Blackrat was petty criminal working during the Metal Age and living by the Marketplace near Shalebridge.[1]
Working with his Cousin, Weythran, he found out that Watch Officer Morgan was not above paying bribes for 'street filth' from others such as Blackrat, and he found he could both earn some extra money and take care of any competition at the same time.[2]
However, he himself was later picked up by Morgan and subsequently arrested. When Morgan's superior, Watch Sergeant Harwin, found out about the paying of bribes, he wasn't too happy — saying that they do not need to pay for more people as they already had enough. He, however, added that he was willing to accept more on the condition they found criminals with more serious charges against them to pick up instead. By contrast, the latest batch of criminals, including Blackrat himself, were simply too petty to be bothered with.[3]
After Blackrat was arrested, his cousin soon became sly of what had happened— and rightfully believed that the predator Blackrat had been caught the same way as he had been catching his petty prey. After leaving a series of notes, he decided to flee The City in order to avoid being imprisoned himself.[4]
Notes[]
- As the Watch were collecting 'street scum' for the Mechanists, who in turn were making them into Servants, it seems likely that Hops, Festil and Blackrat were also made into one.