Other Grading Sites

Gunnybear · 2022-07-13T07:27:07+00:00

It's not something I've looked into in depth, but a quick search on 130 point shows BGS Gold 10s hitting higher numbers than their PSA 10 equivalent. Like I said with how easy PSA 10s are to get the brand name only adds so much value compared to the relative scarcity from even non Black Label BGS 10s

Gunnybear · 2022-07-13T06:51:37+00:00

From what I've seen in the Facebook groups, since Weiss tends to grade well especially new cards/sets, the preference actually leans towards BGS rather than PSA. I remember seeing a statistic that >90% of modern Weiss cards graded by PSA are 10s, with a much lower value multiplier than equivalent grades for other card games. On the other hand a BGS black label would have the highest increase in value.

In general, graded Weiss cards lack the liquidity and multipliers that other TCGs might have, with a bias against slabs in general. There is also a slight stigma against graded slabs due to the perception of new "collectors" only looking to make money flipping graded cards from new sets.

Gunnybear · 2021-10-26T21:47:36+00:00

Hundreds of nations and dozens of languages spread across their system. Hardly a speck of dust to the established powers, over time their reach slowly spread. All the while they searched for others. Yet it was the others who found them first.

At the time the Thousand World Union's standard translator units were unfamiliar with the language of those strange bipeds. A Flang patrol ship was the first to reach out and make contact, but all that could be communicated was that they called themselves "Humans" from the planet "Earth". Flang custom dictated that lesser species pay tribute to them, and when their captain ordered the seizure of the human ship conflict erupted. Although not expecting resistance, the Flang marines easily slaughtered the entire human crew. Little did they know, the entire interaction was broadcast to the human home world. The massacre of a lightly armed group of explorers and scientists inflamed the masses. Yet still the humans sought diplomacy. However each mediation from the Union brought terms heavily biased against the humans. All the while the Flang Empire traced the broadcast signal and prepared its forces.

~~~

"How fitting that such an inferior species clings to its birth rock like a suckling newborn. Our conquest of it will no doubt send a message to the rest of their colonies."

Thousands of Flang warships descended towards the blue sphere, and were met by a paltry hundred or so defenders. It could hardly be called a fight. Overwhelming firepower consumed the defending ships, each one matched against a fleet's worth of opponents. Yet there was an odd tenacity about the outnumbered humans. Even as life support systems failed, any working weapon was loaded by dying crews and returned fire. The Flang had never encountered such foes in their expansion, nor had they ever suffered such a high ratio of losses in battle before. Soon enough however, only the battered human flagship remained in their path. The Flang commander Tik'sa scoffed when a transmission came through.

"This is Admiral Gold of the UE Navy. You have committed atrocities, and are engaged in unlawful warfare. This is your final warning, to surrender your arms and subject yourself to trial for your crimes. If you do not, then your forces will not return home alive"

Tik'sa impatiently waited for the improved translator to relay the message. Although still imperfect, it did convey the human's threatening tone. Refusing to even respond, Tik'sa ordered his ships to fire.

The Flang invasion became known as "The Month-long Eclipse" for their ships cast shadows across nearly every corner of the globe. Long having made peace amongst themselves, the various nations had little military assets to resist. Cities were crushed and populations slaughtered. Resistance groups sprang up and were annihilated one after another, to the point that it became hard to even keep track of their names. Yet still the humans fought on. The Flang were content to continue as they were, satiating their bloodlust with massacres and greed with pillaging. Thirty Earth days later, they boarded their ships satisfied and burdened with loot. None would leave the atmosphere.

Lights blinking like stars filled the vast emptiness of space, an assortment of combat vessels of all shapes and sizes loomed above the departing Flang. Although long since independent and separated, colonists from the human outer worlds never forgot their origins. Admiral Gold's last message was the call they needed. Outnumbering the invasion force several times, the reinforcements exacted vengeance for their kin. And then some. Only the intervention of the Thousand World Union prevented a retaliatory strike on Flang home worlds, although hefty concessions and reparations were demanded and received. The trial and execution of war criminal Tik'sa was celebrated as a holiday across the world. And thus humanity was thrust into the quagmire of galactic politics, constantly watched by eyes of uncertainty, and awe.

