The Exploding Rat

The exploding rat is a friendly creature, apparently a perfectly normal rodent that happens to love the company of humans. Once the rat meets a person it likes, it follows him or her around tenaciously, squeaking, frolicking and begging for scraps of food. It is good-natured, willing to put up with any amount of abuse from its new friend. It also explodes once per day.

When the rat explodes, it does 1d6 damage to everything within a 5′ radius; living targets who are prepared for the blast may make a saving throw versus Breath Weapons to dive for cover. Damage is increased to 1d8, with no possibility of a save, for someone who has the rat upon his or her person, or stowed in a pack.

The explosion is loud and destructive. Roll 1d6 on the following table for repercussions.

Table 1 - What happens when the rat explodes?

1	Everyone within a 10′ radius must make a saving throw versus Breath Weapons or be deafened for 1d3 turns
2	The explosion sets fire to something important
3	The nearest hostile person or monster, if there is one, is attracted by the noise
4	The building or natural feature in which the explosion took place is damaged, making it structurally unsound, unless this is impossible
5	The rat was close to something hard and loose that acts as shrapnel, adding +2 to the damage roll
6	The explosion throws up enough smoke, dust or other particulate matter to limit visibility in the area to 5′ for the next 1d10 rounds

After the rat has exploded, it slowly reforms over the course of the next hour. Little clumps of bloody hair, meat and viscera crawl like maggots, gradually assembling like a grotesque jigsaw puzzle.

Once reformed, the rat heads off in search of its human friend. It has an exceptional sense of smell, and can follow any trail that doesn't cross a body of water. The rat is also tireless in its pursuit, running day and night to catch up. Unless its friend has taken precautions, the rat finds somewhere warm on or near the person (see table below) and goes to sleep. Once 24 hours have passed since the last explosion, it explodes again.

Table 2 - Where is the rat sleeping?

1	Shoe or boot
2	Clothing
3	Bedding
4	Backpack
5	Pouch or coin purse
6	Hat or helmet

If attacked, the rat does not attempt to defend itself. It does, however, explode as soon as it is damaged. It also explodes if starved to death, poisoned, asphyxiated, drowned or otherwise killed. The explosion is usually forceful enough to free a rat that has been buried, encased in plaster, bricked-in or locked in a chest.

Separating the exploded parts of the rat may prove a more successful method of slowing it down. The rat will still try to function with as many parts as it can pull together, hoping to find the rest of itself later. It is happy to drag itself around on a single leg, guts trailing along the floor, if this means it will see its new friend again.

Rats are incredibly agile, able to scale vertical walls and crawl through the smallest of gaps. They can swim, hide and burrow. This intelligent little creature is resourceful in overcoming any barriers between itself and its new friend. Anyone making its acquaintance should prepare to listen out for squeaks, scratching noises and distant explosions for a good, long time.

Exploding Rat: Armour 16, Move 120′, Hit Dice 1, 1hp, no attacks, Morale 12. Can explode once per hour, once fully reformed; everyone within 5′ may make a saving throw versus Breath Weapons or take 1d6 damage.