Whistle of the Muddled Squeak

by Frazer 👁 173 views

Charges: 7 (regains at dawn)

A small bone whistle with a copper mouthpiece. The surface is carved with a looping labyrinth and a tiny, pale red stone set into the knob. When blown, it emits a thin, uncertain note that seems to tinge the air with a hint of rain and old tales.

Summoned Rat Blowing the whistle as an action consumes 1 charge to summon a single ordinary rat that appears adjacent to you. The rat remains for 1 minute or until it drops to 0 hit points. The rat is friendly to you but wildly confused and acts on its own whim. On its turn, roll a d6 to determine its behavior: 1–2 it moves toward the nearest creature, 3–4 it sniffs around, 5 it tries to hide, 6 it squeaks and freezes. The rat has 1 hit point and a bite for 1d4 piercing damage, but you cannot reliably command it; it uses its own judgment and is more likely to distract than assist. The rat vanishes when the duration ends or if it dies. Only one rat can be summoned at a time.

Lore

This whistle is said to have been carved by a forgetful tinkerer who traded a cat's curiosity for a rat's confusion. The maze-like runes are actually a pastiche of spellwork, enough to call forth a single rodent but not enough to keep the creature from being utterly befuddled by the world it finds itself in.

History

Rumors say the whistle passed from market stall to market stall, always accompanied by a squeak of apology from the rat that appears beside its new owner. One notorious tale tells of a city guard who blew it to distract a thief, only to watch the rat wander off with the thief’s bread and the guard's hat—an unintended but memorable victory.

Created by Frazer 👁 173 views