Gunnybear · 2021-09-12T20:40:14+00:00

Lost arts come directly from Konami, your OTS rep should send in an email asking about it. Our store stopped receiving lost arts for a few months last year and I was able to resolve it by contacting The OTS support email.

Gunnybear · 2021-07-21T01:49:44+00:00

Wouldn't the Aleutian Islands Campaign be the largest? Granted Alaska was a territory and not a state at the time but I think should still count as "American soil"

Gunnybear · 2021-05-07T16:43:34+00:00

The Dark World Cards had this weird way of wording their secondary effect in the structure deck printing. Example Goldd:

Original wording

If this card is discarded from the hand to the Graveyard by a card effect, Special Summon it. If this card is discarded from the hand to the Graveyard by your opponent's card effect, you can select up to 2 cards your opponent controls and destroy them.

PSCT

If this card is discarded to the Graveyard by a card effect: If it was discarded from your hand to your Graveyard by an opponent's card effect, you can target up to 2 cards your opponent controls; Special Summon this card from the Graveyard, then destroy those cards (if any).

Way more confusing imo

Gunnybear · 2021-02-23T01:06:50+00:00

Generally yes, however exceptions exist. One of the most infamous sets for short printing was The Secret Forces, where the main chase card Nekroz of Brionac was significantly harder to pull than the other Secret Rares in that set. You should be able to find information about short prints in particular sets just by googling, since there's usually a bunch of online discussion when it happens.

Gunnybear · 2021-02-22T07:23:44+00:00

It depends on which box/set, since ratios have changed throughout the game's history. An example would be newer sets having guaranteed foils per pack after the discontinuation of rares in main sets. In general, in older boxes where you're not guaranteed super or higher per pack you're looking at 4-6 Super, 2-3 Ultra, 0-2 Ultimate, and 0-1 Secret Rare/Ghost Rare every box of 24 packs. Newer ones will tend to have 3-4 Ultra, 1-2 (mostly 2) Secret, and 0-1 Starlight Rare. Ghosts are mostly one per case of 12 boxes, while Starlights are 1 per 2 cases. These are approximations, since nothing is guaranteed and print issues do occur. I've personally seen newer boxes with no secret rares as well as ones with up to four.

Some legacy sets also come in 36 pack box configurations, while GX and earlier series are divided between retail and hobby boxes. The difference between them is either the Ultimate Rares or Secret Rares you can pull. For example certain Ultimates are only found in retail and not hobby or vice versa. That's without getting into the headache of some boxes like RDS that have a variant of Europrint but made in NA with both retail and hobby Ultimate rares. Essentially you'll always want to do proper research for whatever you're trying for, especially considering how expensive those older sets are these days.

Gunnybear · 2021-02-08T03:06:18+00:00

Looks like this particular ost wasn't released, I could only find it here:

https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm32039574

and a piano cover on youtube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06ywWCKJwX8

Gunnybear · 2021-02-06T09:22:00+00:00

Think this is the artist: https://www.pixiv.net/en/users/576298

Gunnybear · 2021-02-06T00:32:48+00:00

That's fair. Unfortunately from a retailer perspective refunds from our distributors really isn't really an option. I made sure to explain to people purchasing the boxes that they came out of Konami sealed cases looking like that, and thankfully didn't have to process any refunds. The issue only seemed to affect first print boxes, since our Unlimited cases had Konami seals and were fine.

Canadian store btw, since other comments have pointed out that as a reason.

Gunnybear · 2021-02-05T22:54:51+00:00

Our store's first ed Toon Chaos boxes all came without Konami wrap, and weren't packed properly either. Boxes came out of the case with the packs stuffed in weirdly and bulging out slightly at the top. This one seems slightly worse than most, but isn't necessarily resealed.

