Fevered Rat: Difference between revisions

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m (Text replacement - "| CR=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|CR}}} | CR | 1 <!-- Value: integer between 1 and 35. --> }}</onlyinclude> | MonsterName=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|MonsterName}}}" to "| CR=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{...)
m (Text replacement - "Distracted conditon" to "Distracted condition")
 
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   }}</onlyinclude>
   }}</onlyinclude>


| Min-CR=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Min-CR}}}
| Min-CR = 1
| Min-CR | 1
| Max-CR = 6
  <!-- Value: integer between 1 and 40. -->
  }}</onlyinclude>
 
| Max-CR=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Max-CR}}}
| Max-CR | 5
  <!-- Value: integer between 1 and 40. -->
  }}</onlyinclude>


| MonsterName=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|MonsterName}}}
| MonsterName=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|MonsterName}}}
| MonsterName | Rat Swarm
| MonsterName | Fevered Rat
   }}</onlyinclude>
   }}</onlyinclude>


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| Role=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Role}}}
| Role=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Role}}}
| Role |  
| Role | Swarm
   <!-- Values: Heavy, Killer, Leader, Legend, Minion, Shooter, Skirmisher, Sneak, Tank, Threat, Villain, or leave blank -->
   <!-- Values: Heavy, Killer, Leader, Legend, Minion, Shooter, Skirmisher, Sneak, Swarm, Tank, Threat, Villain, or leave blank -->


   }}</onlyinclude>
   }}</onlyinclude>
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| Restrict-Role-Skirmisher =  
| Restrict-Role-Skirmisher =  
| Restrict-Role-Sneak =  
| Restrict-Role-Sneak =  
| Restrict-Role-Swarm =
| Restrict-Role-Tank =  
| Restrict-Role-Tank =  
| Restrict-Role-Threat = Y
| Restrict-Role-Threat = Y
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| Description=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Description}}}
| Description=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Description}}}
| Description | One rat is no threat to any adventurer. But a rat swarm isn't just one rat.  It's hundreds and hundreds of rats, so many of them, piled so close atop one another, they form a single seething mass of dirty flesh.  Rat swarms are so frenetically active they are almost fluids, flowing this way and that, no rat willing to break away from the safety of its fellows.  
| Description | '''''This monster frequently has the Swarm role, but may be set to other roles if desired.'''''
 
Ordinary household rats are timid creatures, more than eager to flee from fights and easily killed by nearly any determined foe. But all that changes when rats (and other vermin) become infected by the vile disease commonly called 'Filth Fever'. Filth Fever makes rats crazy, for want of a better term.
 
Fevered rats still behave like rats in most ways, and the disease will never kill them, alas. It does make the rats more aggressive, cagey, meaner, and sly. A fevered rat is not likely to seek out a fight, but they might. Fevered rats will hunt down, kill, and eat, pets and children if they are able to. The horror of finding tiny bones in a welter of blood in a crib has bred utter revulsion for rats in afflicted communities, even above the common revulsion that rats engender.
 
The Filth Fever that seethes in a fevered rat makes their bites dangerous, even for strong adventurous types.
 
And let's be honest. One rat is no threat to any adventurer. But a fevered rats carry their terrible Filth Fever in every bite, and to make it worse, many Rats are encountered in huge swarms. A rat swarm isn't just one rat.  It's hundreds and hundreds of rats, so many of them, piled so close atop one another, they form a single seething mass of dirty flesh.  Rat swarms are so frenetically active they are almost fluids, flowing this way and that, no fever-stricken rat willing to break away from the safety of its fellows.  


This roiling, scrabbling, mass of teeth and claws is enough to be quite a nasty threat, and even the best-armored hero has no defense against a thousand claws and bites every minute.  It's best to kill rat swarms as fast as possible, and from a good distance, to boot.
This roiling, scrabbling, mass of teeth and claws is enough to be quite a nasty threat, and even the best-armored hero has no defense against a thousand claws and bites every minute.  It's best to kill rat swarms as fast as possible, and from a good distance, to boot.
Filth Fever must be treated promptly, even if inflicted by the lucky bite of a single rat, and that endemic disease is the cause of huge numbers of attacks, and is behind many of the vermin that infest the world.
   }}</onlyinclude>
   }}</onlyinclude>


