Ratchun (Rat-Folk)

Ratfolk often a pointed term thrown at them to describe their rodent like appearance though few Ratfolk pay much mind to the name. But to true kin of their race they are known as Ratchen "Rat-Chun" one of the many demihuman races of the realm. Originally the residents of the the Kingdom of Theron however much of their allegiances have dissolved since the great division with many retreating to hidden burrows beneath the earth rather than the earth along with the other races that reside beneath the earth. Though their communities are rather scattered and few they still retain a strong relationship with the Dusk elves communities that often share their tunnels. However this is not nearly the same with the dwarven kin, who have yet to overlook the transgressions of previous broodmothers who led their brood in gluttonous war against the dwarves. As such the dwarves have never truly forgiven them, Forever hunting their race within the tunnels beneath the earth in a genocidal fashion.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

Every rat-folk comes from a Broodmother as females within Rat-folk warrens are rare and those with the capacity to bear children even fewer. Such "Brood-mothers" are often the leaders of a given warren as they often mother every many of the Rat-folk that inhabit their warren. Thus its extremely common for Ratfolk to have hundreds if not thousands of brothers and sisters depending on a broodmothers age. The Birthing process of a Ratfolk brood is often times a disgusting process to those that are not part of the Ratchun kin as a broodmother often gives birth to hundreds of newborns ata time in great heaps. These heaps of small ratfolk barely larger than the size of a mouse are tended too only until their eyes open, after witch the young are released into the communities and environments in what is know as the proving period these young must scourge and feed themselves and for many this can mean death though the Ratchun young exemplify their elders teamwork immediately as many will hunt and survive together during the few weeks as they develop into adulthood. such groups of young ratfolk are often kin for life becoming Brood brothers/Sisters and are the closest thing within Ratfolk culture to human families.

Growth Rate & Stages

Ratchun in develop and grow to physical adulthood extremely quickly, beginning their lives as blind hairless mice like creatures until they reach young adolescence in a form that are largely referred to as "Rats" by humans. Though they quickly grow to their humanoid and adult form over the course of several weeks after-witch concludes their proving period. after surviving adolescence they often stay amongst their Brood kin as elder Ratchun or otherwise known as "Gray Hairs" educate the young on the many essential knowledge and histories of the world before assuming a role within their warrens.

Ecology and Habitats

The communities of the Ratchun are scattered within the Dark tunnels, the dark passages ways deep beneath the surface as the Higher tunnels are often times to dangers with dwarven patrols. These warrens or otherwise known as clans are often wide linking communities directed and ruled over by their given Brood-mother and Gray Hairs. Though this isnt to say that their are no smaller rat-folk communities on the surface whether it be small communities of brood-kin or refugees of destroyed warrens that have fled to the surface, though such locations are often few in number.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Ratchun have extremely capable pallets, being capable to consume and eat close to anything even closely edible. suffering close to no ill effects from the consumption of rotting or sickened food and even in the cases they due contract symptoms they are often capable of withstanding its effects. Though they due often prefer to avoid such a disgusting pallet mostly due to the fact it is often unsavory rather than any moral implications eating trash may have. More often preferring to eat well catered meals and foods, and to many that are unfamiliar the Ratfolk often make extraordinary chefs.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Ratchun are extremely communal creatures, are even more so when surrounded by their kin. Each ratfolks often taking actions with the advancement of their warrens in mind. Such communal mindset is how their race has survived for so long, through the sacrifices and actions of the many brothers and sisters that came before them. Though this isnt to say that such communal mindset is limited only to their warrens as many lone or traveling Ratfolk still retain such a team centered mentality and often search or seek companionship.

Average Intelligence

Ratfolk to the surprise of many are an exstemely keen race, being among the few besides the dwarves who have made technological advances without the use of magic. larger warrens making use of strange mechanisms crafted by Ratchun engineers and tinkerers that accomplish the tasks that the many could not. Non more notable than the great energy powered drilles they use to drill and expand their burrows or their Chaos Crystal powered firearms. However such technologies have largely been banned from further development and use within the empire both for the dangers they present to those at the receiving end as well as the user as Chaos Crystals are notoriously volatile. However such bannes have not stopped Ratfolk from plying their trades within the undermarkets of cities.

Origin/Ancestry

Ratchun

Lifespan

60 years

Conservation Status

The Ratfolk are second class citizens in many surface dwelling cities of the empire as many have difficult time landing honest positions for themselves within empire cities as due to their similarities to "vermin". Many often resorting to the edges or slums of larger communities though this isnt to say that for many ratfolk they mind such living conditions. so long as they are among their kin many can make a home within the worst of environments. The most notable of laws applied to the Ratchun is the Brood cap, which disallowed any one broodmother to foster more than 12 broods every year (12,000 ratfolk)

Average Height

4-5ft

Geographic Distribution