Giant Rats

The giant rats of Sosaria and Britannia are unusually large rodents, often responsible for spreading disease and infesting poorly maintained basements and sewers.

Description
Possibly originating in the sorceries of Mondain and other experimentally-minded wizards of the era, the giant rats of the land have steadily grown in size since their appearance in Sosaria in the early Age of Darkness, growing to size comparable to a man by the time of the Avatar's adventures in Ultima IX.

Around the time of Blackthorn's regime, these rodents of unusual size had begun to become carriers for various noxious plagues, and frequently have transmitted their infections to the unlucky recipients of their bite. Fortunately, these hazardous variations on the common rodent have long dwelt mostly in the dungeons and wilderness of the land, staying far from the bastions of civilization. While not violent by nature, hunger and sickness makes the Britannian giant rat a formidable nuisance to travelers, often attacking wayfarers with little provocation.

Within the depth of some dungeons, these rats appear to have stratified into specific sub-species identifiable by color. Within the depths of the Abyss and other such underground systems, the giant rats have split into tan and gray populations, with the former living in drier areas closer to the surface and the latter spawning deeper within the underground. Due to their displacement from standard above ground feeding sources, the Giant Gray Rats frequently turn to unsavory diets, and as a result, nearly all of their number spread contagion and fever with their bite.

Giant rats also briefly appeared on the Avatar's home world of Earth, and could be found prowling near the residence of hero during the champion's momentary homecoming at the beginning of Ultima IX. If such creatures were summoned by forces similar to whatever pulled the Avatar back to Earth from Pagan or if the blue planet had somehow birthed monsters similar to those on Britannian soil is not clear, and the eventual fate of the hero's homelands remains unknown.

Lore


''Over the centuries, the rodents of Britannia have grown ever larger (and hungrier) in the catacombs and tunnels which honeycomb this land. Natural agility and sharp teeth are these creatures' chief advantages. Even a single Giant Rat poses a significant danger for a lightly armed opponent, though an experienced warrior can slay a pack in as many blows as there are enemies. Of the rats which have bred in the Abyss, we have distinguished two varieties. The Giant Tan Rat, commonly found in the drier upper levels, is an aggressive beast with the disgusting tactic of leaping up in order to slash with its teeth at an enemy's throat.''