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| Type=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Type}}}
| Type=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Type}}}
| Type | Swarm
| Type | Animal
   <!-- Values: Aberration, Animal, Construct, Dragon, Fey, Humanoid, Magical Beast, Monstrous Humanoid, Ooze, Outsider, Plant, Protean, Swarm, Troop, Undead, Vermin -->
   <!-- Values: Aberration, Animal, Construct, Dragon, Fey, Humanoid, Magical Beast, Monstrous Humanoid, Ooze, Outsider, Plant, Protean, Undead, Vermin -->
   }}</onlyinclude>
   }}</onlyinclude>


| Subtype=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Subtype}}}
| Subtype=<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|Subtype}}}
| Subtype | Animal
| Subtype |  
   <!-- If second monster type (e.g. a swarm of vermin): Aberration, Animal, Construct, Dragon, Fey, Humanoid, Magical Beast, Monstrous Humanoid, Ooze, Outsider, Plant, Protean, Swarm, Troop, Undead, Vermin -->
   <!-- If second monster type: Aberration, Animal, Construct, Dragon, Fey, Humanoid, Magical Beast, Monstrous Humanoid, Ooze, Outsider, Plant, Protean, Undead, Vermin -->
   <!-- If Humanoid: Duergar, Giant, Gloom, Gnoll, Human, Kobold, Lizardfolk, Maenad, Norker, Orc, Somber Crool, Troglodyte, Vampire Thrall -->
   <!-- If Humanoid: Duergar, Giant, Gloom, Gnoll, Human, Kobold, Lizardfolk, Maenad, Norker, Orc, Somber Crool, Troglodyte, Vampire Thrall -->
   <!-- If Outsider: Air, Chaotic, Demon, Devil, Earth, Elemental, Evil, Fire, Good, Lawful, Native, Water -->
   <!-- If Outsider: Air, Chaotic, Demon, Devil, Earth, Elemental, Evil, Fire, Good, Lawful, Native, Water -->
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| NudgeSpace =  
| NudgeSpace =  
   <!-- Values: any positive or negative number, or leave blank. Max recommended is +/-2. This is number of SQUARES; will be converted to feet.               -->
   <!-- Values: any positive or negative number, or leave blank. Max recommended is +/-2. This is number of SQUARES; will be converted to feet.
  <!-- NOTE: If type or subtype is "Swarm", the space will default to 10 ft.                                                                                 -->
        NOTE: If role is "Swarm", only put the space occupied by the COMPONENT CREATURE, NOT the space of the swarm, troop, or horde.
  <!-- NOTE: If type or subtype is "Troop", the space will default to 15 ft. + the normal space for the component creature size (e.g. 20 ft. for size medium) -->
        NOTE: Swarms default to 10 feet. Troops default to 15 ft. + the normal space for the component creature size (e.g. 20 ft. for size medium) -->


| NudgeReach =  
| NudgeReach =  
   <!-- Values: any positive or negative number, or leave blank. Max recommended is +/-2. This is number of SQUARES; will be converted to feet.     -->
   <!-- Values: any positive or negative number, or leave blank. Max recommended is +/-2. This is number of SQUARES; will be converted to feet.
  <!-- NOTE: If type or subtype is "Swarm", the reach will default to 0 ft.                                                                         -->
        NOTE: If role is "Swarm", only put the reach of the COMPONENT CREATURE, NOT the reach of the swarm, troop, or horde.
  <!-- NOTE: If type or subtype is "Troop", the reach will default to the normal reach for the component creature size (e.g. 5 ft. for size medium) -->
        NOTE: Swarms default to 0 ft. Troops default to the normal reach for the component creature size (e.g. 5 ft. for size medium) -->




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<!--  GENERAL ATTACK INFORMATION  -->
<!--  GENERAL ATTACK INFORMATION  -->


| MeleeOrNatural = Melee
| MeleeOrNatural = Natural
   <!-- REQUIRED; Values: "Melee" (has ONLY a Primary attack), or "Natural" (has Pri and Sec attacks) -->
   <!-- REQUIRED; Values: "Melee" (has ONLY a Primary attack), or "Natural" (has Pri and Sec attacks) -->


