Of mice and MOUSELINGS...

MOUSELING (#11-12/30, #101-102/365) [OOTP IV]

                Mouseling    Big Blue Mouse

SKILL:             4                    6

STAMINA:        3                    6

ATTACKS: 1

WEAPON:

Mouseling - Dagger or Sling

Big Blue Mouse - Warhammer

ARMOUR: Leather Cuirass

DAMAGE MODIFIER: 

 Mouseling - -2 to the Damage Roll

Big Blue Mouse - None

HABITAT: Hills, Plains, Forests, Towns, Caves, Dungeons

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1-3 or 4-24

TYPE: Animal/Humanoid

REACTION: Neutral

INTELLIGENCE: High

While it is well-known that Shreech the Rat-King is associated with the scavenging race of Rat Men (see Out of the Pit, p. 96), what is less well known is that his brother Kareep, god of mice, likewise created the people called MOUSELINGS. These are tiny humanoid creatures with a rodent-like head and a tail, less than half a metre tall, and wearing a tiny suit of moleskin clothes or leather armour. Mouselings are rarely seen creatures who live in small tunnel networks inside caves and dungeons, or in spherical straw-lined nests out in the countryside. They communicate in their own language of squeaks and paw gestures, but can make themselves understood in the Common tongue. Mouselings are typically encountered in small groups of scouts, armed with daggers and slings, and wearing leather armour, searching out supplies of nuts and seeds. They may also be found in villages of four to twenty-four inhabitants. Mouselings will trade food and good deeds for lore and information about the wider region they inhabit. The appearance of a Mouseling has a fear-inducing effect on Calacorms, who must reduce their Attack Rolls by -1 when fighting in the presence of an enemy Mouseling. Mouselings are friendly with Halflings, Dwarfs and the Skorn, but hate Troglodytes and Gremlins and will attack them both on sight.

An obscure yet related race are that of the BIG BLUE MICE. These stand as tall as any human on their hind legs and are covered in short blueish fur. They wear hide or leather clothing and are usually employed as farmers, labourers and smiths, being typically armed with a hammer of some description. Big Blue Mice communicate in their own high-pitched variant of the Common tongue (which some say is simply the same language reversed), and are typically encountered in small groups as itinerant workers or in small of villages of four to twenty four inhabitants living in blue-painted wooden houses. The Big Blue Mice are especially prevalent among the rolling plains of the Ximoran Protectorate; legend has it in this region that King Goldhawk of Karazan sought their aid when dealing with the Great Fire Dragon of the Howling Tunnels. Sometimes they are kidnapped by evil races such as the Rat Men, but reward those who free them lavishly with much knowledge. Big Blue Mice will also share lore when showered with gifts, especially those of their favourite food of blue cheese.