Wererat, Rat Form

The Wererat in its rat form appears as a creature that embodies the essence of a rat while retaining the intelligence and capabilities of a human. Afflicted with the curse of lycanthropy, this shape-shifting creature can transform into a small but formidable rat, blending seamlessly with its vermin kin.

In its rat form, the Wererat appears as a sleek and agile rodent, sharing the size and appearance of a typical rat. Its fur may range in color from gray to brown, allowing it to blend into its surroundings. Despite its diminutive size, the Wererat retains the sharp senses and quick reflexes that make rats such elusive and adaptable creatures.

The Wererat in rat form possesses heightened senses, particularly in terms of smell and hearing. Its keen sense of smell allows it to detect scents with remarkable precision, while its acute hearing enables it to pick up even the faintest sounds. These enhanced senses make the Wererat an adept scavenger, tracker, and observer.

While in rat form, the Wererat exhibits a mixture of rat-like instincts and human intellect. It retains its ability to reason, plan, and communicate, distinguishing it from ordinary rats. Its rat-like nature may manifest in behaviors such as scuttling through tight spaces, climbing with ease, and displaying an affinity for scavenging or stealing shiny objects.

Engaging with a Wererat in its rat form requires vigilance and a keen eye. Their small size and agility make them difficult to catch or detect, especially in crowded or cluttered environments. They may infiltrate locations unseen, gathering information or acting as spies for their verminous communities. Overcoming their natural rat-like tendencies and gaining their trust can prove useful in navigating their secretive networks.

Encountering a Wererat in its rat form is to encounter a creature that embodies the duality of human intellect and rat-like instinct. Its presence exudes an aura of adaptability, resourcefulness, and an affinity for the shadows. Engaging with a Wererat requires an understanding of their verminous nature, as well as the ability to detect their hidden motives and navigate their intricate social structures. Only those who possess sharp perception, an eye for detail, and a cautious approach can hope to outwit and overcome these elusive creatures.

Wererats in their rat form bring a touch of stealthy cunning, adaptability, and the enigmatic presence of the shape-shifter to the tapestry of the world. They serve as reminders of the hidden dangers lurking in the shadows, as well as the delicate balance between human intellect and the primal instincts of vermin. Whether encountered as secretive infiltrators, members of underground networks, or as enigmatic figures skilled in thievery and espionage, Wererats in their rat form add a sense of elusive trickery, hidden motivations, and the enigmatic presence of the shape-shifter to the realms of adventure and exploration.

Special Abilities

Shapechanger

The wererat can use its action to polymorph into a rat-humanoid hybrid or into a giant rat, or back into its true form, which is humanoid. Its statistics, other than its size, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.

Keen Smell

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

Actions

• Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with wererat lycanthropy.

Proficiencies

• Skill: Perception +2
• Skill: Stealth +4