Blackrobe Rats

Blackrobed Rats
During the time of Mattimeo, Slagar worked as a slaver for the realm of Malkariss. The tale of their battle describe innumerable rats. They had black cloaks, short stabbing spears, and they obeyed the orders of a white statue in dumb silence. The rats, also known as the Blackrobes, never spoke for themselves but rather had a rat among them be the The Voice of the Host such as Nadaz. They would force the slaves to work, but whether they helped themselves or just lived in a miserable silent fear of Malkariss, the talking statue was not specified.

Weapons & Fighting
Their weapons are only short-ranged in sharp contrast to the Longtails, their perimeter defense. Their stabbing spears are useless for throwing, and so short that their only real defense is the crushing horde where every sting and vicious stab is multiplied by the thousands. Some other non-material weapons was the obedience to Malkariss and therefore, also to Nadaz, and the frenzy that Nadaz could encourage by his chanting. None of them are fearless or experienced enough to face a warrior one by one. Therefore their champion is their slave driver, the Wearet, who fought Matthias in Mattimeo.

Analogies & Similarities
The rats of Malkariss, the Blackrobes, are probably one of the most unique hordes in the Redwall Series. Their eerie description and also the fact that they only appear shortly in Mattimeo add to the mystery surrounding them. Whether intentional or providential, their are many similarities that can be drawn from within the series, and from without.

Blackrobes to Redwall
One of the most striking resemblances of the Blackrobes is the contrast between their community in Malkariss and that of the Redwallers.

Malkariss to Moria
The idea of innumerable cave-dwelling foes was also used in the famous Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien. Despite the fact that Brian Jacques has never read this series, there are striking similarities between the two kingdoms and their inhabitants.

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