Homebrew Ratfolk Species Details

Ratfolk are small, rodentlike humanoids with twitching snouts, bony feet, and long, pink tails. They are about the same size as halflings but of a slimmer build. They often wear hooded cloaks or long robes to conceal their true nature from the gaze of casual onlookers. Ratfolk can be found throughout Midgard, from Zobeck and other cities of the Crossroads region to the dusty streets of Per-Bastet in distant Nuria Natal and the valley of Golden Ulthar. The little creatures often inhabit the fringes of human society, scraping a living as petty thieves and tricksters. Many make their homes in decrepit slum tenements, in disused dockside warehouses, or even in sewers and other warrens beneath the city streets. Some, particularly in the Southlands, live a nomadic existence, wandering from place to place and trading in whatever odds and ends they acquire along the way, through honest means or otherwise. Other groups can be found on small tropical islands in the Tethys Ocean. Family is important to ratfolk, and their strong communal ties mean they often form or join tight-knit criminal societies. Although some ratfolk have been known to ally themselves with goblins, kobolds, or the darakhul, they prefer to serve a mysterious “rat king” who is usually, but not always, a powerful rodent or ratlike creature of some sort. Many of Zobeck’s ratfolk are loyal servants of the Free City’s infamous Mouse King—picking pockets, burgling mansions, and smuggling goods up and down the Argent River on behalf of their monarch. Others serve any powerful figure as scouts, saboteurs, and infiltrators on their master’s behalf. Whoever their master may be, ratfolk are loyal to their kin. Ratfolk enjoy collecting interesting trinkets and baubles, and hoard these items in their homes, often in preference to more valuable (but dull) gold and silver coins.

RATFOLK NAMES
Among themselves, ratfolk use names that identify their family and their place within the family, in the same mold as human names like Ivan Ivorson. They seldom use these names among non-ratfolk, however. Instead, they seem to derive perverse pleasure and great humor from giving themselves nicknames that make humans and elves uncomfortable, such as Plaguesores and Stinqface. Ratfolk are infamously hard to offend, so the more offensive the nickname, the more it amuses them. These nicknames are no different between males and females.
Ratfolk Nicknames. Bloodylips,
Carrionsqarfer, Fleshstripper, Gutspill,
Puslicker, Rotstench, Sewergass

Ratfolk Traits

Your ratfolk character has certain characteristics in common with all other ratfolk.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Intelligence score increases by 1, but your Strength score reduces by 2.

Age

Ratfolk have shorter lifespans than humans, reaching adulthood at around age 12. They live up to 60 years.

Alignment

Ratfolk care more about their close-knit families and acquiring material goods than any lofty ideals. Most tend to be neutral in alignment.

Size

Ratfolk are about 3 feet tall and weigh around 40 pounds. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Swim

Ratfolk are capable, if slow, swimmers. You have a swimming speed of 10 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to living underground and in other dingy places, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. To a distance of 60 feet from yourself, you can see in dim light as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Nimbleness

You can move through a hostile creature’s space in combat as long as it is size Medium or larger.

Pack Tactics

You have advantage on your attack roll against a creature if at least one of your allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.

Rodent Empathy

You have advantage on Handle Animal checks to influence the behavior of rodents.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common.