Lightning rat

Lightning rats were a rural breed of dire rat found in the Delimbiyr Crescent in northwest Faerûn.

Description
Like a regular dire rat, it resembled nothing less than an enormous rat, with full-grown specimens weighing over and up to  in length. They had spiky fur and long hairless tails, with sharp incisors, and appeared vicious with evil eyes. However, they were somewhat longer and leaner than typical dire rats, as well as faster, and might be mistaken for large otters from a distance.

Abilities
They had a unique sonic bite, which made their bites slightly more injurious. They could even make sonic barks, much like dogs; these sounded surprisingly loud and sharp.

Like dire rats, they were very good at climbing and swimming.

Behavior
Lightning rats were omnivorous scavengers, but as they hunted in cleaner, natural environments, they tended to be healthier than their dire rat kin and lacked their diseased bite. They would also attack to protect their nests and territories.

They lived in nests of three to twelve specimens and in packs of up to twenty.

Combat
They favored hit-and-run tactics, especially in packs, usually by running in and out of their burrows and biting their prey.

Ecology
Unique to the countryside of the Grayvale and Delimbiyr Crescent in the Savage Frontier, lightning rats could be found living in burrows along riverbanks. They were recognizable to local people, but unfamiliar to those of other lands.

Usage
It was not unknown for goblins to breed and train lightning rats to serve as guardians of their outposts and homes, a lot like others used dogs. Their sonic barks were effective in alerting their keepers to trouble.

History
Hekkut and his goblin bandits kept five lightning rats to guard their hidden base. The creatures lived in burrows and small caves by the river, on either side of the main entrance.

Appearances

 * Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
 * Extermination