Homebrew Ratonga Species Details

The three ratonga brought the wagon of large wine casks to a halt at the city gate as the guards came up to inspect it. One of the guards, a dwarf, scowled at the female holding the reins of the horses pulling the wagon. 



“Ratonga, eh? What brings you three rats to this city? Not going to cause any trouble here, are you?”

“Ofs course nots!”, lied Kasha the necromancer, smiling her best smile at the guards. “We are wine merchants, yes, tryings to expand the market fors this verys fines wine to your famouslys sophisticateds city! You look likes people ofs refineds tastes - take a sample withs my compliments!” 


Kasha hid her amusement as her companions, Kadek and Raffik, unloaded the one cask actually containing wine for the guards. The other casks held the zombies they would release after nightfall, along with the dark elf trinkets they would leave behind as “clues” to the undead’s origins.

The ratonga are a race of agile, clever, and surprisingly charismatic rat-like humanoids who have recently appeared on the surface; they are fugitives from an unknown area of the Underdark. Versatile and adaptable, inquisitive and mischievous, but also secretive and acquisitive, they have established a reputation as brokers of information and goods - especially sensitive secrets and valuables of doubtful provenance.

[The ratonga are a race from the Daybreak Games MMORPG Everquest 2; this conversion of them to Dungeons & Dragons is as faithful as I could manage, but is quite unofficial. I have also created a "Ratonga" background for characters created using this race.]

Dextrous and Sly

Ratonga greatly resemble humanoid rats: with short fur; long, nearly naked tails; and a digitigrade stance. Their heads in particular resemble those of rats, with prominent, ever-growing incisors and large ears. Their long fingers and toes end in sharp claws. Their bodies, however, are shaped like those of slender humans. In height, they’re slightly shorter than dwarves, though they’re far less stocky. They average just over four feet tall, and typically weigh around 60 pounds, with males a little taller and noticeably heavier than females. 


Their fur, which they keep well-groomed, ranges in color from black through brown or yellow to white, with all shades in between. Some are one solid color, although others have dark stripes rather like a zebra's, and some have irregular patches of multiple colors. Usually their bellies and chests are lighter in color than the rest of them. Their eyes are glistening black, with no visible white or pupil. Both males and females may sport rat-like whiskers, sometimes gilded. Ratonga typically dress for the situation, wearing fine clothing when they want to impress, but are willing to wear more practical garb in dirty or wet surroundings. Some ratonga dislike bright sunlight, and wear dark glasses, or even monocles. They often have gold earrings or nose studs. Most of them prefer to go barefoot.

Dancing to the Rhythm

Ratonga live much longer than do humans, often exceeding the age of 180 years. They believe that they are uniquely sensitive to what they refer to as the Rhythm, the music of the ever-changing world, and that they must dance to the Rhythm by anticipating and adapting to its changes. Ratonga thus expect to change throughout their long lives, while remaining true to ratonga traditions. Their sense of the Rhythm leads ratonga to favor the arts of music, song, and dance. Because they feel that the other races cannot properly respond to or understand the Rhythm, most ratonga do not value close friendships with, or care about the opinions of, non-ratonga.

Ratonga are curious, always interested in the world around them as they try to discern how the Rhythm will change. Because they expect change to come at any time, they seldom form strong attachments or antipathies to any institutions, ideologies, or nations, outside of their own families or tribes. They can abandon plans without regret or apology if circumstances change. Their innate cheerfulness buffers them against sadness at the losses change sometimes brings. Their sense of mischief keeps them from taking any situation too seriously - and, besides, all situations are bound to change.

Underdark Fugitives

The ratonga have no known lands of their own on the surface. They do not discuss the circumstances of their flight from the Underdark, except to allude to the threat of the roekillik, evidently another rat-like race far more powerful and evil than the ratonga.  All ratonga have subtle brands on their bodies in the form of a set of concentric circles, each with a small gap offset from the gaps in the other circles; this may be a symbol of their former homeland. The ratonga seldom express any nostalgia for their previous home; after all, the Rhythm has changed.

