". Alas, instead of death, they punished me by infecting me with what they called a "rat lung" disease. Again, I was ready to die because I feared that this might mean I could be infected with their curse of Lycanthropy. However, the Malagent has assured me that this is not the case. She has guided and protected me on the way back to Arabel. However, the disease I have been infected with could be contagious. Therefore, I will aim to avoid contact with other people, or at least try to protect them from coming too close to me. Naturally, I will also submit to whatever physical examinations might be seen fit by the Crown Guard to ensure that my disease is not an imminent danger.

Presumably due to her fury at the blatant disrespect shown by these were-rats, the Malagent has seen fit to take position against the wishes of these were-creatures. She has offered to prepare a cure for me, if I might somehow bring her the heart of a unicorn. She says that this is a rare, yet essential, ingredient for said cure. Please note that this might be a dangerous step for her to take, as these were-rats are truly bestial creatures, who will likely be angered by the preparation of such a cure. She is not asking for any compensation for this, presumably due to her anger of the "behavior" of the were-rats.

I hope I might be able to provide a more detailed account of these events at a later point. Alas, for the moment, I am simply too exhausted.