Bestiary of the Bladeseekers #27 - Scrats

Out of the two types of scrats, I have only seen Woodland Scrats once in my life, but Hill Scrats are comparatively common in these parts. Even so, it is unlikely we will get hired to hunt them. I dont, however, write these based on likelyhood of use.

— Tyson MacBogard, Lord Founder.

Scrats

Scrats or Aofbringers, as they are sometimes colloquially called, are humanoid nature spirits. They are most commonly known for swapping sucklings for one of their own children. The human child is raised as a scrat by their new family, while the changeling babe struggles, because the mother is not aware of the different needs the scrat has.

Appearance

Scrats are slightly heavier and taller than human creatures with four limbs and scrats tend to be hairier than humans. While Woodland Scrats often dont wear any clothing due to their warmer surroundings, Hill Scrats wear furs against the cold. A scrat is stronger than a human by a noticeable amount. They have long toes which give them better grip and can, with some limit, be used to hold things.
Unlike humans, scrats barely use any technology, with stone spears being the most sophisticated weapon I have ever seen one use. They have a primitive intelligence, but aren't without a shrewd cunning that allows them to succcessfully plan out hunts for meat that supplements their mostly plant based diet.

Who are Tyson MacBogard and the Bladeseekers?

Tyson MacBogard, was one of the founding members of a adventurers/mercenary guild in a place outside of the world. He does not exist within the world of Focis at all, but somehow his writings in the form of the Bestiary of the Bladeseekers have found their way to the world. More strangely, many of his descriptions match beings that exist on Focis and even more so he sometimes accurately described beings that did not exist in the world of his origin, but do exist on Focis. The existence of the Bestiary is a mystery still unsolved and the book and its many copies are prized curiosities among many civilisations.

Habits

Scrats live in small groups of multiple families usually ranging somewhere in the lower half of double digits. They will often split up during dusk and into the night to gather new food and meet again before dawn. That being said, scrats are not nocturnal and can be active during any hour of the day.
It is known that scrat tribes avoid humans with great care, but are never more than one or two days march from the next settlement. As a result settlements in remote places will occasionally report feeling someone watching them from afar, as if stalking their lifes. That often are scrats, which can become fascinated by the technology humans are able to use.
You may wonder where we come in, if Scrats are never really noticed. You would be correct. We have never been charged with hunting scrats. If we cross paths, it is because scrat activity drew us there. Common signs that indicate scrat behaviour is a sudden change in a newborn after which they get sick and may die (when in truth they are swapped with a scrat baby). In those cases villagers are more likely to blame demons or other higher beings, even though scrats are known in our local folklore.

I once wrestled a grown male scrat into submission with my bare hands. I do not recommend that you try to do the same though.

— TMB, Lord Founder.

Weaknesses

Scrats are our superiors physically and would maybe best you in a fighting ring. Their weak spot is their intelligence or rather their lack thereof. From it stems their inability to make complex tools and their lower intellect makes it possible to also outsmart them.
It also means that if you can establish a mode of direct communication, you may be able to negotiate with them. I have never done so, but I would not rule it out. Scrats do not have a language of their own, but are known to use sings and grunts to communicate simple ideas.

Advice

First and foremost, avoid a close combat confrontation. Do not allow them to dictate the term of the confrontation. As with many foes, arrows avoid the direct confrontation and as a result minimize risk of death or injury for you. That being said, I do not believe scrats need killing when found. They do not truly harm nearby settlements and beings that just try to live are not something we take joy in killing as Bladeseekers.
As a result, if you can deescalate confrontations, use that option. If you can, try to reason with the scrats or get them to move their territory away from the settlement in conflict. Unfortunately scrat mothers are very protective of their swapped human child and are unlikely to let it leave their care.
Additionally, unless things with the Bladeseekers, more specifically how we send out groups, significantly changed since my demise, you will be outnumbered. Things can spiral out of control and if you draw the wrath of an entire scrat tribe, you are in very hot water. So to reiterate do not provoke scrats without need, avoid armed conflict, but if you have to kill one, do not do it in a way its tribe can quickly learn it, if at all.
Good luck and keep the blades honored, Tyson

I sometimes wonder if there are greater beings out there somewhere to which we are like scrats are to us. I hope that they would not treat us like most of humanity tends to treat scrats. Most often, people just see their strength and get scared. Then they want the scrats gone and call for people like us.

— TMB, Lord Founder.