This creature is a blackish-brown rat about 1 foot long.
Brain Rat CR 1/2
XP 200
N Tiny magical beast (psionic)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +9
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 size)
hp 5 (1d10)
Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +2
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee bite +5 (1d3-4)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Spell-like Abilities (CL 2nd):
At willâdetect thoughts (DC 13)
3/dayâburning hands (DC 12), daze (DC 11)
Brain rats seem to favor consuming the flesh of other intelligent creatures, and use their detect thoughts ability to pinpoint tasty meals. They then cluster in large groups and wait for their prey to pass by. They lead off with a series of burning hands blasts, focusing on clearing out other threats, while several attempt to disable their primary target with daze. Once their prey is isolated they swarm it in a seething, biting mass.
Str 2, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 12
Base Atk +1; CMB +1; CMD 7 (11 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception), Weapon FinesseB
Skills Climb +14, Perception +9, Stealth +14, Swim +6; Racial Modifiers Brain rats use their Dexterity modifier for Climb checks.
Languages Common (cannot speak); species empathy
Environment underground
Organization pack (2-5) or swarm (6-11)
Treasure none
Brain rats resemble their normal cousins and are indistinguishable from normal rats. Brain rats are intelligent relatives of normal rats. They possess spell-like abilities and use them to their fullest extent. Brain rats live in small colonies, and often live with other species of rat to serve as camouflage and expendable fodder. If psionics are used in your campaign, it is advised to replace their spell-like abilities with equivalent psionic powers.
When many creatures from the Tome of Horrors Complete were originally created they had psionic powers. However, Paizo has (as yet) not released any psionic rules. Instead, Dreamscarred Press has released the excellent “Psionics Unleashed” an update of the 3.5 generation of psionic rules. Where possible we have linked to the Dreamscarred Press version of a psionic power or feat. In some cases these were not found or not available so no link is provided.
If you use psionics in your campaign, replace the brain ratâs spell-like abilities with these psionic powers:
Psi-like Abilities (ML 2nd)
At willâdetect psionics, mind trap (ML 7th, 3 rounds*)
3/dayâmind thrust (DC 11), psionic daze (DC 11)
Brain Rat from the Tome of Horrors Complete, Copyright 2011, Necromancer Games, Inc., published and distributed by Frog God Games; Author Scott Greene.