Ratty Robes

Wondrous item, common

These tattered brown robes are threadbare and worn, causing the wearer to appear inoffensive, non-threatening, and unworthy of notice, granting advantage on Charisma (Deception) checks to pass as a beggar, peasant, or similar impoverished person. In addition, ratty robes inure the wearer to the filth of the alleys and sewers, granting him advantage on saving throws against disease and ingested or inhaled poisons (including stinking cloud and similar effects).

Rats recognize the wearer as a kindred creature and do not attack the wearer unless magically controlled and forced to do so. In addition, once per day as an immediate action the wearer can polymorph into a swarm of rats himself as an action or as a reaction.

All equipment is merged into his form. If he triggers this ability as a reaction to an attack, he gains the rat swarm’s resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage against that attack and immunity to being grappled, prone, or restrained. He has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell in this form and can make a bite attack against any creature in its space, dealing 2d6 piercing damage, or 1d6 if at half hit points or fewer.

The wearer can remain in this form for up to 10 minutes and can dismiss the effect as an action.

When resuming his normal form, the wearer may choose the square in which his body reappears.

If any portion of his swarm form is separated by a physical barrier from the rest at the time he resumes his normal form, those rats shrivel and die when the wearer resumes his normal form and the wearer takes 1d4 points of psychic damage for each square of rats that perishes in this way.