Pipes of the Sewers

A set of wooden musical pipes with the power to summon and control rats.

• Playing: The magical effect is only activated by playing a specific melody, which must be learned (treat as a command word).

• Summons: If rats are within 400’, playing the correct melody summons either 1d6 × 10 giant rats or 3d6 × 10 normal rats (see Monsters in Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy).

• Arrival: Summoned rats travel towards the character’s location at a rate of 50’ per round.

• Controlling: Summoned rats have a 95% chance of obeying the character’s mental commands, as long as they keep playing the pipes.

• Stopping playing: Summoned rats leave immediately. If playing is resumed, there is a 70% chance of the rats obeying the character once more and a 30% chance of them attacking the character.

• Controlled rats: The pipes can also be played to take over control of rats controlled by another (e.g. by a vampire or wererat). There is a 30% chance of success per round. If successful, the other creature may attempt to reassert control, also with a 30% chance per round.