Shadow Rat Swarm

A squirming and squeaky mass of rats with rotting flesh, torn and matted fur, and reddish blazing eyes moves toward you. Their semi-translucent skin shows discolored bones and muscle.

Shadow Rat Swarm (CR 4)

Tiny Undead (Swarm)
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Initiative: +6
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Scent; Perception +9

Speed: 40 feet, Climb 60 feet
Space: 10 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 15, touch 14, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +1 natural, +2 size)
Hit Points: 39 (6d8+12)
Saving Throws: Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +6
half damage from piercing and slashing, Incorporeal form, shadow blend
Immunity: swarm traits, undead traits
Weaknesses: swarm traits

Offense

Melee: swarm (2d6 plus 1d4 Strength damage plus disease)
Reach: 0 feet Special attacks distraction (DC 15)

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
6 (-2)	15 (+2)	-	2 (-4)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)

Base Attack Bonus: +4
CMB -
CMD -

Feats: Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Perception)

Skills: Acrobatics +4, Climb +10, Perception +9, Stealth +19

• Racial Modifiers: +4 Stealth

Languages:

Special Abilities

Disease (Ex)

Filth fever: Bite-injury; save Fort DC 15; onset 1d3 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Incorporeal Form (Su)

A shadow rat swarm can, as a standard action, assume an incorporeal form for up to 1 hour per day. In this form, the swarm loses its natural AC bonus but gains a +2 deflection bonus to AC. While in this form, the shadow rat swarm is AC 16 (+2 deflection, +2 Dex, +2 size), touch 15, flat-footed 13. The shadow rat swarm can still swarm attack corporeal opponents while in its incorporeal form, but its attack only inflicts Strength damage and cannot distract foes or cause physical damage. The shadow rat swarm gains the incorporeal subtype while using this ability.

Shadow Blend (Ex)

A shadow rat swarm can disappear into the shadows as a move action, gaining total concealment in all levels of illumination save bright light.

Strength Damage (Su)

A shadow rat swarm deals Strength damage to living foes over which it swarms. A creature reduced to 0 Strength cannot move but does not die-at least, not until the swarm's physical damage takes its toll.

Ecology

Environment: Underground
Organization: solitary, pack (2-4 swarms), or nest (5-8 swarms)
Treasure: none


Shadow rats are essentially undead rats that can assume an incorporeal form. Other than their semi-translucent form, they resemble their earthly counterparts in all respects.

A shadow rat swarm is simply a massive number of shadow rats that have cluttered or banded together for survival or food. Shadow rat swarms can be found just about anywhere, but are most commonly encountered near graveyards, ruined temples, and haunted sewers.

Copyright Notice Author Scott Greene.