Dnd 5e Cranium Rat Swarm

Attic rats were psionically enhanced rats, transformed by mind flayers through battery with psionic energy. They were used every bit spies by illithids, interspersed through the normal rat population of a city.^[one]

Description [ ]

Cranium rats were duplicate from regular variants of their corresponding species save for their enlarged and exposed brains. Information technology was possible for these brains to emit light.^[i]

Behavior [ ]

When isolated, cranium rats behaved like ordinary rats, using their telepathy to communicate basic feelings similar hunger and fearfulness. Even in this state they were still significantly more intelligent than normal vermin.^[i]

When forming a swarm, however, the collective intelligence of the rats was combined into a unmarried entity. The more attic rats in a swarm, the more intelligent the swarm would become, with an boilerplate-sized swarm of rats belongings an unnerving level of intelligence. Cranium rat swarms spoke in the collective, using "us" and "nosotros" every bit opposed to "I" or "me". Rats separated from the swarm lost access to their psychic powers simply did non suffer an immediate intelligence drib; instead, they gradually lost their boosted intelligence over the form of several days. This loss was immediately reversed when they swarmed again.^[1] These dangerous entities were not normally violent unless ordered to assail―their usual part was reconnaissance.^[4]

Abilities [ ]

Alone, cranium rats were weak and cowardly, with no more offensive ability than an ordinary rodent. They were able to generate low-cal using any weak psionic powers they possessed, and were allowed to having their minds read.^[1]

When in a swarm, cranium rats could access enhanced psionic abilities similar to spells, implanted by their illithid masters. So long every bit enough cranium rats existed in a single expanse (approximately thirty) they could wield these abilities to achieve a variety of furnishings. Cranium rat swarms could apply these abilities to attempt to read the minds of their targets, or decipher written and spoken words. They could also attempt to control the minds of creatures at volition, although such a method was express to simple orders. With more endeavour they could try to mentally dominate their enemies for upward to an hour or scramble their minds, although both of these were strenuous enough that they took a day to recharge. If their mental powers proved ineffective, they were likewise capable of merely swarming their targets like regular rats.^[ane]

Combat [ ]

Cranium rats did non conduct direct attacks, merely would ambush an opponent when they were walking somewhere or asleep. If they could not kill a target speedily, they scattered, splitting their intelligence and making the entity responsible practically impossible to capture. They besides dispersed when attacked, rather than fighting back.^[4]

Society [ ]

Habitats [ ]

Beyond the Prime Material plane, cranium rats could be encountered within some of the worst parts of the city of Sigil.^[5]

Relationships [ ]

Attic rats were used equally spies for mind flayer colonies. They infiltrated surface communities and read the inhabitants' thoughts, later on transmitting them to the elder brain. If a few rats escaped the range of the elder brain'due south connexion, it and its servants were unconcerned as new ones could be created at will.^[1]

Cranium rats were sometimes employed as familiars by warlocks and wizards.^[6]

Ecology [ ]

Cranium rat biology was similar to normal rat biological science, although they ate a greater corporeality of meat. It was unknown if reproduction created regular or cranium rats. For one reason or another, cranium rats did non gather into dense groups, possibly because such a grouping would arise to a higher level of being, or that such overpopulation was likewise inefficient to accomplish anything.^[4]

Appendix [ ]

Cranium rat WOW

Appearances [ ]

Video Games: Planescape: Torment • Warriors of Waterdeep
Lath Games: Tyrants of the Underdark: Aberrations and Undead
Card Games: Claret Wars

References [ ]

↑ ^ane.0 ^1.1 ^1.ii ^ane.iii ^1.4 ^ane.5 ^ane.6 ^i.7 ^ane.8 ^1.9 Mike Mearls, et al. (November 2016). Volo'south Guide to Monsters. Edited by Jeremy Crawford, et al. (Wizards of the Declension), p. 133. ISBN 978-0786966011.
↑ Eric Cagle, Jesse Decker, James Jacobs, Erik Mona, Matthew Sernett, Chris Thomasson, and James Wyatt (April 2003). Fiend Page. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 167–169. ISBN 0-7869-2780-1.
↑ Andy Collins, David Noonan, James Wyatt (2003). D&D v.iii.5 Accompaniment Update Booklet . (Wizards of the Declension), p. 25.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.one ^4.ii ^4.three ^four.4 ^iv.5 ^4.6 ^iv.7 David "Zeb" Cook (1994). Planescape Campaign Setting, Monstrous Supplement. Edited by David Wise. (TSR, Inc), pp. 8–ix. ISBN 978-1560768340.
↑ James Wyatt, Bill Slavicsek, Robin D. Laws (September 2009). Dungeon Master'south Guide two. Edited by Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 188. ISBN 978-0786952441.
↑ Mike Mearls, et al. (Nov 2016). Volo's Guide to Monsters. Edited by Jeremy Crawford, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 213. ISBN 978-0786966011.