FLORINSHIRE — Wanted posters have gone up all over the land calling for the arrest of an adventure party responsible for the genocide of a local village's endangered giant rat population.
"Giant rats are important to the region's ecosystem. Now all the giant cats are going to starve," warned Daro'olf Woodlander, a wizard. "You can't just go around killing endangered rats."
The rats are a rare breed officially protected by the Rodent's Guild of North Gamriel. They look just like normal rats, but they're a slightly different shade of brown, quite large, and known for eating small children. But they're also endangered, and it is forbidden to touch them.
A message has been posted in the town square that reads:
WANTED! Endangered Rat Killers!
Two men, an elf, and a dwarf are wanted for genociding all the endangered giant rats in and around Rycroft Village. They claim to be on a quest to save the kingdom from the tyranny of an evil darkness in the east.
They are believed to have looted the rats of both coin and skin and may visit traders to unload their inventory.
Beware, one of them might be a rogue!
According to sources, the adventure party met at a tavern where they concocted the devious plan to kill the rats in Old Widow Claire's basement, unaware that they were an endangered variety of giant rat. The party reportedly slaughtered the rats swiftly and tracked them to a lair in a nearby cave, where they destroyed the Mother Rat, once and for all bringing them to extinction.
"Those giant child-eating rats had every right to live!" said Wizzy Wilguard, a local nymph who has threatened to curse mankind unless the culprits are brought to justice.
At publishing time, royal guards intercepted the adventure party just as they were preparing to battle with the Great Dark Lord of the East. They are now scheduled for execution.
These British police officers are keeping the streets safe from dangerous weapons.