The Cryptic Cabal

In cities or towns where ratonga are accepted, ratonga are sometimes numerous enough to form small, and clannish, communities of their own, often gradually taking over a district. In cities or towns where ratonga are not accepted, they may still establish a presence, hiding out in abandoned buildings, the slums, or even in the sewers. Groups of ratonga also sometimes establish small villages of their own, or take over the ruins or dungeons left by others. Neighborhoods where ratonga dwell are often marked by cryptic graffiti, the scents of alchemical experiments, and the racket of tinkered contraptions. Ratonga tend to make their livings by crafting, trading - or crime, such as smuggling, fencing, forgery, or blackmail. Ratonga are often employed by others as scouts, spies, assassins, or saboteurs.

Curiosity and Acquisitiveness 

The Rhythm, or their own inquisitiveness or desire for wealth, can lead ratonga to take up adventuring, at least until the Rhythm changes. Their love of music leads many to become bards. They are fascinated with arcane magic, and thus are attracted to careers as wizards. Their high dexterity, coupled with their sense of mischief, allows them to excel as rogues. Ratonga seldom become fighters or clerics, but some are fascinated enough by the flora and fauna of the surface world to become druids. Changes in the Rhythm frequently cause ratonga adventurers to multiclass.

Ratonga Names 

Ratonga usually go by only one name; when they add a last name, they may use one in their own language, adopt a last name common in the region they are living in, or even use an epithet. Naturally, ratonga often adopt pseudonyms, concealing their actual names.


Male names: Brashk, Burvich, Chelrik, Cippin, Cles, Dimir, Eneek, Fedul, Ferink, Gadko, Kadek, Kosyi, Kouryick, Krellian, Kresp, Mnemir, Pshavost, Raffik, Reza, Rilkrik, Schmenko, Selquen, Sneel, Tarakh, Ulgofar, Vamir, Veroskai, Vleko, Vlepo, Zaikik
Female names: Cheska, Chrna, Cvaka, Evdokia, Fedya, Flitia, Kasha, Katenka, Kavina, Krasa, Krysa, Kuluka, Midia, Nysalia, Pitrova, Riki, Rootka, Salla, Shinska, Sipka, Spezi, Stovka, Svasha, Tikkeri, Tilia, Trepka, Tula, Victra, Zatzy, Zaveta
Last names: Germinas, Graban, Gremnas, Klitterbith, Lenska, Parvat, Rolyat, Valiyn, Veel, Wisme, Yitski, Zichovani
Epithets: Hardtoes, Silvertail, Stickyfingers, Swiftpaw

OUTGOING BUT SECRETIVE 

 

Ratonga enjoy conversation, and their cheerful demeanor and high charisma means that they can usually win over anyone who will listen to them. When talking with non-ratonga, they will ingratiate themselves with flattery. The way ratonga solicit confidences while revealing nothing about themselves can leave their acquaintances feeling less like friends than like dupes to be manipulated or specimens to be studied.

 

 

 

Ratonga Traits

Your ratonga character has abilities suited to a life of intrigue or of magic.

Sneaky

Thanks to your dexterity and your propensity for sneaking around, you find it easy to move quietly, keeping in cover. You have proficiency in Stealth.

Duplicitous

From an early age you have practiced hiding the truth from others, including finding credible substitutes for the truths you wish to hide. You have proficiency in Deception.

Ability Score Increase

The ratonga are agile, clever, and surprisingly charismatic. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, your Intelligence score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Age

Perhaps surprisingly, ratonga age slowly. They reach adulthood around the age of 30, and often live longer than 180 years.

Alignment

Ratonga are often self-centered and unconcerned about the fates of non-ratonga, but they are not usually cruel or domineering, and have no pronounced tendency toward either good or evil. Because of the central role that the changing Rhythm plays in their self-understanding, very few are lawful.

Size

Ratonga are slightly shorter, but much more lightly built, than are dwarves. They average just over four feet tall. and weigh about 60 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to your Underdark  heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 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.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Ratongan, Common and Undercommon (although you are reluctant to admit the last).
Note that many ratonga speak with a peculiar "accent" in which they add "s" to the ends of many words.