Rat King (Cadaveribus Rex)

*“Whilst travelling out east in search of new entries for this book, I passed through what was once the idyllic village of Oxfree. I’d passed through numerous times in my travels. A small farming village, known for their peach schnapps. I was looking forward to a warm inn and drink to settle into the night.*

*As the trail widened and the tree line parted the idyllic Oxfree was now a collection of burnt-out houses and charred pyres. Riding through the now desolate village, confirmed my grim suspicions. The town had been raided some time ago, anyone who survived would be long gone by now. Nothing left but ash. It was at this point I realised there were no corpses.*

*It was getting late; I didn’t fancy making camp in the village. I decided to ride back into the forest and find a suitable sight there. It was that point the smell hit me. Like a month-old cut of beef, the fetid smell of rotting flesh. With the smell came the noise, a loud scrape followed by a moan.*

*As I turned a mound of corpses was crawling up the street towards me. The sounds of moaning coming from the undead individuals trapped in this fusion of death. The scraping noise was coming from broken and splintered bones dragging its way across the floor.*

*I’d heard tell of these creatures before; they were in old wives’ tales told throughout Aether always under a different localised name. But the details matched up. The compound of undead working as a one being. I have called it a Rat King, like how rats can get tied together by their tales.”* - Bartholomew Horingglow, Bestiarum Vocabulum, Aether, Vol IV.

**Place of Origin**
A Rat King can only occur under specific circumstances. 1st a large amount of bodies must be buried in a mass grave. 2nd no sanctifying writes were performed on the bodies post burial. With the first two circumstances, necromantic magic can seep into the mound, animating them as a massive horror hungering for others to join its form.

**Rarity**

A Rat King can only exist under specific circumstances. Subsequently, in our time, they are a rare sight. However, in less peaceful times, Rat Kings could be a more common sight.

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**General Overview**

A Rat King is an amalgamation of corpses, animated by necromantic magic. The Rat King is a collective of several zombies but acts one. Driven to kill by the anger and loneliness of the souls trapped within. The Rat King attacks any living creature larger than a cat, absorbing the bodies of its victims. However, the creature is drawn to humans and humanoids.

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**Race Alignment**

Neutral Evil - The self is best advanced by using whatever means necessary.

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**Natural Race Abilities/Affinities**

~ *Absorb*

Whenever a non-undead creature dies near the Rat King, that creature’s remains join the Rat Kings form. This act Heals the King in the process.

~ *Rot*

The decaying and rotting corpses of the Rat King emit a potent and toxic odour. The odour is foul and putrid, magnified by the necromantic magic, anyone exposed for an extended period will become extremely ill. If not treated, this can kill an individual.

~ *Decay*

Necromancy is the only force keeping the amalgamation of corpses together. At a point, the Rat King will become too big for the magic to sustain it. When this happens, carcasses will fall and drop from the creature. Rising and following the King.

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**Appearances**

A reeking pile of bodies and bones, as large as a giant. Corpses tumble off it, only to rise moments later and follow the determined King of corruption and decay. Rat Kings vary in size, the dependent on the number of corpses that make up the King. On average Rat Kings are a 15ft by 15ft ball of decay.

**History**

In times of war and strife, the Rat King is an ever-relevant problem. Many a time has a settlement been massacred, only for the remains to bind together and rise again.

With no purpose apart from to feed and grow. The King lurches around what was once home to the bodies that now make up the union of fetid decay.

In times of peace, a once genuine threat fades into obscurity. No longer a grim reminder of the hate and anger left in the wake of strife.

**Created by MrBiscuits**

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