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<!--  PRIMARY ATTACK INFORMATION  -->
<!--  PRIMARY ATTACK INFORMATION  -->


| PriAtkName = Overrun
| PriAtkName = Feverish Bite
   <!-- name of primary attack, weapons or natural attacks (e.g. "Longsword" or "Bite") -->
   <!-- name of primary attack, weapons or natural attacks (e.g. "Longsword" or "Bite") -->


| Pri-Atk-Dmg-Type = crushing
| Pri-Atk-Dmg-Type = slashing
   <!-- name of the damage type used; if the type isn't defined, create a new page using the 'Dmg-Type' template (see Using Templates) -->
   <!-- name of the damage type used; if the type isn't defined, create a new page using the 'Dmg-Type' template (see Using Templates) -->


| PriAtkNotes = Filth Fever, Distraction
| PriAtkNotes = Filth Fever
   <!-- add any specials; adds the word "plus" automatically. (e.g. "filth fever (see below)") -->
   <!-- add any specials; adds the word "plus" automatically. (e.g. "filth fever (see below)") -->


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   <!-- If attack is a touch attack; Values: Y (for yes), or leave blank (for no) -->
   <!-- If attack is a touch attack; Values: Y (for yes), or leave blank (for no) -->


| PriAtkIsAuto-Hit = Swarm
| PriAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone" or "swarm") -->
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone") -->


| NudgePriToHit =  
| NudgePriToHit =  
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<!--  SECONDARY ATTACK INFORMATION  -->
<!--  SECONDARY ATTACK INFORMATION  -->


| SecAtkName =  
| SecAtkName = Filthy Scratch
   <!-- name of secondary attack, natural attacks only (e.g. "Claw"); leave blank for none -->
   <!-- name of secondary attack, natural attacks only (e.g. "Claw"); leave blank for none -->


| Sec-Atk-Dmg-Type =  
| Sec-Atk-Dmg-Type = slashing
   <!-- name of the damage type used; if the type isn't defined, create a new page using the 'Dmg-Type' template (see Using Templates) -->
   <!-- name of the damage type used; if the type isn't defined, create a new page using the 'Dmg-Type' template (see Using Templates) -->


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| SecAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
| SecAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone" or "swarm") -->
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone") -->


| NudgeSecToHit =  
| NudgeSecToHit =  
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| TerAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
| TerAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone" or "swarm") -->
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone") -->


| NudgeTerToHit =  
| NudgeTerToHit =  
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| QuaAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
| QuaAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone" or "swarm") -->
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone") -->


| NudgeQuaToHit =  
| NudgeQuaToHit =  
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| RangedAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
| RangedAtkIsAuto-Hit =  
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone" or "swarm") -->
   <!-- If attack has no to-hit roll; leave blank (for normal to-hits), or describe (e.g. "30-foot cone") -->


| NudgeRangedToHit =  
| NudgeRangedToHit =  
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   <!-- Values: "S" for strong caster, "W" for weak caster, leave blank if unneeded; will auto-detect Combat Casting and include it -->
   <!-- Values: "S" for strong caster, "W" for weak caster, leave blank if unneeded; will auto-detect Combat Casting and include it -->


| Ability-1-Description = Any damage inflicted by a Rat Swarm has a chance to inflict a weak disease:
| Ability-1-Description = Any damage inflicted by a Fevered Rat has a chance to inflict a weak disease:
{{Malady
{{Malady
| Name = Filth Fever
| Name = Filth Fever
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<!--  SPECIAL ABILITY 2  -->
<!--  SPECIAL ABILITY 2  -->


| Ability-2-Name = Distraction
| Ability-2-Type = Ex
  <!--Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"-->
| Ability-2-Action-Required = Automatic after damage
  <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
                Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->
| Ability-2-Concentration =
  <!--Values: "S" for strong caster, "W" for weak caster, leave blank if unneeded-->
| Ability-2-Description = Any living creature that takes damage from a swarm must make a Fortitude save, DC {{Save-DC}}, or become [[Afflicted]]. If the creature makes the save, they are instead [[Sickened]].  If they take damage on any following round while still Sickened or Afflicted, they must make another DC {{Save-DC}} Fortitude save, or move up one step on the Status Array.  While sharing a space with the swarm, you cannot get rid of the Sickened condition. At the end of any round in which you are outside of the swarm, you may make another DC {{Save-DC}} Fortitude save to attempt to move down a step on the status array. (While outside of the swarm's space, you cannot go up on the status array if you fail the save, you simply remain at the status you currently have.)
: [[Nauseated]] ==> [[Afflicted]] ==> [[Sickened]]
: In addition, spellcasting or concentrating on spells within the area of a swarm requires a [[Caster Check]] against the swarm's Maneuver Defense of {{Maneuver-Defense}}. Using skills that involve patience and concentration require a DC {{Save-DC}} Will save.


