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The Muzzled Mouse is a starved rat wrapped tightly in leather to disable its limbs, with only its mouth (with extraordinarily sharp teeth) left uncovered. Its owner feeds it only occasionally and the rest of the time its mouth is clamped shut to prevent accidental biting.
The Muzzled Mouse is kept in a strong leather bag and handled with care (have you ever been bitten by a rat?). When needed it can gnaw through three inches of wood in its blind and vicious hunger, or it can be used as a lockpick.
They often need replacing, since the rat may die from starvation, splinters or bleeding. Foolish owners who are careless get bitten by their rats, and often contract unpleasant and incurable diseases.
Sometimes you can find these little forlorn bundles of leather-bound flesh lying in alleyways, having been discarded by thieves for their broken teeth.
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- The Black Market Locations By: Murometz
June 18, 2003, 21:01
June 18, 2003, 21:29
Of course, it is for a medieval setting, and the concept of animal rights will not come around for about 600 years....
June 18, 2003, 23:32
June 19, 2003, 4:29
The 'Mouse' may come but from almost any society. Thieves have generally a harder life, and less scruples. Or it may be the 'mark' of some special criminal.
Hmmm... metal teeth. Will be re-usable, only for the moments of need, and of course when the rat itself needs to be replaced.
June 20, 2003, 13:14
June 20, 2003, 14:36
June 20, 2003, 15:53
July 1, 2004, 8:32
What if a thief with this 'equipment' meets a wererat?
July 2, 2004, 20:17
An intresting idea, but not one I would use as I love animals.
July 3, 2004, 23:46
Personally, I find the concept of human sacrifice to be abbhorent, but there are still people in my settings who do it.
Why would the thieves in your setting care about how you feel about the Muzzled Mouse? They would use it if they wanted to, unless, mysteriously, every thief shares your opinion.
July 28, 2005, 6:27
July 28, 2005, 15:48
August 5, 2005, 16:31
I think this could really turn around a set of players who might be beginning to suffer from alignment slip.
5/5
Thevail
August 9, 2005, 6:27
November 27, 2005, 20:26
March 15, 2006, 19:35
May 2, 2006, 16:33
Reeks of human desperation and nitty gritty low-magic thievery!
This sounds like something the Thieves of Lanhkmar would use!
May 2, 2006, 23:00
June 3, 2006, 23:12
Here's another one AG that is a far cry from a 5, yet unforgettable! IMHO
July 23, 2006, 6:38
May 4, 2008, 20:07
Three additional uses:
-A nasty melee weapon.
Unmuzzled and possibly with the front legs freed, this could make for a nasty weapon to thrust at someone's face, or try to cram down their pants in a grappling situation.
-A surprisingly effective interrogation device.
Seriously, how many people are going to withhold information with one of these things threatening their private bits?
-A poor mans evening meal.
After the poor thing died from whatever causes, it could be then cooked and eaten in any number of ways by a starving and desperate thief. (though most probably a stew since it would provide the best nutritional value given it's withered body)
As far as the rats feces becoming a problem, as long as it's only fed (and watered) occasionally the creature wouldn't produce must waste at all. Provided one places a strategic hole at the rear end of the wrapping it wouldn't be a problem.
May 13, 2008, 1:55
October 24, 2008, 16:50
October 25, 2008, 14:01
October 25, 2008, 16:13
You could probably get the same result temporarily from an alchemical mix, of course, which would be good for thieves who are too strapped to get either the tattooing or the leather engraving.
July 31, 2009, 6:13
I'll have it in one of my games as soon as I can!
How about a magically enhanced version? Maybe for different purposes like the ones already suggested above, or for resolving the problems of food, water, feces and so on?
August 2, 2011, 2:17
It's adorab... terrib.... I'm not sure what it is but it is absolutely perfect. Nothing says gritty, desperate, and clever like using a rat as a tool.
September 26, 2012, 5:59