Giant Rat (Apath)

This great rat is the size of a pony, but moves with the skittering speed of other rats. Its paws and underside are bald, making it look vaguely humanoid as it sits up.

Dire Rat CR 1

XP 400

N Medium animal

Init +3; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +5

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+2 natural, +3 Dex)

hp 19 (3d8+6)

Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +2

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.

Melee bite +3 (1d6+1 plus disease)

Special Attacks disease

STATISTICS

Str 12, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 8

Base Atk +2; CMB +3; CMD 16 (20 vs. trip)

Feats Skill Focus (Perception)

Skills Climb +9, Perception +5, Stealth +7, Swim +13

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Disease (Ex) Filth fever: Bite—injury; save Fort DC 13; onset 1d3 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

ECOLOGY

Environment any urban and caverns

Organization solitary, pair (2), pack (2–10), plague (1 giant rat, 0-6 dire rats, 20-100 rats), or colony (2-6 giant rats, 0-20 dire rats, 100-1,000 rats).

Treasure none

Giant rats grow up to 5 feet long plus a proportionally short tail of 3 ft. and weigh up to 150 pounds. They often share habitat with both normal and dire rats, taking an alpha role. They are more territorial than normal rats, and inspire other rats to defend the territory of the colony, without actually being at the front. Killing the giant rat usually sends such a group scurrying.

Wererats and giant rats often get into conflicts over alpha status, usually ending with the giant rat getting killed; it is rare for giant rats to coexist with wererats.