![[RatPic.jpg]] # Rat Chumbucket _Drow River Pirate | [[Bregan D'aerthe]] (exiled) | [[Yartar]]_ ## Summary Drow pirate, former captain of the [[Scurvy Sea Lion]], and one of the [[Heroes of Waterdeep]]. Born Tlugol Tuin'Tarl in the [[Underdark]], Rat served as a triple agent for [[Jarlaxle Baenre]] — infiltrating the [[Harpers]] while posing as a reformed pirate captain. Recruited by [[Remi Haventree]] alongside [[Auruiel]], [[Carrot]], and [[Bussy]] to hunt [[Gar Shatterkeel]] and the [[Cult of the Crushing Wave]]. His true identity was revealed when his drow lover [[Elvanshalee Zolarn]], planted on his ship by [[Jarlaxle Baenre|Jarlaxle]] as a spy, dropped her disguise as the bard [[Mirabella Mistsplitter]]. Exiled to [[Yartar]] after choosing friendship over duty — when he and [[Bussy]] both had their hands on a [[Sphere of Annihilation]], Rat couldn't betray his friend and handed the weapon over instead of returning it to [[Jarlaxle Baenre|Jarlaxle]]. Spent twenty years as the legendary "River Rat" of [[Yartar]], robbing corrupt merchants and protecting the downtrodden alongside [[Elvanshalee Zolarn]]. Her death during a fire giant attack shattered him. Now a bitter, grieving, self-destructive legend who still can't help being heroic when it matters. %% ## At a Glance Weathered drow with a distinctive gray-streaked beard and calloused hands from decades of shipwork. Calculating eyes that suggest experience with both fortune and betrayal. Carries himself with the easy confidence of someone who's survived everything the multiverse has thrown at him, though the confidence is thinner than it used to be. Often seen gambling in [[Yartar]]'s casinos under various disguises. Strokes his beard when thinking. Uses sailing metaphors for everything. Grief has hollowed him out. [[Elvanshalee Zolarn|Elvanshalee]] was his anchor — the woman he fled the [[Underdark]] for, the partner who turned their exile into something beautiful. Without her, the River Rat legend feels like a costume he's wearing over nothing. He blames [[Alessandra Volmark]] and [[Beshaba]]'s cult for her death. He blames [[Bussy]] for the exile that put them in [[Yartar]] in the first place. He blames himself for all of it. But when [[Lynne]] — [[Bussy]]'s daughter, the child of the man who ruined his life — called [[Yartar]] a shithole during a rallying speech, Rat stumbled forward drunk and gave the speech she couldn't. Because [[Elvanshalee Zolarn|Elvanshalee]] loved this city. Because it wasn't a shithole. Because he wouldn't let it fall. ## Personality Charming, reckless, genuinely warm to those he trusts, and carrying a bitterness that leaks through the cracks of his optimistic facade. Rat's defining trait is that his heart consistently overrides his self-interest at the worst possible moments. He couldn't kill [[Bussy]] when duty demanded it. He couldn't let [[Yartar]] burn when grief told him to. He sang pirate songs to drown out a telepathic prophet rather than break under psychological warfare. He performed an interpretive dance of [[Carrot]]'s death during a resurrection ritual. He tried to grapple a dragon turtle. Rat commits fully to whatever lunatic course of action his feelings dictate, and somehow it usually works out — except when it doesn't, and then it's catastrophic. His relationship with [[Lynne]] is one of the most emotionally complicated in the campaign. She's the daughter of the man he blames for ruining his life. He can barely say [[Bussy]]'s name without fury. And yet, when [[Lynne]] doubted whether her father would be proud of her, Rat's response was immediate and fierce: if that man could be proud of anything, he could damn well be proud of [[Lynne]]. ## Quote _"Fortune's a fickle mistress, friend. I've learned it's better to bet on people than gold."_ ## Background **Tlugol Tuin'Tarl:** Born in the [[Underdark]] under the brutal politics of drow society. His mother, Matron Mother [[Prid'eesoth Tuin]], ruled through cruelty. Rat fell in love with [[Elvanshalee Zolarn]], a servant of the Matron Mother. When their romance was discovered, the Matron Mother scarred [[Elvanshalee Zolarn|Elvanshalee]]'s face as punishment. Rat swore vengeance and fled the [[Underdark]] with her. **Bregan D'aerthe:** [[Jarlaxle Baenre]] recognized Rat's charisma and nautical skills and assigned him a complex mission: infiltrate the [[Harpers]] while posing as a reformed pirate captain. Under the identity of Rat Chumbucket, he commanded the [[Scurvy Sea Lion]] with a crew including [[Allika Dawson]] as second-in-command, [[Bussy]] of the [[Righteous Order of the White Flame]], [[Carrot]] (secretly the rightful heir to [[Neverwinter]]'s throne), and ship's cook Old Gipper. Unknown to Rat, [[Jarlaxle Baenre|Jarlaxle]] also placed [[Elvanshalee Zolarn|Elvanshalee]] aboard under the