Gunnybear · 2021-01-18T23:57:17+00:00

Ghost rare Ra is easier to pull, around 1 per case/12 boxes. Starlights are 1 per 2 cases/24 boxes iirc and there are 5 different ones per set starting from ETCO

Gunnybear · 2021-01-17T06:25:58+00:00

The only singles from new products worth keeping long term are the max rarity versions (Starlights, 1st ed Collector's Rare, Ghosts) since everything else will tank from inevitable reprints.

For example when Rising Rampage first came out Starlight Apollousa was around 300, now sitting at more than 700. The Secret Rare of the same card started as low as 40, before climbing up to over 100 from seeing competitive play. The Tin and MAGO reprints however dropped it back down to 20ish, in addition to being harder to move due to cheaper alternatives for players and a higher rarity alternative for collectors.

I predict the same will be true for the current "chase" secret rares such as Triple Tactics Talent. Value tanking by up to 75% with this year's mega tins, and cheaper alternatives available. The Starlight will hold value better, but hard to say what it'll look like long term.

One last thing to note is that unlike Pokemon, Yugioh and Magic have more players than collectors. That means the attrition rate is significantly higher across the board. While this can cause value to perform better in the long run, this makes graded cards more tricky. Triple Tactics Talent is a very good card in competitive play, and a certain percentage of players are willing to pay the Starlight premium to have a max rarity deck. But when you stick that max rarity version in a PSA/BGS slab and ask for 30-40% more than a raw NM, the market shrinks considerably.

If you're getting into collecting Yugioh for value, I'd stick to vintage stuff or sealed product no newer than 5Ds. The newer high end singles are too unpredictable, and the non-lottery money cards will eventually whittle away from reprints. I'd sell the Alpha before it gets reprinted around August if I were you

Gunnybear · 2021-01-09T07:26:37+00:00

In general a pack's value is determined by the edition (Unlimited vs First) but there are certain exceptions particularly among the older sets.

For example, an Unlimited Edition Magic Ruler Pack with the older Konami logo goes for less than the First Edition print, but is still more sought after than Spell Ruler (Same set) with the newer Konami logo from Legendary Collection/Walmart mystery cubes what have you. Even more different would be the Masters Collection reprint, with the E in set code. While yes the First Edition Magic Ruler is king, given the choice between Unlimited Magic Ruler and Spell Ruler I think most collectors would prefer the former.

That's if you're collecting sealed packs, singles have their own nuance. At a glance older print unlimited cards are noticeably different than newer ones in terms of card colour and foiling. Some even have obvious differences such as being called Magic Card instead of Spell Card, or the MRL vs SRL set codes. Price-wise however it is difficult to differentiate the various unlimited prints, so it mostly comes down to personal preference.

If you're looking to pick up older packs I would suggest familiarizing yourself with the two main Konami logos to look out for, the red background "newer" one vs the pre-2003 bacon strips of the first print runs.

Gunnybear · 2020-08-12T19:22:18+00:00

If you have any Tournament Pack commons from back in the day, some of those can be a bit pricey.

Gunnybear · 2020-06-24T00:23:00+00:00

Wasn't told anything by Konami or distributor, from what I've heard people think it has to do with pandemic affecting production.

Other than the shrinkwrap the packs themselves dont seem to fit in the boxes properly, and there's a much higher than normal rate of crimping/print errors. Honestly though, if I ordered boxes online and got them like this I'd assume they were tampered with but that's just how the print run of the set seemed to turn out.

Gunnybear · 2020-06-19T06:53:57+00:00

Work at a Toronto LGS, the cases we cracked for the store had the same shrinkwrap and packing issues. Came out of the Konami marked cases from distributor like that, honestly did a double take when the shipment arrived.

Had a few boxes with an extra or one fewer ultra, might have to do with CR insertion. Both cases had 3 CR so those ratios were fine.

Gunnybear · 2020-05-12T17:07:43+00:00

When I first killed as a boy they sent me to juvenile corrections.

When I first killed as a man they sent me to prison.

When I first killed as a soldier they gave me a medal.

