Wererats do not have the folk lore or glamour of werewolves, no movies, no books. Yet it is one of the most highly contagious forms of lycanthropy. You can get clawed up by a wolf or cat near to death and you may not contract the disease. But on the same token the smallest scratch or bite from a wererat is all it takes to transmit the disease and contract the rat form of lycanthropy.
Wererats refer to themselves as the Rodere. They seem to be the only lycanthropes in the series that routinely carry guns as a standard practice. This is because alot of Rodere run high in Enforcers and professional mercenaries. The general practice however is unless they are unter a contract or if they are dealing politically with other lycanthrope species, they leave their weapons behind and rely on their innate lycanthrope abilities.
Natural rats are not a prey animal despite their size; they are omnivorous and eat anything that crosses their paths, including humans, if they can't get away. Wererats are big enough to be the predators that they're smaller natural brethren can not be.
There are instances in Guilty Pleasures were two Alpha Wererats direct natural rats with hand motions. This is the only instance of a Lycanthrope instructing the natural animal. Although not spelled out this ability appears to be based on the wererat being the largest rat and therefore Alpha to the natural rats. This appears to be an animal thing and not mystical as with the call of Vampires. However it has to be noted , that the natural rats went to great lengths to avoid any physical contact with the wererats. To the extent of literally climbing all over each other to avoid even the briefest brush against a lycanthrope rat.
The strongest alpha wererat is the Rodere King. It is a position that generally is followed by the permenant branding of the lycanthropes arm with a crown and scepter shape since the position of King of the Rodere is for life. The only way for a rat to become king or queen is through the death of the current King. Its not known how exactly the branding takes place to make it a permenant mark, even visible through the fur when shifted. Common theory has to do with the heated metal stopping the healing process and perhaps using silver to make the brand. Any other way and the brand would heal over when shifted.
