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This article is about the gang from south of the Yaruga. For the animal, see Rat. For the quest in The Witcher, see The Rat. |
The Rats was a young gang of criminals in Geso that was known for stealing from the rich to satisfy their own material wants, which included having the best horses, clothing, and accessories. Because of this attitude, they tended to also spread their ill-gotten wealth to the poor citizens in the area, which also made it harder for troops to track them, as the citizens would give false information on the Rats' whereabouts.
Formation
Each member came from a different troubled background. Kayleigh's village had been ransacked by Nilfgaardian forces. One such soldier was Reef, whose comrades had left behind due to his injuries. Despite this, both 16 year olds joined forces and killed and robbed a tax collector. Giselher had deserted from an unknown army and joined a gang in the area, but they were unlucky enough to stumble into a free elf territory and most were killed by their arrows. Giselher was pinned to a tree by one but was then rescued by the elf Aenyeweddien, better known as Iskra, who'd been banished by her people, meaning almost certain death for herself if she traveled alone. Mistle came from a wealthy, noble family but their town was forced to flee from approaching "pacifiers". Having been pampered since childhood, she couldn't keep up with fugitives and wandered alone until manhunters found her, intending to sell her and the other young girls off. However, they were attacked by a gang who then raped all the women, including Mistle. After being left for dead, she was found by Asse, who'd been following that gang for revenge on what they did to his own family.
All 3 groups ended up meeting during the Festival of the Harvest in Geso, being drawn to each other due to their shared interests in fancy outfits and horses but also what they had all recently been through thanks to the rebellions. They then took on the official name of Rats after someone referred to them as such, and which they all liked.
History
However, they were still viewed with trepidation until they made their intentions clear if they planned to ransack the place or just enjoy themselves by partaking in drinking and dancing.
The band also became fashion icons for the rich youth of Thurn in particular. The gang's ringleader was Giselher. The group had formed during the Lammas celebration in a village in Geso. Later, Ciri joined the Rats as "Falka", after the gang saved her from the village of Glyswen, where she was being kept as a hostage by the Trappers led by Skomlik.
The Rats planned to stop robbing for a moment and take advantage of the upcoming national amnesty to celebrate the marriage of Emperor Emhyr var Emreis with Cirilla of Cintra. However, they didn't manage to achieve their plan, either because the marriage never happened, or because Leo Bonhart, a bounty hunter hired by both Stefan Skellen and baron Casadei, killed all the members and chopped their heads off, except for Ciri, for whom he had a separate, special contract. The dead Rats then were buried in Jealousy, the village in which they were slaughtered.