I had an idea for an Other London faction led by a rat king. I’m not sure it will fit into the current investigation I’m working on, so I’m parking it here so I don’t lose it.
The Rats
Concept: Rat swarm commended by an intelligent rat king
Trouble: Hunted by those who made Us
Goal: Seek allies and find a safe harbour
In a laboratory somewhere, researchers conducted unethical experiments and created a rat king. Unknown to the researchers, their new creation was intelligent and was learning as much about them as they were about it.
When the rat-king had learned enough, it escaped the laboratory and fled through the sewers. It now hides from those who hunt it in London’s underground places: sewers, drains, cellars, tunnels.
The rat king, who calls itself Seven-as-One is no longer alone. It leads an army of rats, plus it now has a few human allies. However, it still searches for a safe space – and it still seeks human allies.
Information, rumours, lies
- Rats have recently behaving strangely in London.
- Rats are everywhere, watching, listening.
- Someone or something is controlling rats.
- A rat king has come to Other London.
- Rat kings have a gestalt intelligence formed from several stupid rat brains.
- Rat kings can direct and control other rats.
Questions
- Who made Seven-as-One?
- How was Seven-as-One made, and is it repeatable?
- What happens if one of the seven dies - can it be replaced?
- What does Seven-as-One really want?
- Can Seven-as-One find a home?
Enemies: Fae (for whom rats are unclean vermin), their creator
Allies: None – yet
Location: Anywhere out of sight, underground.
Seven-as-One: Nervous rat king made of up seven laboratory rats linked by their tails, gestalt intelligence, quick learner, I learned more from my creators than they realised
Awesome (+4) at: Commanding rats
Good (+2) at: Computers, electronics, languages, subterranean London
Bad (-2) at: Moving fast
Stress: O O
Seven-as-One is always thinking ahead, fearing the worst and expecting danger around every corner. Their caution isn’t just paranoia, the scientists who created Seven-as-One would dearly like their creation back. Seven-as-One learned computers and electronics from the lab they were kept in, and communicates with their human allies through and old laptop. (They find touchscreens hard to use; their claws get in the way.)
Loyal rat army: Swarm of wriggling rats
Awesome (+4) at: Escaping, wriggling, scavenging, scaring folk
Good (+2) at: Biting, gnawing, climbing, following Seven-as-One’s orders
Bad (+2) at: Taking independent action
Stress: O O O
Consequences:
Mild (2)
Marky P: Young agent of Seven-as-One, quiet and watchful, a runaway
Good (+2) at: Scavenging, taking care of rats
Bad (+2) at: Talking to people
Stress: O
Marky P is a runaway kid who stumbled across Seven-as-One and is now their human hands. Marky ran away from his abusive father and had been living on the streets for a few days before meeting the rat king. Seven-as-One recognised a fellow runaway, and the two now help each other.
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