E2 — Giant Rats – B2 — The Keep on the Borderlands

2 — Giant Rats

GIANT RATS (amidst garbage and waste): There are 18 giant rats [statistics 1]. Each time a character is bitten there is a 1-in-20 chance of getting a disease, unless a save vs. Poison is made. If the saving throw failed, there is a 25% chance the character will die in 1-6 (1d6) days. Otherwise the character will be too sick to adventure for one game month. These monsters are the pets of the kobolds, living off the garbage and waste of their hosts. They will rush to the sound of the trap door closing or of battle. They have nothing of value in their lair or on their bodies, but their leader (rat #18) who will be at the back of the pack, a huge fellow [statistics 2] wears a thin silver chain set with 5 small gems (jewelry value 400 gold pieces, chain value 50 gold pieces, each gem worth 50 gold pieces). The weight of a few rats will not trigger the pit trap.

Original B2 statistics 1
AC 7, HD 1/2, hp 2 each, #AT 1, D 1-3 plus disease, MV (40’), Save F 1, ML 8

Original B2 statistics 2
AC 5 due to speed and cunning, HD 1-1, hp 4, #AT 2, D 2-4/2-4, MV (40’) Save F 1, ML 8

Source: B2, PDF pages 15, 20. Original mechanics retained.

Giant Rat

Original Basic D&D statistics — B2

Armor Class (descending)	7
Hit Dice	1/2
Hit Points	2 each
Attacks	1
Damage	1-3 plus disease
Movement per round	40’
Save As	F 1
Morale	8

Source notes

The source’s total of eighteen includes rat #18, the separately recorded leader.

A giant-rat bite has a 1-in-20 chance of disease unless a save vs. Poison is made. A failed save gives a 25% chance of death in 1d6 days; otherwise the victim is too sick to adventure for one game month.

Source stat line

AC 7, HD 1/2, hp 2 each, #AT 1, D 1-3 plus disease, MV (40’), Save F 1, ML 8

Source: 2 — Giant Rats; Original B2 statistics 1. Unlisted statistics have not been invented.

Giant Rat Leader

Original Basic D&D statistics — B2

Armor Class (descending)	5 due to speed and cunning
Hit Dice	1-1
Hit Points	4
Attacks	2
Damage	2-4/2-4
Movement per round	40’
Save As	F 1
Morale	8

Source notes

Source stat line

AC 5 due to speed and cunning, HD 1-1, hp 4, #AT 2, D 2-4/2-4, MV (40’) Save F 1, ML 8

Source: 2 — Giant Rats; Original B2 statistics 2. Unlisted statistics have not been invented.

Rat Leader’s Gemmed Chain

Carried · One treasure bundle. Item amounts below describe its contents.

Item	Amount	Source value / price	Location / condition
Silver chain with five gems	1	400 gp as whole jewelry	Leader rat; component valuations conflict with whole value
Silver chain component	1	50 gp	Part of the same jewelry, not an additional item
Gem components	5	50 gp each	Part of the same jewelry, not additional gems

Recovery and adjudication

Source discrepancy: whole jewelry is valued at 400 gp; component values are 50 gp for the chain plus five gems at 50 gp each (300 gp). These are alternative valuations of one object, not additive loot.

Source: B2, caves area 2, PDF page(s) 15, 20. Original narrative retained. Unstated prices and mechanics remain unspecified.