Rat-squirrel back after 11-million-year absence--CNN 3/10/2006

DIRE ROCK SQUIRREL
Medium-Sized Animal
----------------------------

• Hit Dice: 3d8+12 (25 hp)
• Initiative: +3 (Dex)
• Speed: 60 ft. climb 30 ft.
• AC: 15 (+3 Dex, +2 natural)
• Attacks: 2 claws, +4 melee; bite -1 melee
• Damage: Claw 1d4; bite 1d6+1
• Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5ft./5 ft.
• Special Attacks: Spring attack (Charge and make a full-attack action in a single round)
• Special Qualities: Scent, Low-light vision
• Saves: Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
• Abilities: Str 14, Dex 17, Con 19, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 10
• Skills: Climb +16, Listen +6, Spot +6, Hide +5, Move Silently +5
• Feats: ---
• Climate/Terrain: Underground, dense jungle/forest
• Organization: Solitary, pair Challenge Rating: 2 Treasure: n/a Alignment: Neutral (Evil) Advancement: 4-5 HD (Large)

These creatures appear as large prehistoric squirrels. The traits of the rock rat lay latent in the squirrel family--but once every 100,000 births a genetic throwback is born. These cunning, but deranged animals will often devour their families early in life. The lonely animal will then seek to kill any other animals (including people) it comes in contact with. Characteristically, (and unlike natural animals) the dire rock squirrel eats very little of what it kills, leaving rotting corpses to mark their territory.