   <!-- Insert colons ":" before each paragraph after first; replace any to-hit, damage or save DC numbers with variables:
   <!-- Insert colons ":" before each paragraph after first; replace any to-hit, damage or save DC numbers with variables:
Line 1,310: Line 1,297:


| Role-Only--Replace-Sneak-Power--Description =  
| Role-Only--Replace-Sneak-Power--Description =  
    <!-- Insert colons ":" before each paragraph after first; replace any to-hit, damage
        or save DC numbers with variables:
  {{To-Hit}}                {{Skill-DC|Easy}}          {{Special-Standard-Dmg}}
  {{Touch-Attack}}          {{Skill-DC|Average}}        {{Special-Swift-Dmg}}
  {{Save-DC}}              {{Skill-DC|Challenging}}    {{Special-Alpha-Dmg}}
  {{Hit-Points}}            {{Skill-DC|Hard}}          {{Ability-Dmg}}
  {{Bloodied-Hit-Points}}  {{Skill-DC|Impossible}}    {{Siege-Dmg}}
  {{Hit-Dice}}                                          {{Primary-Dmg}}
  {{Maneuver-Offense}}                                  {{Secondary-Dmg}}
  {{Maneuver-Defense}}                                  {{Tertiary-Dmg}}
  {{CR}}                                                {{Quaternary-Dmg}}
                                                        {{Ranged-Dmg}}
  POISON / DISEASE FORMAT
{{Malady
| Name =
| Intensity =
| Save-Type =
| Save-Mod =
| Frequency =
| Effect =
| Fruition =
| F-Duration =
}}
-->
<!--  REPLACE "PERSONAL SPACE ISSUES" OR "DARKEN THE SKY" POWER
      SWARM ROLE ONLY
        This section lets you write a custom power that will only display if this monster
        is given the "Swarm" role. It replaces the default "Personal Space Issues" power
        (or the "Darken The Sky" power, if it is a Troop), which allows swarms to inflict
        the Distracted condition when they damage a foe (or it grants an area of affect
        ranged attack if it is a troop). Leave this blank if you want the "Personal Space
        Issues" or "Darken the Sky" power to appear when this monster is designated as a
        "Swarm" role.                                                                      -->
| Role-Only--Replace-Swarm-Power--Name =
| Role-Only--Replace-Swarm-Power--Type =
    <!-- Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"    -->
| Role-Only--Replace-Swarm-Power--Action-Required =
  <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action,
        Free Action, Immediate Action, Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At
        Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.                                          -->
| Role-Only--Replace-Swarm-Power--Concentration =
    <!-- Values: "S" for strong caster, "W" for weak caster, leave blank if unneeded; will
        auto-detect Combat Casting and include it                                          -->
| Role-Only--Replace-Swarm-Power--Description =


     <!-- Insert colons ":" before each paragraph after first; replace any to-hit, damage  
     <!-- Insert colons ":" before each paragraph after first; replace any to-hit, damage  
Line 1,341: Line 1,382:
<!--  COMBAT TACTICS  -->
<!--  COMBAT TACTICS  -->


| CombatTactics = Rat swarms wish to engulf you. They will charge as fast as they can to get into the space of their prey.
| CombatTactics = Fever stricken rats wish to kill and eat small things and drive away large things, where they will hopefully sicken and die for eating later. They will attack size small and smaller creatures without fear, and will not withdraw from such small foes. Against size medium or larger foes, they may attack, but they are very likely (a roll of 1-4 on a d6) to flee at the beginning of round two. Any Filth Fever they have managed to inflict will do their dirty work over time.
 
Note that rats are very likely to have the 'Swarm' role, in which case, they never roll to flee. 
 
Rat swarms wish to engulf you. They will charge as fast as they can to get into the space of their prey.


Note that multiple rat swarms can move into, stop and occupy up to half the spaces that other rat swarms occupy.  No more than two swarms can inflict effects on a single target.
Note that multiple rat swarms can move into, stop and occupy up to half the spaces that other rat swarms occupy.  No more than two swarms can inflict effects on a single target.
Line 1,347: Line 1,392:




<!--  OUT OF COMBAT   -->
<!--  OUT OF COMBAT   -->


| OutOfCombat = Rat swarms are fairly common in sewers, or areas with high concentrations of filth and rubbish.  They rarely venture into populated areas, unless something more dangerous has driven them from the shelter of their warrens.
| OutOfCombat = Fevered rats, and Rat swarms, are fairly common in sewers, or areas with high concentrations of filth and rubbish.  They rarely venture into populated areas, unless something more dangerous has driven them from the shelter of their warrens.





