Ratfolk
The Ratfolk, hailing from Zitune , a desert on the Plane of Earth , serve as the connective tissue among the Sea of Stars. They have mastered the art of building Starports in improbable terrain and created marvelous Spelljammers that hold massive cargo hauls. Their close allies, the Crystalloids , charter the Light Rivers through which Ratfolk merchant barons pass the cargo throughout the Sea of Stars (Aesthral Sea ). Having their economy focused on trading has made the Ratfolk a known quantity all over the stars.
The Ratolk existed before the Primal War , also known as the Astral Conflict, but their society was scattered along the four sections of Zitune. Each tribe had a chief with a direct connection to creation magic, which led to the creation of the first Oasis-cities. The original names for these chiefs are what each desert ended up being called as they were considered the domain of each of the Ratfolk chiefs. Following the Astral Conflict, the chieftains sought refuge in the remote mountains within the vast deserts of Zitune to evade the potential repercussions of the Primals wrath. Unfortunately, they succumbed to the maladies of time, exile, and the seclusion that led to their eventual demise, hidden from their own people.
The Ratfolk needed to connect their deserts so that they could help each other survive. From that need, trade routes emerged. Shifting from a culture of bounty hunting in isolated places to one of connecting people and goods through a harsh environment, Zitune flourished as a trade hub.
After the great success of the Zitune trade routes, the Ratfolk grew ambitious and, thanks to their contact with the Eythereal , decided to extend these routes throughout the Sea of Stars. They researched Spelljammer travel and were eventually able to sail the stars. Among the stars, they found the Estalar the first people who visited Zitune and traded with them. New trade routes were made and the Ratfolk society flourished once again.
Beyond these trade routes, some ratfolk choose not to be part of the great market of Zitune, living off the land. For those who embrace nature, the term Desert Dweller was coined to describe their way of life.
The Ratfolk live with a certain kind of duality. They showcase their wares atop their oasis cities with a smile on their teeth, yet they live most of their lives underground, segregating the market from their lives. They see trading as a way to secure connections, jobs, and goods.
Ratfolk culture extends beyond trading, even though that is the facet they present to the world. They safeguard the inner workings of their culture and politics for themselves. They willingly showcase their merchant facet to the rest of the Sea of Stars while keeping other elements of their way of life secure.
Ratfolk Heritage
Thanks to Zitune becoming the largest trade hub in the Sea of Stars, the Ratfolk are just one among many sapient species found there. They are, however, the ultimate authority on the planet and the planet’s regions have different sets of rules.
The The Ratun Desert is led by the corrupt King Queakus who harbors a terrible ambition of bringing the whole of Zitune under his control before expanding into the Sea of Stars as well. It was not always this bad though since for the longest time the citizens of Ratun were proud of their monarchy and the desert’s safe borders. The recent usurper though is leading the Ratfolk toward a terrible future. It is in Ratun that the largest, most well-kept Starport of the cosmos is found.
The Mouseal Desert is led by a benevolent monarch named Maitel . Her beautiful, sad eyes are celebrated across the desert, with a movement of artists, funded by rich merchant patrons, dedicating plays and art depicting their favorite monarch. In turn, Maitel embraces the arts and pays for independent plays all across Zitune.
The Miceth Desert is dotted not by one realm, but seven, each led by a young princess. There is a larger council of elders that guides and assists in governing the ‘nascent generation’. Many of these elders were princesses themselves. In this manner, the Miceth Desert has a strong focus on the future and captures the essence of the younger generation, with renovations occurring every twenty years. A hub for innovation, many magical and technological advancements came from Miceth and its way of life.
Finally, the Rodens Desert is led by a Ratfolk caravan master named Mikenas . Rodens has plenty of smaller oasis cities that all produce or stock a certain kind of good. It takes a strong caravan system to service the local population and make market connections with the other deserts. The head of the caravan system is the undisputed ruler of the people who live in the Rodens desert.
As for the Ratfolk, who live in these four deserts, they are humanoid in the sense that they stand on two legs and have a developed hand, closer to those of humans than of rats. Yet their faces, teeth, eyes, and tails all resemble rats, hence the name. Their ears are a point of pride. It is known that a Ratfolk that hides its ears must be deeply ashamed of themselves.
Ratfolk speak Common, a gift they received from the Eythereal when they first made contact with them. It has become the shared language of trade both in Zitune and around the stars. That said, each desert has variations and dialects thanks to the Ratfolk’s rich history. Before learning how to speak Common, the Ratfolk communicated in their own language which continuously evolved until they learned Common and they no longer had a need to use it anymore. There are now also cases of ambitious merchants or sharp scholars who learn rare languages to give themselves an edge in trading beyond the typical and expected routes.
It is precisely through trade that the Ratfolk diet became as varied and rich as it is. Their cuisine uses ingredients from locally sourced meats and vegetables to plants from different worlds. They are only second to the Shar when it comes to appreciating a good and diverse meal
- Ability Score Increase. Increase your Dexterity by 2 and your Charisma or Constitution by 1.
- Age. Ratfolk reach adulthood at around 10 years of age. They live around 60 years.
- Alignment. The merchant and trade culture around Zitune demands the Ratfolk follow societal laws without forming a strong opinion about anything, thus making them tip towards lawful and neutral. Meanwhile, the Desert Dwellers value freedom over comfort, making them more chaotic and good, focusing on the preservation of life.
- Size. Ratfolk range between 3.5 and 4.5 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
- Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
- Desert Heritage. Zitune is a harsh desert environment. Even the youngest Ratfolk, no matter how sheltered, must learn how to survive if they are to live around it. You have advantage on all Survival and Nature checks made in deserts, wastelands, snow tundras, or any other harsh or inhospitable environment.
- Darkvision. Ratfolk are accustomed to living underground in the Oasis-cities and are used to traveling through the desert at night when sandstorms are less common. All of this has helped them see better in low-light situations. 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 cannot discern colors in darkness, only shades of gray.
- Communal Society. You have proficiency in the Persuasion skill.
- Burrower. a movement action, you may burrow below ground and move 15 feet in any direction, coming out of the ground immediately afterward. This movement does not provoke Attacks of Opportunity. You regain the use of this trait after a Short or Long Rest.
- Languages. You can speak, read and write Common. You can also communicate in a local dialect of your choosing from the desert of Ratun, Mouseal, Miceth, or Rodens.
History
The Ratfolk from the Zitune deserts are a hardy people, who need to trade to survive their rugged home. Commonly belived to be Shifter who traveled to the Plane of Earth . With most of their society focused on trading they've built large Spelljammer ports and have spread out among the Aesthral Sea to better themselves and to bring back resources for their kingdoms.
Comments