Well here I was wondering how this discussion could go so long without mention of R.O.U.S's only to be ninja'd at the end :'(

So anyhow, I'd have to say that a Dire Rat is the size of a small dog, with teeth sharper than a dagger, scrabbling claws & they hunt in packs & swarms, sure a warrior with a sword could cut one to ribbons but two or three? He's going to start to hurt