Rats, Mischief of

In the forgotten sewers, dilapidated cellars, or plague-ridden streets, the Mischief of Rats emerges as a wriggling and relentless entity. Composed of numerous rodents moving in unison, the Swarm embodies the collective force, gnawing hunger, and unsettling nature of a multitude of scavenging creatures.

The Mischief of Rats appears as a seething mass of squeaking rodents, their beady eyes gleaming with feral hunger and their sharp teeth ready to gnaw. Individually, each rat is inconspicuous and relatively harmless, but when united as a swarm, they form a writhing and unsettling spectacle.

These swarms are often found in urban areas, sewers, or places infested with decaying matter. They are drawn to locations where food is plentiful, garbage is abundant, or where they can find refuge and safety in numbers. Swarms of Rats are most active during the night or when they sense a potential food source or threat.

The Mischief of Rats attacks by overwhelming its prey through sheer numbers and their relentless biting. The swarm engulfs its target, covering them in a writhing carpet of rats, each delivering tiny but numerous bites that can cause painful wounds or transmit diseases. While individually weak, the combined force of the swarm can cause significant discomfort, panic, or even overwhelm larger creatures through sheer numbers.

Due to their collective nature, Swarms of Rats are resistant to many forms of conventional weaponry and can squeeze through small gaps and openings. Spells or abilities that target specific individuals or larger creatures may prove less effective against the swarm. Fire, cold, or other sources of extreme temperature can disrupt the swarm’s cohesion and temporarily scatter the rats.

Encountering a Mischief of Rats is to face an unsettling and relentless force of nature. Its presence exudes an aura of creeping unease and the overwhelming nature of a multitude of scavenging creatures. Engaging with a Mischief of Rats requires swift action and area-of-effect attacks, as their small size, rapid movements, and ability to regenerate their numbers make them difficult to target individually.

Swarms of Rats bring a touch of urban decay and the eerie allure of scavengers to the tapestry of the world. They serve as reminders of the hidden dangers within pest-infested environments and the primal instincts of creatures driven by survival. Whether encountered as harbingers of disease, obstacles in crumbling buildings, or as guardians of secret rat-infested lairs, Swarms of Rats add a sense of relentless movement, squeaking sounds, and the unsettling presence of a multitude of vermin to the realms of adventure and exploration.

Special Abilities

Keen Smell

The swarm has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

Swarm

The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny rat. The swarm can’t regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.

Actions

• Bites: Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 0 ft., one target in the swarm’s space. Hit: 7 (2d6) piercing damage, or 3 (1d6) piercing damage if the swarm has half of its hit points or fewer.