Hearthwane · human, cursed, 63
Became the town's rat-catcher because he could whistle two notes that made rats walk in a line.
FROM
New Nilemah, the rat-catcher's house by the river grate
HOW THEY LOOK
Thin as a reed, a moth-eaten courtier's coat, a silver shawm. Rats sit around him like an audience.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“Welcome, welcome. Mind the guests; they bite only when the music stops.”
“They called me mad. Listen. Does this sound mad to you?”
BEFORE THE TALE
40 years ago · New Nilemah
Became the town's rat-catcher because he could whistle two notes that made rats walk in a line. People laughed, and paid.
15 years ago · the river grate
Took a drowned fisherman's daughter, Tamsin, as his apprentice and taught her which pipes sing.
3 years ago · the town hall
Cleared the great plague of rats in one night, and was told his contract no longer existed.
2 years ago · the Fountain below
Drank from the Fountain under the town to forget the insult. It did not let him forget. It gave him a crown of rats instead.