Rodentianamphibians
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The Amphibians of Rodentia
The amphibians of the island to the northeast of the continent of Rodentia are elusive figures. Not much is known about these creatures - only what surviving explorers to their marshy lands have returned with. Some of it is treasure, but the real wealth of these expeditions are the colorful tales of frogs so deadly that a single touch kills, whole armies of small lizard-like newts training as one in strange dance-fighting, and the large serpentine salamanders who rule a kingdom so far removed from safe, dry land that no explorer has ever returned.
The Frogs
While certain reptiles get all the hype on the ninja circuit, the fact of the matter is that frog ninjas are twice as deadly. Sneaky, stealthy, somewhat slimy, the ninja frog's climbing ability is matched only by their nemeses, the dangerous Geckos of the Golden Chrysanthemum, and their skill at the mystic art of Poison Throwing Tongue is unmatched.
There are rumours that some frog warriors are so deadly, even merely touching one brings a quick death - even to creatures and large and terrifying as the cats of legend.
Mysterious and aloof, these beings are most often seen as silent, stern bodyguards to the most powerful kings and merchants of the Mundus Rodentium.
"The Hamster is an illusion. The Frog, doubly so." -Frog prefect of the Itchiker Dojo.
Silverpaw
Silverpaw became aware of another's presence when, as he was drinking, a green blur flew by the edge of his field of vision. He turned, the large thorn he wielded as a make-shift weapon held in front of him, but there was no sign of the blur. He looked around, suspicious, then continued to drink from the pond. A green blur flew by once more. Then, an agile something dove straight into the water and out again, landing beside Silverpaw.
"Vely solly, Nezumi. Vely thirsty. I go now."
And with that, Silverpaw was alone once more. His thirst quenched, he set the strange encounter aside and began a slow stride back towards the village.
The Toads
Strictly speaking, most Rodents cannot tell the difference between a Frog and a Toad from looking at them. They fit the same basic description, although Toads are generally stockier and fatter and aren't ninjas. There's a saying among Mice that goes 'If you can see it, it's a toad. If you can't see it, it's a frog.'. The females of the species are larger than the males, in some cases a Toad's wife will be double or triple his own size. Both males and females are capable of inflating their bodies to make themselves look bigger, in some cases this is an involuntary fear reaction. Some toads use this ability to intimidate others. In the epic 'Amphibius Rex', the titular hero inflates himself till he becomes lodged in the doorway to his bedroom, allowing his mistress to escape while his jealous wife tries to dislodge him.
Most Toads refrain from difficult work later in life, although many have adventurous youths before they settle down. If they happen to travel into rodent lands, they may even dig themselves a entertainment establishment on the outskirts of Rodent settlements where they provide a variety of mood-altering substances such as alcohol and tobacco, if not rare hallucinogens (some of which they make themselves) all for a modest fee, of course. Toad drinking halls and smoking dens are notoriously dim and shadowy, giving them a bad reputation as criminal hangouts. This image isn't improved by the fact that many Toads supplement their income by becoming fences and dealers in contraband. However, for most adventurers such places are the perfect place to catch up on rumours and gossip.