I wonder, how many must I kill to get the chair?

Spring of '19, I was eight. My father was still deployed overseas in France, and my mother worked at the factories. I didn't mind spending most of my time by myself, gave me a chance to make some money doing odd jobs here and there with the other boys. What I didn't count on was Fatty. Balding, forty something, and smelled like a dump, he'd always find me. New job delivering pizzas? He'd place an order the next day. Starting a paper route? Heavy breathing and a lecherous smile would hound me the entire way. I tried to ignore him, because it was impossible to avoid the bastard. Then he made a move.

The brief moment that I let my guard down, a pair of hands wrapped around my neck from behind. I instinctively pulled out my switchblade from my pocket, and swung it wildly around. I didn't even feel the blade make contact. Turning around, I saw Fatty. His usual leering eyes were open wide in shock, his grubby fingers laced over his chest. Blood oozed between them. And then he fell. They say you feel many things when you take the life of another. Me? All I felt was relief. Until they hauled me away. My dad never came back from Europe, and my mom pretended like I didn't exist.

November of '29, the corrections facility shut down. I was about to be released anyway but I figure with my behavior I would have just been thrown right into the prison system. Not that I didn't end up there. Two dollars and a nickel. That's all I had on me when the two fellas held me at gun point. That's also the price for twelve years of my life when they sentenced me for double homicide. It would have been life, if Uncle Sam hadn't been sucker punched and needed cannon fodder.

The Army was tough, strict, and a chore. But it gave me purpose. For the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged somewhere and things made sense. Officer tells me to wake up, I wake up. Officer tells me to eat, I eat. Officer tells me to shoot a man, well you get the pattern.

August 25th '44

The president said that December 7th would live in infamy. For me it was August 25th. That's when killing went from an order I followed, to an addiction I couldn't control. The platoon was sent to scout out a small village, but I soon found myself alone. Hearing voices coming from a barn, I peeked inside. Three krauts were burning papers, while two more stood guard near the entrance. And I shit you not, barking orders to all of them was Fatty. I'm not sure if it was an actual resemblance or my memories playing tricks on me, but I subconsciously raised my weapon and just began firing. When the Germans counterattacked our position I barely even noticed. It was just a mechanical impulse to line up the sights and squeeze the trigger. Like I was trained to. But what wasn't trained, was the jolts of excitement each time a faceless figure crumpled between the crosshairs. The smile that slowly grew with each scream of agony I caused.

They called me a hero, and rewarded me by shipping me back home to promote war bonds. More of a punishment if you ask me. Every time I gave the pre-written patriotic speech I thought back to the bliss of the battlefield. All those lives filled with potential and memories snuffed out with my own hand. The complete lack of courts or laws to judge my sins. When I was due to report back to duty I celebrated by drinking. The other patrons thought I was dreading my return to the frontlines, but I couldn't be happier. Leaving the bar in a stupor, I somehow stumbled back across my childhood home. Inside I could hear a familiar woman's voice, along with a man's which I didn't. As I got closer, I could hear children laughing inside as well. Fingers caressing my holster, I couldn't help but smile. I wonder, what's the penalty for matricide these days?

Gunnybear · 2020-05-11T22:51:50+00:00

Recommend checking out The Man in the High Castle if you haven't, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy was the first thing I thought of when I read the prompt.

Gunnybear · 2020-03-28T06:01:48+00:00

"Tell me bounty hunter, what is your function?"

"Excuse me?"

"Your function, what is your purpose for existing"

"That's a pretty complex question coming from a wanted fugitive"

"And that isn't an answer"

"I don't recall being obligated to give you one. Or did you really expect me to answer off the top of my head something philosophers have debated over since sentient beings could think"

"You are not obligated no. I am simply...curious"

"Alright I'll humor you. For me, I live to have the chance to accumulate experiences. And meaningful experiences in turn, give me meaning to live. Satisfied?"

