Rat Catcher

Rats breed and multiply almost like wildfire they bring with them disease and plagues, and they tend to spoil waters and food stores wherever they choose to live. This can lead to major problems in Big Cities Hunting and Catching them is dirty work but you can make a living at it. Most Great cities rely on a few select common folk to deal with this problem. The Rat Catcher is such a Profession. They are expected to go into Dirty locations where Rats tend to Dwell. This often will Be Sewers, Catacombs, Cisterns, and almost any Large Underground tunnels within large cities of Evermyst.
Some large cities hire teams of Rat Catchers, there are even Rat Catcher Guilds in some of the Biggest Cities in Evermyst. In some Guilds the Rat Catchers double as Sewer Workers dealing with the Rat problems and Maintaining the City Sewers. They also may be combined into a Sanitation Workers Guild.

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Career

Qualifications

A Rat Catcher has to be Smaller in stature and able to crawl into narrow sewer tunnels and crawlways. They need to have some agility as wandering these spaces can be hazardous and being light on one's feet usually means you can avoid the pitfalls and react almost as quickly as the Rats. Rat Catchers need a good Constitution to be tolerant of Dirty and Disgusting Working Conditions that most can't handle for short periods let alone a whole workday. A Rat catcher needs to have some mechanical aptitude skills to handle the setting and recovery of traps and maintain the tools of his trade.

Career Progression

Within the Rat Catcher Guilds, there are typically four Ranks based on Experience within the Profession.

• Rat Catcher Apprentice
• Rat Catcher
• Senior Rat Catcher
• Rat Catcher Overseer

Payment & Reimbursement

The following are typical daily wages for Rat Catcher Guild Members:

• Rat Catcher Apprentice (2 Copper Pieces a day)
• Rat Catcher (6-8 Copper Pieces a day)
• Senior Rat Catcher (1-2 Silver Pieces a day)
• Rat Catcher Overseer (1-2 Gold Pieces a day)

Other Benefits

Rat Catcher Guild Members can Earn a Retirement Pension or an Annual Payment of 10 Gold a year after they have served at least 30 or more years and their Health has diminished as such they can no longer work.
Rat Catcher Guild Members Killed in the line of duty are awarded a Free Coffin and a One-time payment of 15 Gold to the Deceased Rat Catcher family or Declared Relatives.

Perception

Social Status

Rat Catchers have a mixed bag of Social credibility they may be looked upon with Disgust or Shock when Crawling out of a smelly sewer grate with a bucket of dead rats or garner praise or at least respect for handling or clearing out an infestation.

Rat Catchers know the inner workings of the sewers and tunnels below the city. They may know secret ways into various establishments or locations via the city's sewers and tunnels this may play into cooperation with, or opposition to Local Thieves Guilds depending on the guild's associations with other organizations such as the City Guard, or Ruling Class of the City.

Demographics

Less than 1% of a Cities Population work as Rat Catchers or are Members of the Rat Catcher's Guild.
Most Rat Catchers come from Poorer or Commoner upbringings.

History

In earlier times Rat Catchers traveled from town to town Independant Rat Catchers still do for the smaller Settlements. As Towns and Cities Grew Teams and Guild Orders were established to make it a more sanctioned trade.

Operations

Tools

Here are some Common Tools of the Rat Catcher Trade.

• Large Club or Mace
• Lantern
• Sacks
• Rat Traps
• Protective leather Coat
• Sturdy Leather Boots
• Rope & hook Grappel
• Keys for Locked locations

Workplace

• Damp, Wet, and Smelly Sewers
• Narrow and Dark Crawlways
• Underground Tunnels and Passages

Provided Services

• Rat or Rodent Capture or Extermination
• Access to City Sewers and Underground Networks
• Pet Rodents or Rodent Meat

Dangers & Hazards

1. Injury or Death due to hazardous and wet underground conditions.
2. Risk of Disease or Plague due to exposure to Rats and Rodents.
3. Injury or Death due to Rat or Rodent bites or attacks.

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Alternative Names

Exterminators, Rodent Wranglers

Type

Sanitation

Demand

Depends on the level of Rat infestations and the abilities of the Rat Catcher Guild.

Legality

Yes, Rat Catchers and their Guilds are paid city through City Taxes.