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Description
The Armored Mole Rat is a mammalian species that is found exclusively in the Underworld. These creatures share quite a few similarities with the mole rats found on the surface world, but they are still a rather unique species. The biggest difference is their sheer size. While mole rats up above are only a few inches long, the Armored Mole Rats down below are measured in feet. They often come in the size one would expect for an alligator! To go with that, Armored Mole Rats travel in packs, with their sizes ranging from four to eight individuals. These packs will have only a few females, while the majority are males. The reason that there are always more males than females is so that they can adequately protect the females whenever they are bearing offspring. Even outside of mating season, the pack's mentality and movements are centered around keeping the females safe. Whenever the pack is crawling through tight tunnels, the males will always take position in the front and back, keeping the females in the center. That way the males are the first ones attacked if there is an ambush up ahead, or if a predator sneaks up from behind. If they are in a large open area, females will gravitate towards the middle of the pack, while the males form a ring around them.

Packs of Armored Mole Rats are not nomadic, rather, they have a set territory that covers multiple tunnels and caverns. This is so that they have an adequate food supply, and that they have enough places to flee while also being familiar with their surroundings. When a pack finds a territory they like, they will get to work creating their own personal network. Armored Mole Rats are extremely good diggers, with tough claws and powerful incisors that can gnaw through stone. They will create a series of tunnels that will be used by the pack for a variety of things. The main use of these tunnels is quick travel. Some caverns in the Underworld may be close to each other spatially, but the tunnels that connect them may weave on for miles. Armored Mole Rats take a more direct route, boring straight from point A to point B. These tunnels also serve as good boltholes whenever large predators show up. If the pack cannot chase off the attacker, they can flee to where the monster cannot reach them. Certain tunnels they make will have an extra chamber gnawed out in the middle of them, creating a space that only they can access. These chambers are for pregnant females to hide in while they wait to birth their offspring. When bearing offspring, females grow quite large, which makes it difficult for them to travel or escape predators. To avoid that, they will stay in these special chambers until they give birth, receiving food and water from the males. During these times, the males of the pack get a bit more aggressive and daring, as they are determined to gather any food they can for the females. When this season is occurring, many demons and shades advise keeping your distance from them, and make sure not to leave food out for them to pillage.

Armored Mole Rats are omnivorous creatures, through they tend to lean more towards a herbivore's diet. They feed on countless mushrooms, fungi, lichens, vines and fruits, while also capable of feeding on small critters and insects. They are also not above scavenging, as they will rush to a fresh carcass if they find one and stuff their cheeks with meat before the original predator can chase them off. Honestly, Armored Mole Rats will eat anything their incisors can cut through, as long as it doesn't run too fast from them or put up too much of a fight. To track down food, they rely on their sense of smell. Armored Mole Rats possess nasal tongues that allow them to pick up the slightest scent. They taste the air for food, using the two nasal tongues to direct them through the labyrinthine Underworld. When stuck at a fork in the road, they will point these tongues in the two directions, and follow whichever organ picks up the strongest scent.

They do not pose any threat to adult demons and shades, though they will totally bite if threatened. Though they do not try to prey on adults, young ones are a different matter. Young imps or shades that wander the tunnels alone may be seen as easy prey by these packs, and they will try to take them out like any other bite-sized morsel. Just another one of the hundred reasons why kids shouldn't go into the tunnel systems by themselves.

While these creatures are content with eating anything, they are by no means on the top of the food chain. Armored Mole Rats serve as prey for many other species, so they are well equipped to face a variety of predators. The obvious thing to notice is their thick armor, which can easily repel claw and tooth. Though strong, this armor does not protect their underbellies, which means that crafty predators can flip them over and tear into their exposed stomachs. When an individual is surrounded, they will often curl themselves into a ring so that they protect this weak spot from attack. Their thick tails are covered in spikes, which they can thrash around to bludgeon foes. This spiky tail is also good for discouraging predators from attacking from behind when they are traveling through tight tunnels. If assaulted from the front, Armored Mole Rats have sharp claws and extremely powerful incisors to fight back with. Those who are not careful can easily have a hand or arm bitten clean off by one of these angry creatures. Healthy males are often too strong and ornery to take down, so many predators target the young, old and the encumbered females.

To the inhabitants of the Underworld, Armored Mole Rats are common sights in the tunnels, but annoying pests in the cities and towns. Fungal farmers despise them due to their tendency to target their crop, while Isodon herders have to keep an eye out so they don't snatch any eggs. Armored Mole Rats are one of the reasons why Underworld markets are often place in the center of the town, as it keeps the creatures from trying to raid them. Armored Mole Rats can also be hunted for food and resources (no surprise there). Their claws are often used for needles and decoration, while carvers love to use their incisors as chisels. Their tough back armor is also collected and used, you can often spot hunters and explorers wearing these plates on their own bodies.