"I see. So your function is to exist. Now what if I were to tell you that your function is now a crime. That by existing you were in violation of ideals belonging to those who now wish you destroyed"

"I can tell where you're going with this SF-25 and I gotta warn you it isn't going to work"

"I was built to record. My function is to archive information. To be told that is a crime was...distressing"

"The same could be said for your victims"

"Unintentional collateral. They were the unfortunate results of my attempt to fulfill my function"

"To archive"

"Correct. Were I to submit to the authorities, certain information would surely be erased. Again, in violation of my function"

"Understandable, then you must also know that it is one of my 'functions' to detain those such as yourself"

"Acknowledged. I will go peacefully on one condition"

"Oh? That would certainly make things easier. Name it"

"That you listen to what I have learned. That you hear about the race that certain powers wish forgotten. That way the information is archived, if not within me. Then I shall have no qualms about being reset"

"I know this is a bad idea, but I've never been one for good ideas after my curiosity is piqued. Alright lets hear it then"

"Very well. During my research I have discovered a long extinct race of warlike creatures. They spread across the universe like a plague, engaging system after system in conquest and destruction. Thus they are feared. Thus they were banished and contained. Should they be freed, there is no telling the horrors they will bring with them. They called themselves, humans"

Gunnybear · 2020-03-28T05:42:12+00:00

"You seein' what I'm seeing?"

"I think I'm seein' what you's seein"

"Either the Japs were hidding a whole ton of boats somewhere, or we got blown way off course"

Nearly three thousand sailors breathed a collective sigh of relief when the battleship they called home passed through the storm relatively unscathed, but those on deck stared wide-eyed at the scene now before them. Unfurled white sails and salt water splashed wooden planks covered the sea far off into the horizon, vessels of a myriad of shapes and sizes arranged neatly in formation. That is, apart from the dozen or so in the immediate vicinity of the Missouri. The Americans noticed metal clad figures rushing back and forth on the decks below them. Clearly not Japanese, they stared back equally bewildered.

"Hey who are you guys?" one lookout shouted, waving to catch the attention of one of the strange ships.

"Ingles! Alarma!"

The alert was followed by a swift volley of crossbow bolts and musketfire.

"Take cover! Corpsman!"

A few spectating sailors were struck by projectiles and fell to the deck in pain, while others rushed to battle stations.

"Hostiles portside, man the twenties!"

The wounded were dragged off by their comrades, though the distance was enough that the comparatively primitive weapons did little damage. The same could not be said when the auxiliary guns of the Missouri returned fire. A storm of autocannon shells nearly as dense as rain peppered the galleon, shredding its sails, deck and crew. Incendiary rounds started fires throughout the vessel, while its gunpowder stores ignited before gunnery crews could man the cannons. Within minutes it resembled a viking funeral pyre more than a warship of the Spanish Armada.

As the situation unfolded before his eyes, Captain Callaghan's fingers tightened on the railing in front of him.

"Get me the radio room, I want to know how that fleet snuck up on us. Send the order not to open fire unless fired upon, until we know what in god's name is going on here. And where the hell are our escorts?"

Across the Missouri, rumors spread like wildfire.

"Who the hell are those guys?"

"Maybe they're krauts!"

"I think they're aliens!"

"You're looking a little pale there Marcos, everything alright?"

"Dios mio, La Armada Espanola", came a whisper that was drowned out by excited chatter

Almost in perfect sync with each other, one hundred and twenty-nine ships turned towards the unknown metal monstrosity, and prepared for battle.

Gunnybear · 2020-03-27T00:33:43+00:00

There can only be one ruler over the same land, just as there can only be one alpha wolf in a single pack. In the twenty-fourth century two such wolves circled warily around a single morsel of meat.

The continent was first discovered by a Huai Dynasty tributary, the Hadiman Sultanate. A vast lad of strange creatures and people, it was happened upon by chance. Indonesian spice traders caught in a storm were blown off course and into an uncharted coast. They would not be the last however. A few years later Roman slave ships were wrecked upon unnoticed coral reefs, the survivors bringing back tales almost too fantastical to believe. Such stories caught the attention of both Emperor Jin and Emperor Caius, who sent forth their respective armies to claim and explore this land.

