Ratau

“	Fear not! I am Ratau. I was once a chosen vessel like you, but those days are lost to the winds. I was sent to guide you.	”
	— Ratau, introducing himself to the Lamb

Ratau is an NPC in Cult of the Lamb. He is a guide that the Lamb meets while escaping from the Lands of the Old Faith.

Description

Ratau is a brown rat that is missing his left eye and a section of his left ear. He wears a green jacket, red plaid scarf, and a paper hat with a triangle symbol that has a line horizontally through the middle. This same symbol appears on his forehead. He carries a stick staff that has two leaves growing out of it and has been bandaged a few times.

Ratau used to be a vessel like the Lamb, but failed somewhere along the way. He guides the Lamb to safety after they are resurrected by The One Who Waits. After teaching them the basics of running a Cult, he retires to the Lonely Shack, where he plays Knucklebones with The Lamb, Flinky, Shrumy, and Klunko & Bop.

Dialogue

Introduction
Fear not! I am Ratau. I was once a chosen vessel like you, but those days are lost to the winds. I was sent to guide you. We are deep in the lands of the Old Faith and in grave danger. My instructions are to lead you to safety. Continue through the woods. Escape lies ahead. I will be close by.

Follower Room
We have nearly reached safety, but look ahead! Another poor soul about to be sacrificed. Rescue them and they would have no choice but to join your new Cult.

Last Room
We have reached safety. You have done well. The Red Crown will allow you to use those markings on the ground to transport yourself great distances. It will take you to a temple that has fallen to ruin. There you will be able to begin your new Cult. I will meet you there.

Cult
This hallowed ground which once was mine, is now yours. This crumbling ruin is to be the site of your new Cult. We have much to do. We begin by indoctrinating this poor soul into the warm embrace of your Cult. Followers can gather resources for you. Order this one to collect Lumber or Stone.

"By your hand, our Cult will grow powerful! But your Followers can not live on prayer alone, they must eat. Gather the necessary resources and build a Cooking Fire. It will allow you to prepare meals for your Followers."

"Now we must build a Shrine - but first we will need more Followers and more gold. Both of which can be found when crusading through the lands of The Old Faith. Our mutual benefiter The One Who Waits has been trapped by the four Bishops of the Old Faith. Each of them guards a chain that binds him to the realm beyond. We have conjured openings to their realms. It is your task to track them down and slay them so that he may be freed. Now go! There you shall find gold and willing recruits and for those who are not willing, convert them by FORCE!"

[Player returned with more Followers]

"I am relieved to see you made it safely, and you have not returned alone. You have convinced more to join our faithful flock. Let us indoctrinate this new convert so that we may continue."

"Followers will either work or worship. Worshipping Followers generate Devotion for you to collect. But to collect Devotion, you require a Shrine."

[After Shrine has been built]

"Praise be! Your Followers can now worship you! Here is a new Follower. Assign them to Worship a the the Shrine.

[After the Temple has been built]

"The Temple is the centre of your Cult. From there you will preach Sermons to grow stronger and perform Rituals to mould the fragile minds of your Followers. You are responsible for maintaining the Faith of your Cult. If it falls too low, your Followers will dissent against you and eventually leave. Your Followers are ready to hear your word. Show them that you are their great leader. Preach a Sermon from within your Temple."

[After the Lamb performed a Sermon]

"You were amazing to behold. A natural leader. I see why you were chosen. If you are to guide your Cult you will need to declare Doctrines so that they might obey you. Return to the lands of the Old Faith and seek out Commandment Stone fragments. With these you will be able to declare new Doctrines."

[After a new Doctrine has been declared]

"Preaching sermons, performing rituals and providing for the needs of your Followers will keep their Faith high. The Bones of your enemies are required to perform such Rituals. Destroy their skeletons to gather their bones. Returns to the lands of the Old Faith, gather bones from fallen enemies, recruit more Followers and return to perform a Ritual here in the Temple."

[After a Ritual has been performed]

"Indotrinating followers is well and good, but there is so much more you can take from them. Give them gifts, complete quests and performing blessings for them and you will increase their Loyalty to you. Once they are totally loyal to you, they will give you everything they own. Watch as I show you. You, Follower, come back in here!

[Ratau gives the Follower a gift, raising their Loyalty]

The more loyal Followers you have, the stronger you'll become. I have much to teach you, but I am old and grow weary. Visit me at my home and I will show you how to harness the true POWER of the Red Crown!

Unlocking Curses ability

"I am glad I found you. I bring good news! The One Who Waits is pleased with your progress and wishes to grant you a Crown Ability."
"Enemies you slay will now drop Fervour. Collect this to replenish your Curses."

Lonely Shack

You went inside the hut:

"You have discovered my humble cottage. Be careful you don't make the same mistakes I did, or you will end up in a place just like this. Now, perhaps a game of Knucklebones? You don't know it? Why, it's simple. Step up to the table and I will show you."

You win against Ratau in Knucklebones the first time:

"By the One Below! You're a natural! Here, you've earned yourself a prize."
[Ratau unlocks The Hearts II card]
"Now you've had a taste of the game... care to wager some coin?"

You win against Ratau (with bet):

"It seems fortune is not on my side. No matter, you played well."

You draw against Ratau in Knucklebones:

"A draw! The most exciting outcome in a game of Knucklebones! Well done, Lamb!"

You lose against Ratau in Knucklebones the first time:

"Haha! No one can beat the great Ratau at Knucklebones! Care to play again?"

You went outside to the shrine at the right side:

"I must thank you. By relieving me of my duties you have granted me what I desire most: peace. Now that I have taught you everything you need to know, I can pass my days playing Knucklebones. I have friends on their way to join me for a game or two as we speak. A rowdy bunch to be sure, but now I am retired I am free to enjoy myself.

Sacrificed to the Fox

"It's you! No, wait! Lamb, don't trust this murderer—"

[The Fox captures Ratau.]

Trivia

If Ratau is sacrificed to Fox, The One Who Waits will call the Lamb to talk, saying that he is proud of the Lamb's ruthlessness. He reveals that Ratau had attempted to leave the life of a cult leader and left the temple to fall apart after being forced to sacrifice one of his cultists. After his death, a pile of letters can be found to the right of the entrance to Lonely Shack. These letters seem to be unsent drafts of a letter expressing pride and gratitude to The Lamb for helping him.