Assumptions

The scenario involves a confined space (e.g., a sealed room) with no resources (food, water, weapons) and no chance of escape or rescue. The number of rats in the pack, their level of aggression, and their hunger significantly affect the timeline for survival and nature of death. The victim is defenseless and unable to fend off the rats for extended periods.

Impact of Pack Size

Small Pack (5–10 rats):

A small pack is unlikely to kill outright unless the victim is incapacitated or restrained. They may inflict minor injuries through exploratory bites, particularly targeting soft tissue (e.g., lips, fingers, or face).

Death would more likely result from dehydration (3–7 days) or starvation (2–3 weeks) unless infections from bites significantly hasten decline.

Moderate Pack (10–30 rats):

This number increases the likelihood of sustained attacks, particularly if the rats are starving. Simultaneous bites could result in cumulative tissue damage, significant pain, and psychological breakdown.

If bites target vulnerable areas (e.g., neck, arteries, abdomen), death could occur within 2–4 hours due to blood loss or shock. In less aggressive scenarios, dehydration and psychological collapse become primary contributors to death.

Large Pack (30+ rats):

A large pack poses the most immediate and severe threat. Simultaneous attacks from dozens of rats could overwhelm the victim, inflicting widespread tissue damage and rapid blood loss.

Death from blood loss or shock could occur within 30 minutes to 2 hours, especially if major arteries or critical areas are targeted. Survivors of the initial attack phase would likely succumb to infections, dehydration, or the cumulative effects of injuries.

Physiological Factors

Blood Loss (Exsanguination):

Rats bite with sharp incisors, capable of puncturing and tearing flesh. Larger packs amplify this effect exponentially, leading to faster and more substantial blood loss.

With a large, aggressive pack, lethal blood loss could occur within 30 minutes to 2 hours. Smaller packs may take significantly longer to inflict fatal wounds.

Shock:

The combination of pain, fear, and rapid blood loss can induce cardiogenic shock, particularly in the presence of sustained attacks. This could result in death even before critical blood loss occurs.

Infections:

Rat bites are rife with bacteria such as Leptospira, Streptobacillus moniliformis, and Clostridium tetani. Without medical intervention, these infections could cause septicemia within days, hastening death.

Dehydration and Starvation:

If the rats are not immediately aggressive, death would result from dehydration (3–7 days) or starvation (2–3 weeks), depending on pre-existing health and environmental conditions.

Location of Bites:

Bites targeting major arteries (e.g., carotid or femoral) or critical areas like the neck or abdomen could cause rapid blood loss and death within hours.

Bites to extremities may prolong survival but increase the risk of infection or impaired mobility, leaving the victim more vulnerable to further attacks.

Psychological Impact

Being trapped in a confined space with a pack of rats—regardless of size—exacts a severe mental toll:

Paranoia and Stress: Constant scurrying, squeaking, and occasional bites amplify fear and erode mental resilience.

Despair and Resignation: A sense of hopelessness in the face of an inevitable decline can lead to faster physical collapse through stress-related cardiovascular or immune responses.

Shock and Surrender: The terror of the situation could push the victim into psychological surrender, hastening death through resignation and a reduced will to survive.

Historical Context

1. Roman and Medieval Torture Devices

"Rat torture" often used a small number of rats and external stimuli (e.g., heat) to force them to attack. Death was typically slow and occurred over hours, combining physical pain with psychological horror.

2. The Black Death (1347–1351)

Rats indirectly caused millions of deaths by spreading the bubonic plague through fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis). Their association with death and pestilence solidified their role as a cultural symbol of decay.

3. World War II Prisoner Camps

Starving rats attacked weakened prisoners in unsanitary conditions, often biting extremities or faces during sleep. These attacks rarely caused immediate death but inflicted serious injuries and infections, further weakening victims.

4. Tower of London Myth

Legends suggest prisoners in rat-infested dungeons were subjected to continuous harassment and bites, leading to prolonged suffering and eventual death.

5. Urban Attacks

Modern urban cases describe rats attacking incapacitated or unconscious individuals. Larger groups inflict severe injuries, though deaths from such incidents are rare without additional factors (e.g., pre-existing conditions, inability to escape).

Estimated Timelines for Death

Small Pack (5–10 rats):

Death unlikely from direct attacks unless the victim is restrained. Timeline shifts to 3–7 days (dehydration) or 2–3 weeks (starvation).

Minor injuries may result in infections, further complicating survival.

Moderate Pack (10–30 rats):

Fatality possible through sustained attacks on critical areas, with death occurring within 2–4 hours due to blood loss or shock.

In less aggressive scenarios, dehydration and psychological collapse remain the primary causes of death.

Large Pack (30+ rats):

Death highly likely from aggressive, simultaneous attacks. Blood loss, tissue damage, and shock could lead to death within 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Survivors of the initial attack phase would likely succumb to infection or dehydration.

Additional Considerations:

Individual Variation: A victim's pain tolerance, fear response, and physical resilience can greatly affect survival time. Those with higher mental and physical endurance might resist longer.

Rat Hunger: The level of rat aggression is directly tied to their hunger. Starving rats are significantly more dangerous, as desperation overrides their usual caution.

Behavioral Escalation: Initially hesitant rats may become more aggressive as their numbers grow, injuries accumulate, or the victim weakens.

Conclusion

The size and aggression of the pack play a crucial role in determining the timeline and nature of death. While small packs may primarily inflict injuries, larger packs present an exponentially greater threat, especially in confined spaces with no means of escape. Death could occur within 30 minutes to several hours in aggressive scenarios, while passive packs might lead to death from dehydration or starvation over days or weeks. Regardless of the pack size, the psychological toll of confinement amplifies the suffering, hastening physical collapse and making this one of the grimmest imaginable ends.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5639564&forum_id=2...id.#48376396)