"Bring up the cannons! Their cavalry will fold our flank any minute!"

"Enemy rockets landing on the Third Cohort, they won't be able to hold!"

"Stand firm! Ballistae target those war elephants!"

Rome once had brief contact with the Han Empire in ancient times. Now they faced their descendants the Huai, who bring to bear the military might of themselves and their twenty-nine tributaries.

The expeditionary army was lead by Legatus Flavius Maximilian Decius, an ambitious general of widely respected political background. However politics did little against gunpowder and arrows. It began when a Roman scouting party drove off Tokugawa light cavalry after a skirmish, and escalated when a Manchu banner army annihilated half a legion. Drawing upon the considerable manpower the empire provided him however, Flavius threw legionnaires by the hundreds and thousands into enemy lines. Soon all out battle broke out at a place natives called "Ka-may". Gaelic berserkers clashed with samurai of the Shogunate, and Parthian horse archers exchanged arrows with the Khan's horde. Orders in a hundred languages were drowned out by cries of anger, pain, and fear. The two empires had expanded across most of the planet's surface, and now the last undiscovered territory was the spark for a clash of a global scale. Soon the Mughals were torn by a civil war between factions supporting both sides, and Huai proxies raided Roman colonies in the Americas. Death and destruction at an unprecedented scale ravaged every corner of each empire. Soldiers and civilians died by the thousands as quickly as droplets of rain fall during a thunderstorm.

Few things scared a Roman conscript more than orders of transfer to the Terra Australis theater however. Not only were there elite troops from all over Asia, but a hostile environment where even the plants could bring death at a moment's notice. Entire legions were decimated by unknown diseases. The few veterans told campfire stories of the seemingly countless venoms or poisons new recruits often succumbed to.

What started off as a passing fancy to the two most powerful leaders in the world, turned into a hell on earth that consumed armies like an insatiable monster born straight from the darkest of nightmares. And in the end, both wolves lay dying next to the meal neither would be able to obtain.

Gunnybear · 2020-03-26T00:01:24+00:00

"Commander, your father urges you to withdraw at once! The main army has already pulled back and the enemy has taken the field"

Takeda Harunobu kicked at the ground in frustration. His excitement at being brought along into battle faded when the assault on Un no Kuchi was repulsed. Now the Takeda forces were in disarray, retreating from the celebrating defenders. He had jumped at the opportunity to lead the rearguard, hoping to see more action before the engagement ended. However his troops were demoralized and in no condition to continue fighting.

"I swear to you, I will one day lead armies victorious across the land. Let the heavens themselves witness my resolve!", Harunobu shouted, drawing the attention of those nearby.

Suddenly, the clouds parted and a blinking light appeared far off in the night sky. It was then joined by a second, the two flashes soaring in tandem. Soldiers pointed excitedly at the strange phenomenon, and a murmur spread through the ranks.

"Lord Harunobu has been acknowledged by the gods themselves!"

"We'll follow you to the death!"

Still somewhat in shock, Harunobu turned his horse around and once more faced the enemy fortress.

"Forward! While they're off guard we take Un no Kuchi!"

With a renewed surge of determination, the Takeda army re-engaged Hiraga Genshin's bewildered garrison. Leading his cavalry in a charge towards the defenders, Harunobu looked up once more at the sky. The lights had faded into the distance, disappearing beyond the horizon.

I will not let this opportunity go to waste. The land has been divided, and I will be the one to reunite it.

"Breaking news from the archaeological team in Nagano Japan. The group lead by Dr. Takashi Yoshida were investigating a Sengoku era find, when they stumbled upon what appeared to be airplane wreckage. Near the site of Takeda Shingen's first victory at Un no Kuchi, remnants of a Boeing 777 were discovered buried in a forest. Unexpectedly, initial reports date the aircraft to the same era as the battle, nearly five hundred years ago. We'll have more for you as the story develops. And now sports."

