Wererat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A wererat is a fictional creature akin to a werewolf, but shapeshifting into the form of a rat instead of a wolf. This type of lycanthrope is rare in historical legends, but has become common in modern role playing games and fantasy fiction inspired by them. They are commonly portrayed as sewer-dwelling scavengers and opportunistic thieves.
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[edit] Mythology
There are some references to "goblin rats" or rat-themed yōkai in some Japanese myths that may or may not be the source for the wererats in games and novels. Brad Steiger has written about wererat sightings in Oregon, mostly by children. Some of the Benandanti were supposed to change into mice.
[edit] Games
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the wererat is one of several different types of lycanthropes. They are also found in various games inspired by or based on Dungeons & Dragons such as Nethack and Neverwinter Nights.
See Ratkin for wererats in White Wolf's "World of Darkness" role-playing setting.
[edit] Fiction
Wererats also appear in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton (see wererats in Anita Blake mythology and wererat characters in Anita Blake). The rats changed into men are characters in the fairy tale Cinderella and star in various adaptations such as the children's book I was a Rat by Philip Pullman. Yuki Sohma, from a popular manga series, titled Fruits Basket, transforms into a rat when hugged by a member of the opposite gender or when weakened.
[edit] References
- Johnson, Kristin (September 1998). "Ecology of the Wererat". Dragon (251).
- Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume One (TSR, 1989).
- Hall, J. (2003). Half Human, Half Animal: Tales of Werewolves & Related Creatures. Bloomington, IN: Authorhouse. ISBN 1-4107-5809-5.
