The Underland Cyclopedia
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Gnawers are enormous rats native to the Underland, named for their inclination to gnaw on objects to keep their teeth from growing too long. They stand at an average of 6-7 feet in height, and possess intelligence equivalent to that of humans. They speak the language of humans adeptly, and can scratch out rudimentary messages, though their lack of thumbs prevents them from writing fluently and creating or operating weaponry. They appear to be the only creatures in the Underland that speak in contractions (e.g., saying "don't" instead of "do not") They share a deep rivalry with the humans, and are the main antagonists of the Underland Chronicles.

General Behavior[]

The gnawers are initially portrayed as being cold and self-centered. They are often aggressive, frequently attacking and occasionally eating members of the other sentient species of the Underland. When Gregor asks Ripred if rats can love, he remarks that they 'love themselves very much'. Due to their aggressive nature, the gnawers have a long history of conflicts. They tend to have divided loyalties, forming factions. After the death of King Gorger in Gregor the Overlander, they separated into even more groups, all of them trying to gain control. It's also noted that the gnawers 'enjoy a good joke'. Such as when Ripred sees the shocked faces of the Underlanders when Gregor confirms that Ripred's a friend in Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane, he ultimately cracks up. And when the gnawers look for Gregor in the same book, they start to joke about his terrible hiding place, and start rolling on the ground, laughing hysterically.

Later on in the series, however, the gnawers are portrayed more sympathetically. It is revealed that, despite Ripred's sarcastic reply to Gregor's query in the first book, rats share strong bonds with their mates and pups, and, on the rare occasions that they befriend humans, are fierce and loyal friends.

Territory[]

The rats occupy the Dead Lands. It is implied that they live in caves.

Abilities[]

Gnawers are strong, fast, and can leap very high. With their long teeth and sharp claws, gnawers are incredibly dangerous and to be caught by one without a means of defense or escape would mean certain death. Like the majority of other Underland creatures, they have the ability to speak and can use echolocation to 'see' in the dark. In addition, they have an incredible sense of smell that easily outmatches even the most observant flier. A select few gnawers even have an 'advanced' sense of smell, where they can also detect colors and even secrets. This ability is known as 'scent-seeing.'

Known Gnawers[]

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