Latest revision as of 22:02, 10 May 2021

Fevered Rat Swarm (SwarmCR 1)

Neutral - Tiny - Animal
Lore: Know (Nature)
2 17
Basic DC Full DC
Initiative
Initiative Icon 2.png
1
Perception:
14 +4
Passive Active
Ambush:
10+
on a d20

Movement Types:

Defense

AC
Shield Icon 3.png
14
Man Def
Shield Icon 3.png
15
Monster Health
62 31 2
Hit Points Bloodied Hit Dice
Saving Throws
Fort: +5
Refl: +1
Will: +0

Strong Against:

  • (Swarm Role) Hardened (½ damage): slashing (physical, common), piercing (physical, common)
  • (Swarm Role) Immune (no effect): Critical Hits and Flanking
  • (Swarm Role) Immune (no effect): Any attack that targets Maneuver Defense
  • (Swarm Role) Immune (no effect): Any spell that targets a specific number of creatures, except mind-affecting spells (if this creature has an Int score).

Weak Against:

  • (Swarm Role) Vulnerable (1.5x damage): area of effect spells (including Channel Divinity)

Offense

Size: Tiny
10 ft. 0 ft.
Space Reach
To-Hit
+3
Sword Icon 3.png
Man Off
+3
Sword Icon 3.png
Action
0
Points
  • (Component Creatures: 2.5 ft. / 0 ft.)

Standard Attack (Melee):

  • 1x Feverish Bite (Swarm -- Auto-Hit) (1d6/x2)
    as slashing (physical, common)
    Filth Fever

Full Attack (Melee):

  • 1x Feverish Bite (Swarm -- Auto-Hit) (1d6/x2)
    as slashing (physical, common)
    Filth Fever
  • 2x Filthy Scratch (Swarm -- Auto-Hit) (1d3/x2)
    as slashing (physical, common)

Standard Attack (Ranged):

Full Attack (Ranged):

Siege Damage: Not siege capable

Statistics

2
STR
15
DEX
13
CON
2
INT
13
WIS
2
CHA

Skills:

Languages:

Feats:

Special Abilities

Filth Fever (Ex, Disease) Automatic

Any damage inflicted by a Fevered Rat has a chance to inflict a weak disease:

Filth Fever    (Injury vector; Infected intensity)
Save: Fort DC 14;     Frequency: 1/day for 3 days
Effect: 1d2 DEX damage per interval
Fruition: victim becomes Nauseated; this cannot be cured normally.
Fruition Duration: 1 day (full-night's rest).

Personal Space Issues (Ex; Swarm Role) Automatic After Damage
Any living creature that takes damage from a swarm also becomes Distracted. While sharing a space with the swarm, affected creatures cannot get rid of the Distracted condition. At the end of any of an affected creature's turn in which they are outside of the swarm's space, the Distraction condition automatically ends. However, it is re-applied if they take further damage from the swarm.

Sum of the Parts (Ex; Swarm Role) Always On
Swarms, troops, and hordes follow the squeezing rules based on their component creature size, NOT the size of the swarm, troop, or horde as a whole. This means these groups of creatures can easily move through doorways that are sized appropriately to their component creature sizes. They can even stop in such spaces without suffering squeezing penalties. In such cases, the swarm's shape is unaffected, except that its space excludes any blocked spaces. That is, its space doesn't deform into a non-square shape, it's just treated as not occupying any blocked spaces within its space. This means it cannot threaten through blocked spaces, since it isn't technically occupying them.

Multiple swarms, troops, and hordes can share the same squares without squeezing or movement penalties. They can move through, and even stop on top of (or within) the spaces of other swarms, troops, or hordes.

Swarms, troops, and hordes can also move over, through, and into spaces occupied by enemy creatures without provoking attacks of opportunity, even if they pass through or leave a threatened square. Furthermore, creatures inside the space of a swarm, troop, or horde are treated as flanked while they remain in that space (though this doesn't usually matter much, since swarms, troops, and hordes automatically hit with their attacks).

