The Vermin
The Vermin, also known as Rats, are a species of humanoid rats who live in underground caverns in the Plague bound side of Hell.
Basic Information
Anatomy
An average rat is about three feet tall and is similar to a humanoid rat. Dire rats are about seven feet tall. Artillery rats are also about seven feet tall but are torso heavy.
Genetics and Reproduction
The vermin use sexual reproduction. Female rats can produce a litter within six months and only need three months before fertile again. Their litters are typically comprised of 100 ratlings. Only about 25 of those ratlings survive until adultood.
Growth Rate & Stages
Rat infancy lasts about a month, childhood lasts three to four years, pubescence lasts five years. In total a ratling is considered an adult in about ten years and stays that way until about the age of 250. Around the age of 175 they experience a second growth which increases their height at about five feet and increases their aggression and distorts emotional regulation. This stage is referred to as the Feral Stage. Around 250 they are venerable and their aggression mellows out. Their life span caps out at around 300 years old. Most rats don't live past 150.
Ecology and Habitats
Their ideal habitat is a dark environment that is moist and has latent vegetation but most live in drier, underground conditions which force them to resort to cannibalism and drinking their own milk.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Vermin can usually survive a month without food or water and they only really need to eat once a month to keep from starving. Typically they eat more though. They are omnivorous but lean towards carnivorous habits, frequently resorting to cannibalism. They forage for bulbs and roots and sometimes they scavenge for wounded things on the surface. If starving and left with no options they will self cannibalize.
Biological Cycle
Thick coated rats will shed on a regular basis. They do not have heat cycles but instead are always available to reproduce.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Rats are typically ruled by Rat Kings, which are determined by different means depending on the kingdom. Their social structure usually follows the Rat King's values (inventors over fighters or vice versa). Some Rat Kingdoms are ruled by noble families and birthright. Very few Rat Kingdoms are ruled by constitutional monarchies.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Beelzebub sees the rats as a nuisance at worst and fertilizer at best. Some frontier demon provinces will trade with the Vermin for their inventions.
Facial characteristics
They share these features with normal rats.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Most Vermin reside under the Plaguelands but they can be found in underground caverns and tunnels in most of Hell Proper and Nightside.
Average Intelligence
Rats are not typically describes as intelligent but they are mechanically geniuses. They only excel in creating violent machines.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
They have good dark vision but are light sensitive. They also have good hearing and sense of smell, similar to a greater demon's. They have a hard time perceiving color.
Lifespan
150
Conservation Status
Vermin, a problem, need to be eradicated probably
Average Height
Average Vermin: 3-5 ft
Dire and Artillery Vermin: 7 ft
Rat Kings: 10-20 ft
Average Weight
Average Vermin: 200 lbs
Dire and Artillery Vermin: 500 lbs
Rat Kings: 1000-5000 lbs
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
They share these features with normal rats.
Geographic Distribution
