Homebrew Awakened Rat Species Details

A group of adventurers travel through a forest on a quest, suddenly they stop because they notice they are surrounded on all sides. Unexpectedly a bunch of different animals emerge from the brush. A wolf steps forward, opens his maw, and says "We'll only ask you once, leave this place!"

An Awakened Animal looks just like any animal you’d see while adventuring, the only thing that sets them apart from other animals is the unusual amount of intelligence in their eyes and their ability to communicate in humanoid speech.

Awakened Animals have existed as long as magic has existed in the world. In areas with high concentrations of magic the animals slowly begin to have their minds awakened hence the name given to them. This awakening terrified and fascinated the other races at the same time. Races like the elves and the gnomes embraced the animals and brought them into their societies. Other Races like Humans, Halflings, and Dwarves rejected them seeing them as slightly smarter animals. Eventually the awakened animals decided to make their own societies where they live together, those that did leave tended to adventure and eventually made their way back home.

Awakened Animals have become a reclusive race forming tightly knit villages deep in forests. They value their intelligence highly while keeping their commune with nature alive. Typically they are lead by a village shaman and the villages are similar to more primitive human society with hunters, gatherers, and warriors. Villages also don’t tend to consist of one species of animal. The species work together using their collective strengths to overcome individual weaknesses. Awakened Animals that don’t live in their villages tend to be more nomadic as most places aren’t totally accepting of them, but when they find a place accepting of them they adapt to the new society rather well.

Awakened Rat Traits

Awakened Rats have the following traits.

Ability Scores

Awakened Rats begin with the following ability scores;

Strength: 2, Dexterity: 11, Constitution: 9, Wisdom: 10, Intelligence: 10, Charisma: 4

Age

Awakened Rats reach maturity within a couple of months, similarly to their unawakened brethren, however the magic that caused them to gain greater sentience often also increases their lifespan, if they are created in service to another living being, they will likely live as long as their masters, otherwise, like other rats they will live up to 8 years if well cared for.

Size

Rats range from a few inches to 2 feet long (including tail) and weigh no more than 2 lbs, your size is tiny.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 20 feet.

Darkvision

Rats can see well in the dark. You can see in dim light within 30 feet of you 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.

Keen Smell

Rats have an exceptional sense of smell, you have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

Rat Claws

Because of your claws, you have a climbing speed of 15 feet.