Death shrews

Death shrews (S. "cecren guruth"; pl. "cicrin geryth") are mild-looking little creatures with soft white fur and an even softer, blue-gray underbelly. One would hardly think that such a harmless looking little beast would deserve such a foul name, but the little death shrew carries a grim disease, called the Blue Hand. Victims who contract the disease develop a bluish cast to the skin, large boils on their hands, feet and under their eyes, and begin to bleed from the nose and ears. Sufferers often become crippled, and many kill themselves.

The shrews, of course, are merely carriers, or they would have died out long ago. Even if they did not carry this disease, they would still be considered suprisingly unpleasant creatures, for they secrete a foul-smelling spray to protect themselves from large predators.

Superb climbers, death shrews can avoid most encounters; however, even when cornered they are formidable. The vicious beasts have voracious appetites and will bite at exposed skin, regardless of the size of the creature to which it belongs. They also have spines strong enough to support the weight of a Man.