Spore Rat

This creature resembles a dog-sized rat with matted brownish fur and ruby red eyes. Its mouth is lined with sharpened teeth and its claws appear to be razor-sharp.

Spore Rat (CR 2)

Small Plant (Fungus)
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +3
Senses: Low-Light Vision; Perception +8

Speed: 20 feet, Climb 20 feet
Space: 5 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 16, touch 14, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dex, +2 natural, +1 size)
Hit Points: 13 (3d8)
Saving Throws: Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +2
Immunity: plant traits

Offense

Melee: bite +6 (1d4-2 plus spores)
Reach: 5 feet

Special Attacks: spore cloud, spores

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
6 (-2)	16 (+3)	11 (+0)	2 (-4)	12 (+1)	4 (-3)

Base Attack Bonus: +2
CMB -2
CMD 11 (15 vs. Trip)

Feats: Alertness, Weapon Finesse

Skills: Climb +12, Perception +8,

• Racial Modifiers: uses Dex to modify Climb and Swim

Languages:

Special Abilities

Spore Cloud (Ex)

Twice per day, a spore rat can release a cloud of noxious spores in a 5-foot radius. Creatures adjacent to the spore rat must succeed on a DC 11 Fortitude save or take 1d4 points of Strength damage. The cloud lasts a single round. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Spores (Ex)

The bite of a spore rat injects a living creature with miniscule spores that cause nausea for 1 round. A successful DC 11 Fortitude save negates the nausea. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Ecology

Environment: Any
Organization: solitary, pack (4-8), or infestation (9-18)
Treasure: none


Spore rats are thought to be the result of an ancient ensorcelled experiment involving giant rats and one or more unknown plant or fungus creatures. No evidence exists to prove or disprove this theory however, so very little is known as to their true origin.

Spore rats favor damp environments such as rainforests and swamps where they build their nests and lairs from the underbrush, overgrowth, and mud or slime. A typical lair contains 10 or more creatures, with males dominating the pack nearly 2-to-1. Females generally avoid combat and confrontation unless the entire nest is threatened. Both males and females always fight to the death if defending their young. If threatened, a spore rat releases a spore cloud in an effort to detour would be aggressors. Failing this, it lashes out with its bite attempting to nauseate its opponents. Given the chance, a spore rat flees combat unless cornered.

Spore rats exist on a diet of plants, berries, and various funguses and lichens. Food is gathered by the hunters (almost always males) and carried back to the lair where it is stored in holes for future use (during the cold months and to feed the young). A typical spore rat hunting band often journeys up to 1 mile from its lair if no closer food source can be found.

A spore rat is typically up to 3 feet long and weighs about 30 pounds. Its fur is greenish-brown and is not actually fur at all, but tightly packed funguses and mushrooms. Its eyes are ruby red or pale yellow. Its claws and teeth are always filthy and are brownish-white in color.

Copyright Notice Author Scott Greene.