Hamelin was overrun. For some reason, the rats in town were over populating the city, and causing there to be disease in the city. There were rewards posted, if one person knew how to rid the town of the rats. People tried, but no one was successful, but the story spread through out the country. 1000 pieces of gold to the man or woman who could eradicate the beasts.

So the story reached the ears of a man who could do it. He had once been called by his name, but he hadn't spoken it in so long, that he knew no one knew his name, not even him. A pipe was all he owned, and that was fine by him. A pipe wasn't much, but this one was quite the pipe, as it could charm any beast under the sun to do anything he wanted it to do. He had made enough to live off by herding sheep, but 1000 pieces of gold would be enough to have a home, to feed a family, not that he had one yet. It would mean he could play his pipe for comfort, and not for gain. So, passing the sheep onto a neighboring shepherd, he set off to Hamelin, to seek a great reward.

He had taken to the pipe early in his life. It was a way to communicate, and one day his father had brought him this pipe. Learning had been easy, but he had first noticed the animals had been affected later in his adult years. Once he had played a lovely tune, wishing that a bird would join it, and it did. In fact, all the birds in the trees near unto him began harmonizing with his tune. It was miraculous. Over the next week, he tried it on other animals. Dogs, cats, even sheep responded to the songs that he played. It took little effort to keep in charge of them, no matter what he had them do. Now all he had to do, was play the rats away from Hamelin, and he would be rich.

He met with Mayor Figgins of Hamelin. His treasurer seemed uneasy to let so much gold go, but he assured the mayor that he would take the money after he played. The notes took vary little time to write, and the mayor didn't mind a mute offering to do this miracle of miracles. The Piper took his leave, and waited until night time arrived, because the rats would be more active then.

After night fell, it took little time to gather all the rats. He felt awful abusing his pipe's power this way, but he led them to the river, and sent them forth into the waters. Drowning was a terrible way to go, but they had to be gone. He wouldn't kill another one for he rest of his life, as they screamed while they drowned. It was terrible. Surely there would have been an easier way for them to be rid of the beasts, but it was not his place to put forth judgement. As the last one dove into the water, his music stopped, and he went on his way.

The morning dawned clear and bright. People he passed on the street thanked him, and he felt a bit better about what he had done to the rats, finding his way back to the town hall, he felt pride in his work. These people would be better off. Even if people were so judgemental about his condition. Animals were always his friends, and it hurt him to treat them this way. Pushing into the town hall, he strode with reason. A smiling mayor met him, and led him to the room where they had met last.

"I'm sorry I have to tell you this, but would appear you were a tad less than thorough during your sweep of the city." Sylvester brought forth a cage with a single rat. "While we will pay you a fair rate, you will not be able to receive the full thousand." A small purse was pushed into his hands. Fire burned within his soul, and he knew this was not the end of it. He would have the upper hand. He threw the money away, and wrote a quick note.

"You will pay one way Mayor. Flesh or Gold."

Figgins just shrugged.

"There is nothing I can do. I'm sorry."

So it was, that The Piper took to the streets, this time playing a song he didn't know. A song to call the children. All of them followed, every single one followed dumbly, as quiet as he had been all of his life. One small boy lagged behind, relying on crutches, but The Piper pushed forward leading the children on the same route he had taken the night before.

So it was, that Hamelin lost all of it's children in one day. All save Artie, as he was too slow to follow the children.

On the eleventh day of angstmas my Thaddeus gave to me… Eleven Brad's the Piper, Ten Leps a Leaping, Nine Ladies Dancing, eight missing pages, Seven sleepers with the fishes, Six Gleeks not laying, FIVE EV-AN-SES, four calling frauds, three exfriends, two roofied gays, and a warbler fatality.