Name: Rat (Lesser Animal) Stats: No. Appearing : 1-100 Climate/Terrain: Any Frequency : Common Organization : Pack Activity Cycle : Night Diet : Scavenger Description: Rats are long-tailed rodents, 5-12 inches long. They are aggressive, omnivorous, and adaptable, and they often carry diseases. The black rat is about 8 inches long, with a tail at least that long, a lean body, pointed nose, and long ears. The 'black' rat is dark grey with brownish patches, and a gray of white belly. It is a good climber and jumper, but cannot swim. The brown rat, also known as the sewer rat or the wharf rat, is 5-10 inches long, and its tail is shorter than the black rat's. Its eyes and ears are also smaller, but it has a larger, fatter body. Brown rats may be gray, white, black, or piebald in color. They cannot climb, but are excellent swimmers and burrowers. If rats infest a building, black rats inhabut the upper floors, and brown rats occupy the lower floor and the cellars. Combat: Rats normally flee anything bigger than themselves, but a trapped rat will do anything to survive and a pack of starving rats will attack anything in order to feed. Rats attack with their sharp front teeth and often carry diseases, so that a rat bite has a 5% chance of infecting its victim with serious disease. Normal rats fear fire, but brave it when very hungry. Weapons have little effect on a pack of rats, but area effect spells and some other attacks (such as flaming oil) are effective. Habitat/Society: The chief purpose of rats is to find food. Packs often burrow into and eat food stores. Rats nest almost anywhere, chewing cloth, paper, or wood to make a rest. Ecology: Rats are very prolific, breeding three to five times a year. Brown rats produce 8-14 young per litter, while a black rat litter contains only 5-6 young. Both types of rats are omnivorous. Brown rats are considerd to be more aggressive than black rats. Their teeth are extremely power- ful; they have been known to gnaw holes in lead pipes. Rats have a lifespan of two to four years.