For me, Armored Mole Rats are interesting creatures, but ones I am not a huge fan of. This is mainly because of my first experience with them. I was out with my guides one day as they were showing me various wild caverns and networks. We had come across a rather popular cavern, as it was quite large and lit up by multiple deposits of lightstones. Having checked the area of Olms and other monsters, my guides deemed the place safe and allowed me to wander on my own. The group split up, and I climbed down to some of the lower areas of the cavern for closer inspection. Mamin went down with me, as he had spotted some fungal pods he wished to harvest for his wife. While we were down there, a pack of Armored Mole Rats came out of one of the open tunnels. Mamin spotted them, but was not worried about them at all. He called to me and directed my attention to them, knowing I was a fan of seeing new things. Before I even laid my eyes on them, they had picked up my scent and began to move in my direction. Worried, I asked Mamin if they were dangerous, and he said there was nothing to worry about. Even then, they were heading straight for me, and I saw their powerful incisors gleaming in the light. I yelled to Mamin, asking him to come over and shoo them away. He just shouted back that they were harmless and that they did not attack large creatures like him and me. Cruelly enough, just as he yelled "they prefer to feed on fungi and plants," the pack broke into a dead run right at me. I threw my gear at them and ran. I didn't make it far, as we were on the lower level of the cavern. I was soon facing a rock wall, which I hurriedly climbed to escape them. They came nipping at my roots the whole time, and I had just managed to make it to an outcropping high enough out of their reach. I was stuck on this piece of rock that jutted from the wall, which hung right above the hungry pack. They tried to climb up after me, but their eagerness made them clumsy and uncoordinated. Even then, I was absolutely terrified as they tried to reach me. I remember Mamin and Valac laughing at my predicament, which was not helping my case any. Thankfully, Vespar didn't think to laugh at my dilemma and came to the rescue. She dropped down from above, scooping me up in one arm while letting loose a stream of fire onto the hungry masses below. She hauled me up top and then left me there while she returned below to chase the pack away. Mamin and Valac apologized for the incident, though they were still giggling while they said that to me. Vespar wasn't too happy with them, and she kept close to my side the rest of the trip. I don't think I will ever get over that moment, as it was quite the terrifying experience! I am usually quite good at dealing with predators and dangerous situations, but at that moment, I was completely out of my field. I don't have the rock climbing expertise or a vast knowledge of the creatures that live down there! So now these creatures unsettle me anytime I think of them, and I can never truly appreciate them as long as I remember that day. Then again, that incident did lead to Vespar staying close to me for the rest of the day, so I guess it wasn't all that bad!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

Description
The Armored Mole Rat is a mammalian species that is found exclusively in the Underworld. These creatures share quite a few similarities with the mole rats found on the surface world, but they are still a rather unique species. The biggest difference is their sheer size. While mole rats up above are only a few inches long, the Armored Mole Rats down below are measured in feet. They often come in the size one would expect for an alligator! To go with that, Armored Mole Rats travel in packs, with their sizes ranging from four to eight individuals. These packs will have only a few females, while the majority are males. The reason that there are always more males than females is so that they can adequately protect the females whenever they are bearing offspring. Even outside of mating season, the pack's mentality and movements are centered around keeping the females safe. Whenever the pack is crawling through tight tunnels, the males will always take position in the front and back, keeping the females in the center. That way the males are the first ones attacked if there is an ambush up ahead, or if a predator sneaks up from behind. If they are in a large open area, females will gravitate towards the middle of the pack, while the males form a ring around them.

Packs of Armored Mole Rats are not nomadic, rather, they have a set territory that covers multiple tunnels and caverns. This is so that they have an adequate food supply, and that they have enough places to flee while also being familiar with their surroundings. When a pack finds a territory they like, they will get to work creating their own personal network. Armored Mole Rats are extremely good diggers, with tough claws and powerful incisors that can gnaw through stone. They will create a series of tunnels that will be used by the pack for a variety of things. The main use of these tunnels is quick travel. Some caverns in the Underworld may be close to each other spatially, but the tunnels that connect them may weave on for miles. Armored Mole Rats take a more direct route, boring straight from point A to point B. These tunnels also serve as good boltholes whenever large predators show up. If the pack cannot chase off the attacker, they can flee to where the monster cannot reach them. Certain tunnels they make will have an extra chamber gnawed out in the middle of them, creating a space that only they can access. These chambers are for pregnant females to hide in while they wait to birth their offspring. When bearing offspring, females grow quite large, which makes it difficult for them to travel or escape predators. To avoid that, they will stay in these special chambers until they give birth, receiving food and water from the males. During these times, the males of the pack get a bit more aggressive and daring, as they are determined to gather any food they can for the females. When this season is occurring, many demons and shades advise keeping your distance from them, and make sure not to leave food out for them to pillage.

