From Introduction: The network was founded 800 years ago by Nezumi who had been hired as mercenaries by an ambitious provincial governor. After his defeat and the dispersion of his forces a weakened battalion of ratmen dug in at an easily defensible position, at the slopes of a small mountain, and the Imperial forces where unable to expel them. After a year of fruitless siege a peace treaty was signed. The Nezumi where granted the right to live in the mountain as long as they paid a tribute of 10% of their earnings and where giving their firstborns as scouts to the Emperor.