As they entered the bar area the room went quiet, probably due to rats having rather sensitive noses which made secrecy about their floor-mates somewhat difficult. At least they had the sense to upon spotting the guard escort not make trouble.

Soon enough the food was brought out, a large number of foods featuring cheese was not included. (Contrary to popular belief if you offer a rat a choice between the finest cheese or a chicken nugget the rat will almost invariably go for the nugget. Especially so when the rat in question is intelligent enough to be aware of the existence of cliches.)

Soon enough though the bar went back to it’s usual chaotic happiness. At some point the drinks were brought out, and the entertainment was started (Mibbet of course settled for fruit juice upon noting to her dismay the lack of coffee on the menu. After a time somebody fished out a fiddle and a set of pipes and the floor show began.

Two rats stepped out onto the stage, rapiers held firmly in their tails and started to dance, expertly avoiding any kind of collision as they picked up the pace, going faster and faster trying to get past each others blows until finally the dance ended with one dramatic flourishing clash. The crowd of course went wild apart from one strongly built young rat by the bar who seemed rather unmoved by the performance. Or sought inspiration elsewhere, judging by the rat in questions expression probably at the bottom of a tankard. (Probably not the tankard they were downing at the moment either, but they seemed likely to keep searching every drink they could find until they either passed out or found it. Most likely the former.)

The other rats were studiously ignoring them as they drank, except it seemed miss Slinky who couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off him, even while serving other tables, there was the feeling of a story there though enquiring about it would do nobody any favours, so they let it be and enjoyed the show.

The next act was a pair of singers of Dook heritage, they called themselves Smokey and Bandit. (Funnily Bandit was not the one with mask like polecat markings, nor apparently was smokey the ashy looking one. They had unique and solid sounding voices, and were well worth the listen. Mibbet found that despite the room being full of things that could eat her for breakfast she was enjoying the company, and realised this place had the same sort of feeling as her pond. (by which I mean homey and familiar, not wet, cold, and full of things that wanted to eat her of course. Well at least not that wanted to eat her froggy form and were aware of her background, but you know what I mean.)

As the night wore on and more and more individuals started heading home Mibbet figured it would soon be time to go to bed. The bar emptied soon enough bar one very drunk little rodent and her escorts.

“It’s closing time for the bar, you might want to head up and make yourself comfy. It’s after inn curfew.” Slinky said.

“What do you wanna do about him?” Mibbet asked gesturing to an absolutely ratassed rodent.

Slinky sighed and looked at him kindly before heading to a back room and pulling out a blanket and gently covered him up. “Don’t mind Rattanian, he’s a regular and I’ll put the lodgings on his tab, he’ll be OK down here.”

“Alright then, we’re going to head up then.”

************************************************************************

Geist was a very unusual rat, they had unique markings and tended to blend in. Right now though that was a huge advantage. The marks were on this floor, and he had the numbers to bring them in. This would not be like taking candy from a baby (which is despite popular belief not easy, babies are the anti stealth noisemaker, have a tendency to summon irate adults, and are more than capable of biting all by themselves. Whoever came up with that expression really didn’t realise the impact their expression would have, taking candy from a baby is definitely not easy.)

They started to scout around the ridges on the outside of the inn, looking for the best way in. Then finally discovered a window with a slightly looser catch. They slipped their knife into the gap in the frame and levered the latch open with a grin of success. Which was suddenly interrupted by a twang then an excruciatingly unpleasant itch, and the blaring blast of an air horn.

“We’re busted, force your way in, take The Princess hostage.” he screamed, as he was grabbed by something that smelled like Owl-bear. Who in their right minds brings an Owl-bear into a hotel? He kicked and bit but was still dragged in as the rest of the gang charged in too.

Then somebody lit a light........ oh wait... was that... yups it was.... a hellcat. What the hell?

One of the gang lunged towards The Princess, and did not quite expect a walloping blow from a huge axe, while another discovered there was also a construct in the fight. Meanwhile the two guards and a girl using a pike were showing they could more than hold their own, as another individual charged into the room.

“Hey slinks, tell these fools to stand down, or else things are gonna get messy for you.”

“Why are you in my bar Snype” Slinky asked.

“None of your business, we just have a few grievances with The Princess here see? The boss wants a word.”

“I pay my rates Snype, you don’t get to mess with my business, that includes the customers.”

The pair glared at each other once more but Snype wasn’t backing down here, they’d lost Geist already, and couldn’t afford to look bad.

“Don’t care if you do pay, the boss is the boss.”

Suddenly there was the sound of a sprung trap and some cursing as the door to the floor below opened to reveal a rather grumpy looking Rattanian.

“Will you lot keep it down?” He griped drawing his rapier.