Finally, a maximum of two swarms, troops, or hordes can attack a single given creature in a round, even if more than two swarms, troops, or hordes are threatening that creature. There simply isn't enough surface area of the enemy creature for more attacks to be inflicted.

Fevered Rat

Fevered Rat Swarm

This creature possesses the Swarm role, and therefore counts as 2 monsters for purposes of encounter size, XP award, and treasure.

This monster frequently has the Swarm role, but may be set to other roles if desired.

Ordinary household rats are timid creatures, more than eager to flee from fights and easily killed by nearly any determined foe. But all that changes when rats (and other vermin) become infected by the vile disease commonly called 'Filth Fever'. Filth Fever makes rats crazy, for want of a better term.

Fevered rats still behave like rats in most ways, and the disease will never kill them, alas. It does make the rats more aggressive, cagey, meaner, and sly. A fevered rat is not likely to seek out a fight, but they might. Fevered rats will hunt down, kill, and eat, pets and children if they are able to. The horror of finding tiny bones in a welter of blood in a crib has bred utter revulsion for rats in afflicted communities, even above the common revulsion that rats engender.

The Filth Fever that seethes in a fevered rat makes their bites dangerous, even for strong adventurous types.

And let's be honest. One rat is no threat to any adventurer. But a fevered rats carry their terrible Filth Fever in every bite, and to make it worse, many Rats are encountered in huge swarms. A rat swarm isn't just one rat. It's hundreds and hundreds of rats, so many of them, piled so close atop one another, they form a single seething mass of dirty flesh. Rat swarms are so frenetically active they are almost fluids, flowing this way and that, no fever-stricken rat willing to break away from the safety of its fellows.

This roiling, scrabbling, mass of teeth and claws is enough to be quite a nasty threat, and even the best-armored hero has no defense against a thousand claws and bites every minute. It's best to kill rat swarms as fast as possible, and from a good distance, to boot.

Filth Fever must be treated promptly, even if inflicted by the lucky bite of a single rat, and that endemic disease is the cause of huge numbers of attacks, and is behind many of the vermin that infest the world.

Combat Tactics

Fever stricken rats wish to kill and eat small things and drive away large things, where they will hopefully sicken and die for eating later. They will attack size small and smaller creatures without fear, and will not withdraw from such small foes. Against size medium or larger foes, they may attack, but they are very likely (a roll of 1-4 on a d6) to flee at the beginning of round two. Any Filth Fever they have managed to inflict will do their dirty work over time.

Note that rats are very likely to have the 'Swarm' role, in which case, they never roll to flee.

Rat swarms wish to engulf you. They will charge as fast as they can to get into the space of their prey.

Note that multiple rat swarms can move into, stop and occupy up to half the spaces that other rat swarms occupy. No more than two swarms can inflict effects on a single target.

Out of Combat

Fevered rats, and Rat swarms, are fairly common in sewers, or areas with high concentrations of filth and rubbish. They rarely venture into populated areas, unless something more dangerous has driven them from the shelter of their warrens.

Rewards

XP: 800 (Swarm role included.)

Treasure: Sellable Goods worth 438 gp.

Weight: 20 lbs.     Volume: 0.8 cu. ft.

Optional Treasure Rules: Roll a d20 on Table 1 below once per encounter (NOT per creature). Any items discovered are in addition to the normal treasure for the encounter.

Table 1: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 10 Nothing Found
11 - 14 1 Languid Remnant (tier 1)
15 - 17 1 Pale Remnant (tier 2)
18 - 19 1 Bright Remnant (tier 3)
20 Roll on Table 2
### Nothing to see here!
### Or here. Move along.
Table 2: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 5 3 Languid Remnants (tier 1)
6 - 10 3 Pale Remnants (tier 2)
11 - 14 1 Intense Remnant (tier 4)
15 - 17 1 Blazing Remnant (tier 5)
18 - 19 1 Vital Remnant (tier 6)
20 Roll on Table 3
### Or here. Move along.
Table 3: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 5 3 Bright Remnants (tier 3)
6 - 8 3 Intense Remnants (tier 4)
9 - 11 3 Blazing Remnants (tier 5)
12 - 14 3 Vital Remnants (tier 6)
15 - 17 1 Prime Remnant (tier 7)
18 - 19 1 Mythic Remnant (tier 8)
20 1 Empyrean Remnant (tier 9)