Tonight I wanted to take a moment to breathe and focus on something else that I am passionate about, and the Turning point for a Highwayman. After a long week and a longer night with the kids it can be hard to drive forward with what meagre plans I did have. So I wanted to capture a short story inspired by the bed time story for my daughter.
Turning point for a Highwayman
A Thief
The feel of cold steel never worried or concerned him. In fact it had been his companion since losing his job at the inn after he had been caught taking food home. They never got through it all and what they didn’t they reused the next day. He had seen the food that was left over from the day and it wasn’t going to be any good the next day. So what was the harm in him taking some home? He was always hungry and the food went to other good places too. But apparently his theft wasn’t just enough for the owners and they fired him. At least they didn’t get the guards to drag him out.
Well until he went back and robbed them. It was easy to get in and out and take what he was owed. But this meant he could never go back home. But he did discover that he had a knack for thievery and so he tried to take it to the next town. Except, he didn’t make it to the next town. His next big theft was on the road.
Highway man
The wagon of a merchant is a prone vehicle to thievery. In fact there were more thefts on the roads than actually in towns. The first thing he took was a small chest and a sword. The thrill of the theft was so much that he didn’t even bother checking the chest before leaving the wagon, none the wiser mind you. But he should have checked. A spare change of clothes. Long fancy pants, a shirt, vest, and hat. Not exactly his style but when he put them on he couldn’t recognise himself any more. Adding his old trusty belt and the cloak he stole from the inns front door as he left he was ready.
His next theft was when he ambushed a carriage. Using his old work down clothes he made it look like he had fellows in bushes around the carriage. It was easy to convince the driver and inhabitants to give him half of their coins and all the food he had on him. Especially when he shifted and his body distorted.
Shifter
The term lycanthrope, or were-creature was thrown around too much when he was young. It wasn’t his choice of fault that he was what he was. But born from the offspring of a wererat and a human what were you going to do. Being able to change his body to a more bestial nature gave him an edge. No one wanted to be turned and so the sight of his claws, elongated fangs and snout. Well it was enough to make any one comply. However it w as his words and manners that made the most difference.
When he spoke he asked politely, never threatened with outright violence. No that wasn’t for him. Asking for valuables and food was easy when people listened to the well dressed potential-lycanthrope. Until he pulled over the wrong carriage that is.
It was winter and he had made a name for himself. The Gentleman Rat. Not super fond of the name but having a reputation did help. But as he was pulling over the next carriage he recognised one of the inhabitants, two to be accurate. One of the two people in his home town that liked him. Well, liked what he used to be. A friend.
Turning point for a Highwayman
She, Merian, was huddled next to her elderly father, unwell by the looks of it, and judging by the direction they were going it wasn’t good. The city in the direction they were heading too consisted of some of the best and most powerful clerics that he had heard of. It must not have been good news for Merian and her father to be heading to Foresithe. The sight of them drained any urge to rob and thieve or even to threaten. He simply smiled, placed a pouch of coins in their shaking hands and stepped away. His bestial features melting away as the first rains of the evening began.
As he watched the carriage head down the road he wondered how many people his unchecked thievery had hurt. When he had worked at the Inn he had always prided on making sure that everyone had want for nothing. Returning to camp he looked at the riches he had. Never hungry for food any more he had somewhere along the way forgotten why he took the extra food from the inn. It was to feed those who couldn’t afford the food normally. To make use of food that would be tossed aside or reused at the risk of clientele. Well no more would he steal from the innocent. He hung up his hat and his fancy clothes and picked out something more comfortable. Tomorrow… Tomorrow he would take what he had and try and prevent others from turning to thievery.
Thanks for joining me tonight for this little re-take on a, quite popular, book. The idea of a rat-shifter highway man may not be something unique but as someone who is always on the lookout for more NPCs, or PCs, then the idea is intriguing. With the ruleset for shifters in 5e they can be quite strong if used correctly. So giving them a re-viewing of a old tragic backstory for one of redemption could make for a fun character.
Don’t forget that tomorrow we both continue and finish this weeks adventure. So make sure to come back for that and don’t forget to keep an eye out for what else is on the horizon. And lastly don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe
Brazen Wolfe Tabletop 
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