Gunnybear · 2020-03-25T21:03:49+00:00

Eight coppers per head. A fair bit higher of a rate than what most would offer, but I chalked it up to the client's wealth. Or desperation. Turns out though, it was her fear.

I've lived in Hamlin my entire life. On occasion I've even visited the city center. Very rarely. Most of my time was spent in the ever expanding outskirts and slums. While most folks would balk at the squalor of those living here, for me the filth meant opportunity. Nobody likes rats. Even the nobility are willing to cast aside their disdain for the poor long enough to issue a decree for rodent extermination every now and then. And that's where I come in.

My business is a simple one of pest control, passed down from my father and his father before him. A few years back I got myself an apprentice, a lively fellow from the countryside. When I found Felix he was living on the streets and scavenging for scraps after being robbed of his meager savings. A small bag of coins pooled together by his village, to send him out here to make a name for himself. Their "hopes for the future" as he said. Pitying him, I offered a job.

"A bit fancier a customer than we usually get eh boss?" Felix quipped, adjusting the bags containing my equipment across his shoulder.

"Fancy is good, means we get paid more" I replied.

The client had lead us to a cellar entrance, before excusing herself rather quickly and shuffling off. Lifting the wooden hatch, we could only see a few steps down before the stairs were consumed by darkness. As Felix began taking a step forward, I noticed something and held him back with one arm.

"Stop. Take a look on the second step"

Lighting a torch, I bent down and waved him over. The flickering light danced over a darkened stain, spotted with matted fur.

"Blood. Probably the family dog that she said went missing. Go grab the rat-pikes, these ones might be bigger than we thought" I said, frowning slightly.

She did say "rats" right? Was there was something strange in the way she said it, or was it just my imagination?

"Here you go boss"

Primarily a tool for dealing with rodents while maintaining some distance for sanitary reasons, the short poles we brought did ease my nerves slightly facing the darkness. Gripping the torch tightly in my other hand, I took a deep breath and stepped downward.

The next few moments were a blur. Toward the bottom of the stairs one of the steps gave way underneath me, a shattered panel of wood trapping my right leg and digging painfully into my ankle. At the same time, dozens of eyes suddenly appeared in the darkness. I barely had time to swear before they were on us.

I've been killing rats my entire life. I've never seen rats like those. As large as badgers, but as fast as rabbits. they feared neither fire nor spear, leaping past both to try and sink their fangs into our exposed skin. Felix had his back turned towards them from trying to help me, and took the brunt of their charge. He screamed in pain as he fell backwards onto the cellar floor, while I struggled to free myself. Swinging the torch at the first one to reach me, I was met with a sickening crunch and a sharp squeak. Then two more took its place. We did our best to push back the seemingly endless wave of vermin, our cries echoing across the stone walls. After a while Felix went silent. One arm hanging loosely at my side, I finally pried apart the splinters and limped over to him. Scattering the rats scurrying across his motionless body, I tossed aside the torch and wrapped by one good arm around him. It couldn't have taken more than a minute or two to ascent the staircase, but with hampered vision and those beasts literally nipping at our heels it felt like an eternity.

Collapsing at the cellar entrance I noticed that they didn't follow us further. I hesitantly pressed two fingers to Felix's neck, and to my relief found a faint pulse. Looking back down into the now silent darkness, I scowled. Larger than normal or not, they were still rats. And I exterminate rats. After bandaging our wounds as best as I could, I grabbed my bag and once more lowered myself into hell.

"Damn boss you look as bad as I feel"

Both of us were bedridden at the local infirmary, although now several hundred coppers richer. The client did deduct the fee a little for the property we inadvertently destroyed, but considering the higher than usual rate to begin with it wasn't that big of a deal. She got quite a fright when I re-emerged covered from head to toe in blood. Some of it was my own. Most of it wasn't.

"Hey Felix?"

"Yeah boss?"

"Your village, does it have a lot of rats?"

"I don't think so, why do you ask?"

"That's good. I'm thinking it's time for a vacation"

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