Desert Ysoki

Desert ysoki are a subspecies of ratfolk that have adapted to an arid climate. Ratfolk are small humanoid creatures that look like rats, such as brown rats or pouched rats. Many clans exist within the Masoud Desert, but only four of them are well known: the Redstones, Dunwalls, Siroccos, and the Ludwellers.

Civilization and Culture

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

The Redstones and Dunwalls share a symbiotic relationship as artists and protectors. Redstone children grow up hearing stories from Dunwall scouts. The Siroccos and Ludwellers clash ideologically. While the Siroccos value patience and peace, the Ludwellers push for power and control. Their clans seldom interact with one another, even during times of conflict. Intermarriage and adoption between clans is common. Children often take on a dual heritage, especially when raised in shared caravans.
Children of mixed heritage are given dual names, such as Redwall or Dunweller, or take on only one of their parents clan names. Mixed heritage ysoki are said to have "twice-blessed whiskers" and are destined for great things. Clans share a belief that family is chosen just as much as it is born. Everyone can be welcomed into a clan through rituals of belonging, especially if they show courage and compassion. Adopted ysoki learn the culture of their adoptive clan, but their clans will honor and preserve traces of their cultural origins. Siroccos mark an adopted child's tail with a symbolic tattoo: a "seed" that will be added to as the child grows.

Common Taboos

Desert ysoki tend to be spiritual people, and as such, they hold onto a lot of superstitions and taboos. Speaking during a sandstorm is considered disrespectful, except in the case of emergencies. To the spiritually inclined, they believe that the desert is alive and listening. In reality, loud voices can cause confusion in an already stressful situation. Spilling or wasting water is seen as sacrilegious across all clans. Such a resource can be difficult to come by in the desert. Spilling water is said to bring drought and misfortune unless a proper apology is made, often involving an offering of some kind.
Lying about one's lineage is a serious cultural offense. Ysoki believe that their story is their soul, and lying about an aspect of your identity could unravel your spiritual thread. Despite the generous nature of ysoki, it's considered rude or offensive to use someone else's tools without permission. Clan-specific taboos exist as well. The Siroccos believe that you should never pluck a plant without giving thanks. The Ludwellers never undercut a member of their clan in any deal. In the Redstone clan, leaving a craft unfinished is bad luck. For Dunwalls, it's taboo to refuse a fellow scout's call for aid in the wild.

History

The Redstones trace their ancestry to the ancient Emberstones, renowned for their complex stonework. While they aren't nomadic, the Redstones don't like staying in one place for too long. They enjoy life on the open road and often live in small caravans throughout the Masoud Desert. They travel to share their skills and refine their techniques by learning from other cultures. While many Redstones carry on the clan's legacy of masonry, they're also passionate artists of all kinds, engineers, and alchemists. The younger generations are particularly fond of beadwork.
They're instantly recognizable by their brightly colored attire and beadwork jewelry. Redstone caravans are not only homes but mobile workshops as well. Their stonework often features symbolic patterns inspired by desert flora and fauna. The amount of detail they place into each craft is intricate and ornate. They believe that a craft left unfinished is bad luck. Every piece should be finished, even if it's flawed. Despite the level of detail in their work, the Redstones turn their noses up at the concept of perfectionism.
The Siroccos strike outsiders as wise sages that are quiet and vigilant. They're the descendants of the Driftwhiskers and Petalflasks. The Driftwhiskers were reclusive druids that reluctantly integrated with the Petalflask clan to avoid their lineage from dying out. Unlike their ancestors, the Siroccos enjoy the company of outsiders and love to swap stories with them. They're educators and nomadic clerics that serve the goddess Zindra. They offer spiritual guidance, helping others find their purpose through reflection and patient conversation.
The Siroccos practice a type of storytelling through tattoos. Each mark on their tail represents a journey, a lesson, or a divine vision. To them, Zindra is also a goddess of dreams and distant truths. They also carry an extensive knowledge of plants and geography. They maintain mobile libraries of handmade scrolls with detailed maps and herbal studies. Their caravans move slowly, often stopping at lesser-known landmarks to meditate and make offerings to their goddess.
The Dunwalls trace their lineage back to the Dunewalkers, ancient ysoki deeply connected to the sands of the Masoud Desert. They're nomadic by nature and are skilled scouts and rangers. They use desert lizards and mice as messengers. Widely known as expert dungeon delvers, the Dunwalls maintain oral histories of lost tombs, cursed ruins, and fallen temples. Under no circumstances do they ever work with tomb raiders. To them, history isn't a paycheck. They're trained from childhood to read for signs of sandstorms, shifting dunes, and buried dangers. Caravans often hire them as guides, but many work as mercenaries as well.
Though they're blunt and pragmatic, Dunwalls are deeply loyal and make lasting oaths. They work closely with the Redstones, providing protection and guidance in exchange for resources. They believe that their ancestors were the guardians of something ancient, if not the desert itself. When preparing for a job, the Dunwalls partake in a silent ritual called the "Last Rites". They mentally walk themselves through their death, using it as an opportunity to confront their fears so that they can move forward with a clear mind.
The Ludwellers are charismatic and business-minded ysoki who are renowned for their bartering skills. Many run permanent trade posts near major caravan routes. They're the most recent clan of ysoki to migrate to the Masoud Desert. The Ludwellers originated from deep underground caverns where they lived alongside kobolds and drow. Their sense of community differs greatly from the majority of ysoki clans. They're utilitarian—they help one another, but only if everyone is pulling their weight. Ysoki who fail to meet their high expectations must fend for themselves. As such, the Ludwellers have a mixed reputation. Those who leave them find happier lives in one of the other clans.
Despite their ruthlessness, the Ludwellers produce some of the desert's finest maps and rarest minerals and claim to have the most efficient courier networks. They work as miners, merchants, diplomats, and thieves. Ludweller business leaders wear fine clothes and excessive amounts of jewelry as a sign of their status.

Scientific Name

Humanoid- Hanarius Talus

Lifespan

62 years

Average Height

4'0"