alias [[Mirabella Mistsplitter]], creating a web of surveillance and emotion. **The Crushing Wave:** Recruited by [[Remi Haventree]] to hunt [[Gar Shatterkeel]]. Rat navigated the party across the Sword Coast — from [[Leilon]] to the [[Mere of Dead Men]], from [[Neverwinter]] to [[Mintarn]]. He discovered and rescued [[Pisca Ahlorsath]] from the water cult's temple. Made a famously unsuccessful attempt to grapple the dragon turtle [[Bronzeflume]]. When [[Gar Shatterkeel]] telepathically tormented the party and threatened to expose Rat's [[Bregan D'aerthe]] ties, Rat responded by singing pirate songs until the entire party joined in. Was swept overboard during a Leviathan attack and nearly died during the battle against the aboleth [[Yngukulub]], where [[Carrot]] was killed defending him. **The Interpretive Dance:** When the party gathered to reincarnate [[Carrot]], Rat honored his fallen friend by performing an interpretive dance of [[Carrot]]'s death. It worked. [[Carrot]] returned as [[Carrota Alagondar|Carrota]], a Levistus Tiefling. **The Reveal:** Just before sailing to [[Mintarn]], [[Mirabella Mistsplitter]] dropped her disguise, revealing herself as [[Elvanshalee Zolarn]]. Rat's secret identity as a drow — and his ties to [[Bregan D'aerthe]] — were exposed. [[Bregan D'aerthe]] also held a grudge against [[Auruiel]] for killing one of their members during an old job, adding further tension. **The Sphere of Annihilation:** [[Jarlaxle Baenre]] had stolen the [[Sphere of Annihilation]] from the [[Devil's Fin]] during the party's early adventures. When [[Captain Callous]] stole it back, [[Jarlaxle Baenre|Jarlaxle]] sent Rat and [[Fel'Rekt Lafeen]] to recover it. The [[Harpers]] and [[Righteous Order of the White Flame]] launched their own operation simultaneously. At the convergence, Rat held the Sphere — and [[Bussy]], wounded and outgunned, looked at his old friend with trust and pleaded with him not to return such a weapon to someone who would use it for conquest. Years of genuine friendship outweighed decades of loyalty to [[Bregan D'aerthe]]. Rat handed the Sphere to [[Bussy]]. **Exile:** [[Jarlaxle Baenre]]'s punishment was crueler than execution: exile to [[Yartar]], a backwater, with orders to serve as a simple intelligence agent. For twenty years, Rat and [[Elvanshalee Zolarn|Elvanshalee]] built something beautiful from their disgrace. Operating from Saltwind Maritime Supplies, they created the River Rat legend — stealing from corrupt merchants while protecting the downtrodden. [[Elvanshalee Zolarn|Elvanshalee]] handled redistribution while Rat managed acquisition. Their partnership became proof that even exiles could choose to be better than their past. **Elvanshalee's Death:** This fragile happiness shattered during a fire giant attack on [[Yartar]]'s Eastern District. [[Elvanshalee Zolarn|Elvanshalee]] died helping evacuate victims when a burning building collapsed on her. Rat blames [[Alessandra Volmark]] and the cult of [[Beshaba]] for her death. **The Fool's Fortune:** Rat infiltrated the [[Fool's Fortune]] casino, gambling with [[Alessandra Volmark|the Countess]] as cover to get close enough for revenge. He drew his pistol and fired three shots into her mid-game. The chaos dragged the entire party into a multi-front battle across the casino. When [[Lynne]] recognized him and called out "Uncle Rat!" — the daughter of the man who ruined his life, fighting alongside him — it became one of the campaign's most charged personal moments. [[Petra]] convinced him to descend into [[Beregond]]'s [[Halls of Calamity]] beneath the casino, arguing the true architect of [[Elvanshalee Zolarn|Elvanshalee]]'s death waited below. **Rock Bottom:** Before the Crimson Siege, Rat hit his lowest point — drunk among empty bottles at Saltwind Maritime Supplies, refusing to fight for a city he hated, ranting about [[Bussy]]'s betrayal. [[Fel'Rekt Lafeen|Ricky]] walked out on him. Then [[Lynne]]'s rallying speech called [[Yartar]] a shithole, and something broke in Rat. He stumbled forward and declared that [[Elvanshalee Zolarn|Elvanshalee]] had loved this city, it wasn't a shithole, and he wouldn't let it fall. The defenders cheered for him instead of [[Lynne]]. **Bregan D'aerthe Politics:** Rat attempted to broker [[Bregan D'aerthe]]'s military aid for [[Yartar]] in exchange for supporting [[Luskan]]'s [[Lords' Alliance]] bid. [[Lynne]]'s intervention torpedoed the deal so thoroughly that [[Jarlaxle Baenre|Jarlaxle]] extended Rat and [[Fel'Rekt Lafeen|Ricky]]'s exile by another decade. ## Stats _Build as needed for encounter. High Dexterity, expertise in Deception and Persuasion. Dual-wielding pistols. Former ship captain with extensive nautical and intelligence-gathering skills. Still a formidable combatant despite decades away from major conflicts._ %%