Armored Mole Rats are omnivorous creatures, through they tend to lean more towards a herbivore's diet. They feed on countless mushrooms, fungi, lichens, vines and fruits, while also capable of feeding on small critters and insects. They are also not above scavenging, as they will rush to a fresh carcass if they find one and stuff their cheeks with meat before the original predator can chase them off. Honestly, Armored Mole Rats will eat anything their incisors can cut through, as long as it doesn't run too fast from them or put up too much of a fight. To track down food, they rely on their sense of smell. Armored Mole Rats possess nasal tongues that allow them to pick up the slightest scent. They taste the air for food, using the two nasal tongues to direct them through the labyrinthine Underworld. When stuck at a fork in the road, they will point these tongues in the two directions, and follow whichever organ picks up the strongest scent.

They do not pose any threat to adult demons and shades, though they will totally bite if threatened. Though they do not try to prey on adults, young ones are a different matter. Young imps or shades that wander the tunnels alone may be seen as easy prey by these packs, and they will try to take them out like any other bite-sized morsel. Just another one of the hundred reasons why kids shouldn't go into the tunnel systems by themselves.

While these creatures are content with eating anything, they are by no means on the top of the food chain. Armored Mole Rats serve as prey for many other species, so they are well equipped to face a variety of predators. The obvious thing to notice is their thick armor, which can easily repel claw and tooth. Though strong, this armor does not protect their underbellies, which means that crafty predators can flip them over and tear into their exposed stomachs. When an individual is surrounded, they will often curl themselves into a ring so that they protect this weak spot from attack. Their thick tails are covered in spikes, which they can thrash around to bludgeon foes. This spiky tail is also good for discouraging predators from attacking from behind when they are traveling through tight tunnels. If assaulted from the front, Armored Mole Rats have sharp claws and extremely powerful incisors to fight back with. Those who are not careful can easily have a hand or arm bitten clean off by one of these angry creatures. Healthy males are often too strong and ornery to take down, so many predators target the young, old and the encumbered females.

To the inhabitants of the Underworld, Armored Mole Rats are common sights in the tunnels, but annoying pests in the cities and towns. Fungal farmers despise them due to their tendency to target their crop, while Isodon herders have to keep an eye out so they don't snatch any eggs. Armored Mole Rats are one of the reasons why Underworld markets are often place in the center of the town, as it keeps the creatures from trying to raid them. Armored Mole Rats can also be hunted for food and resources (no surprise there). Their claws are often used for needles and decoration, while carvers love to use their incisors as chisels. Their tough back armor is also collected and used, you can often spot hunters and explorers wearing these plates on their own bodies.

For me, Armored Mole Rats are interesting creatures, but ones I am not a huge fan of. This is mainly because of my first experience with them. I was out with my guides one day as they were showing me various wild caverns and networks. We had come across a rather popular cavern, as it was quite large and lit up by multiple deposits of lightstones. Having checked the area of Olms and other monsters, my guides deemed the place safe and allowed me to wander on my own. The group split up, and I climbed down to some of the lower areas of the cavern for closer inspection. Mamin went down with me, as he had spotted some fungal pods he wished to harvest for his wife. While we were down there, a pack of Armored Mole Rats came out of one of the open tunnels. Mamin spotted them, but was not worried about them at all. He called to me and directed my attention to them, knowing I was a fan of seeing new things. Before I even laid my eyes on them, they had picked up my scent and began to move in my direction. Worried, I asked Mamin if they were dangerous, and he said there was nothing to worry about. Even then, they were heading straight for me, and I saw their powerful incisors gleaming in the light. I yelled to Mamin, asking him to come over and shoo them away. He just shouted back that they were harmless and that they did not attack large creatures like him and me. Cruelly enough, just as he yelled "they prefer to feed on fungi and plants," the pack broke into a dead run right at me. I threw my gear at them and ran. I didn't make it far, as we were on the lower level of the cavern. I was soon facing a rock wall, which I hurriedly climbed to escape them. They came nipping at my roots the whole time, and I had just managed to make it to an outcropping high enough out of their reach. I was stuck on this piece of rock that jutted from the wall, which hung right above the hungry pack. They tried to climb up after me, but their eagerness made them clumsy and uncoordinated. Even then, I was absolutely terrified as they tried to reach me. I remember Mamin and Valac laughing at my predicament, which was not helping my case any. Thankfully, Vespar didn't think to laugh at my dilemma and came to the rescue. She dropped down from above, scooping me up in one arm while letting loose a stream of fire onto the hungry masses below. She hauled me up top and then left me there while she returned below to chase the pack away. Mamin and Valac apologized for the incident, though they were still giggling while they said that to me. Vespar wasn't too happy with them, and she kept close to my side the rest of the trip. I don't think I will ever get over that moment, as it was quite the terrifying experience! I am usually quite good at dealing with predators and dangerous situations, but at that moment, I was completely out of my field. I don't have the rock climbing expertise or a vast knowledge of the creatures that live down there! So now these creatures unsettle me anytime I think of them, and I can never truly appreciate them as long as I remember that day. Then again, that incident did lead to Vespar staying close to me for the rest of the day, so I guess it wasn't all that bad!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian