The Colony
In the Undercity of Solan lurks a group of Ratfolk known as The Colony, technically they are the Pipesqueak Colony but there is only one colony in Solan so most people don't know that. They are a collective, pooling resources and responsibilities and sharing amongst their community. Once the colony had hundreds of members but having fled the dwarven invasion their numbers were greatly reduced in what is called the night of terrors. When the dwarven army took to the sewers of Brickerton exterminating most of the Ratfolk.
Now the colony survives mostly by selling drugs. There is a special mold that is grown on certain cheeses that hold psychedelic and hallucinogenic properties. Curds of this cheese are sold amongst the city's poor and the refined mold is sold to the city's elite. Curds are less safe and more addictive but much easier to produce. The mold has to be carefully removed from the cheese and dried out before it is ground up and smoked. Some of the members also work for the sewer department of the city. All money gained by members is given to The Colony which uses it to buy food and supplies for its members and milk to make cheese with. The only thing needed to make the drug is milk making it very hard to cut off, what is the city gonna do, make milk illegal?
When the Inquisition launched a raid on Darktown and The Colony the Filth came to their defense, they are now pledged to The Filth and have accepted the Rat Queen back into their pantheon. The Filth have opened up a larger distribution network and thus increased profits of which they take a percentage. But they also provide protection and represent a united Undercity.
Now the colony survives mostly by selling drugs. There is a special mold that is grown on certain cheeses that hold psychedelic and hallucinogenic properties. Curds of this cheese are sold amongst the city's poor and the refined mold is sold to the city's elite. Curds are less safe and more addictive but much easier to produce. The mold has to be carefully removed from the cheese and dried out before it is ground up and smoked. Some of the members also work for the sewer department of the city. All money gained by members is given to The Colony which uses it to buy food and supplies for its members and milk to make cheese with. The only thing needed to make the drug is milk making it very hard to cut off, what is the city gonna do, make milk illegal?
When the Inquisition launched a raid on Darktown and The Colony the Filth came to their defense, they are now pledged to The Filth and have accepted the Rat Queen back into their pantheon. The Filth have opened up a larger distribution network and thus increased profits of which they take a percentage. But they also provide protection and represent a united Undercity.
Structure
One of the Ratfolk alphas is the chief of the colony traditionally a chief is replaced upon his death or when the colony has lost faith in him. When that happens the colony votes among the alphas for a new chief. The alphas that aren't chief typically lead warriors and oversee different aspects of the colony. The day to day operations are overseen by the council of elders who can overrule the chief with a 3/4 majority. Only alphas and betas who have reached 50 years can serve on the council.
Culture
The culture of the colony is very much collectivist. The needs of the colony outweigh the needs of the individual. This idea is reinforced with educational and religious systems, as well as a community based polyamorous society.
Religion
The Ratfolk worship two gods known as the Rat King and Rat Queen. All Ratfolk colonies are said to be descended from their kingdom and when they die they rejoin them in the great burrow. Only females may be priests of The Rat King, when they die they join his holy harem in the afterlife and take on motherly attitudes towards the colony at large. A priestess of The Rat King is referred to as Aunty by the members of their colony and the high priestess is called Holy Mother. Now Squike of the Filth is the Holy Father of The Cult of the Mother, the Rat Queens religious organization. His disciples are referred to as Uncles. The Cult of the Mother accepts both men and women but The Colony really only acknowledge the men.
Education
Young Ratfolk are educated in all the jobs until they are grown then they are sorted into jobs by their abilities and The Colony's needs.
