Slitherin
Scarred Lands Players Guide
Slitherin
The slitherin, or ratfolk, are among the youngest races on Scarn. Born amid the Titanswar, the first slitherin were little more than mindless beasts, frenzied and predatory, created by the titan Chern’s foul vitality and desire for revenge. Within a surprisingly short time, though, they had evolved into an intelligent, cunning, and deadly army for the titans.
As the great titans fell, one by one over the course of decades of war, the slitherin found themselves freed, whole groups of them at a time, from their ichor-induced madness. Most ratfolk used this as an opportunity to elevate themselves above barbarism. Slitherin enclaves sprang up throughout Scarn, especially in cities near the Mourning Marsh, the slitherin birthplace.
The divine races, for the most part, still occupied by the war, paid little attention to this diaspora at first. In some cases, the ratfolk were actually welcomed as a form of cheap labor. As a result, today the slitherin are probably the best assimilated of the Redeemed races, even if they are not always trusted on an individual level.
As the great titans fell, one by one over the course of decades of war, the slitherin found themselves freed, whole groups of them at a time, from their ichor-induced madness. Most ratfolk used this as an opportunity to elevate themselves above barbarism. Slitherin enclaves sprang up throughout Scarn, especially in cities near the Mourning Marsh, the slitherin birthplace.
The divine races, for the most part, still occupied by the war, paid little attention to this diaspora at first. In some cases, the ratfolk were actually welcomed as a form of cheap labor. As a result, today the slitherin are probably the best assimilated of the Redeemed races, even if they are not always trusted on an individual level.
ability score increase:
Your Constitution score increases by 2, and either your Dexterity or your Intelligence score increases by 1.
age:
Slitherin are mature by their mid-teens but might not complete training until a few years later. At 60, a slitherin is truly ancient among its kind.
alignment:
Usually Chaotic Neutral, or any
Size:
Large
speed:
30 ft. You climb at the same speed; climbing costs you no extra movement.
Languages:
Slitherin and any one other language.
race features:
- Darkvision (60 ft.). You are used to dwelling underground, in lightless burrows and tunnels. 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.
- Bite. You have a bite attack, which is a finesse weapon with which you have proficiency. This attack deals 1d3 piercing damage.
- Contortionist. You have advantage on Dexterity checks to escape from bonds or being grappled, as well as Dexterity checks to squeeze through tight spaces.
- Disease Resistance. You have advantage on saving throws against disease.
- Rodent Empathy. You can converse with rodents through body language and simple sounds, communicating simple ideas to such beasts.
- Sure-Footed. When you select skill proficiencies from your class during character creation, you add Athletics, Acrobatics, and Stealth to your list of choices.
- Slitherin Combat Training. You have proficiency with light crossbow, shortbow, and shortsword.
Physical Description: Slitherin are human-sized rat people, but a bit shorter than most humans on average. Standing upright, most have a crouching posture that makes them seem even shorter than they are. Aside from their muscular legs, slitherin have a lithe, wiry build, particularly in the upper body, with relatively wide hips and narrow shoulders. A slitherin face is more ratlike than human, and a slitherin has a long, agile tail like that of a rat. Most of a ratfolk’s body is covered in short, coarse fur, which ranges widely in color from white and gray to black and brown; in some cases their fur is a patchwork of these colors.
Ratfolk often wear clothing similar to that of humans, with some modifications to account for their tails. Slitherin pride themselves on their tails, adorning them with rings or other ornate decorations and tattoos.
Society: The ratfolk have little culture or history of their own, and as a race, they are still adjusting to being more than slaves of the titans. As a result, many slitherin do not care much about order or structure. The prevailing theme among the ratfolk is novelty; theirs is a culture of the new. Slitherin are not ones to care about tradition, and their society reflects this worldview.
Various enclaves of slitherin, therefore, may have wildly different approaches to government or economics, based on whatever concept is in vogue at the moment. Fashion trends, music tastes, and even fighting techniques come and go with a flurry. This attitude makes some slitherin seem disorganized and scatterbrained, but for the ratfolk, the expression of new ideas, discoveries, talents, and identities is the most important contribution to society. This attitude also gives each slitherin enclave its own unique identity, distinct and possibly at odds with other slitherin groups. From the outside, slitherin enclaves seem to be havens for chaos, with a mildly anarchist attitude. But for the slitherin, this way of life is efficient and honest. To foreigners, the Walled Warren — probably the most authoritarian slitherin outpost on Ghelspad — still seems chaotic and indulgent, especially for a supposedly military city.
Relations: The slitherin have established a notable presence in many nations across Ghelspad. Though not universally welcomed, they are at least tolerated by most major governments and societies. Because the ratfolk have very little in the way of their own culture, and they value new things and new ideas, they often find it very easy to acclimate to new ways of living and new social fabrics.
In recent years, slitherin have become sought after for their engineering prowess and building skills, especially since their construction of the Walled Warren. Slitherin engineers count as some of the most advanced of the Scarred Lands, due primarily to their willingness to work with nontraditional materials or use unproven theories and practices. Even the dwarves have on occasion come to marvel at ratfolk engineering talent.
Ratfolk often wear clothing similar to that of humans, with some modifications to account for their tails. Slitherin pride themselves on their tails, adorning them with rings or other ornate decorations and tattoos.
Society: The ratfolk have little culture or history of their own, and as a race, they are still adjusting to being more than slaves of the titans. As a result, many slitherin do not care much about order or structure. The prevailing theme among the ratfolk is novelty; theirs is a culture of the new. Slitherin are not ones to care about tradition, and their society reflects this worldview.
Various enclaves of slitherin, therefore, may have wildly different approaches to government or economics, based on whatever concept is in vogue at the moment. Fashion trends, music tastes, and even fighting techniques come and go with a flurry. This attitude makes some slitherin seem disorganized and scatterbrained, but for the ratfolk, the expression of new ideas, discoveries, talents, and identities is the most important contribution to society. This attitude also gives each slitherin enclave its own unique identity, distinct and possibly at odds with other slitherin groups. From the outside, slitherin enclaves seem to be havens for chaos, with a mildly anarchist attitude. But for the slitherin, this way of life is efficient and honest. To foreigners, the Walled Warren — probably the most authoritarian slitherin outpost on Ghelspad — still seems chaotic and indulgent, especially for a supposedly military city.
Relations: The slitherin have established a notable presence in many nations across Ghelspad. Though not universally welcomed, they are at least tolerated by most major governments and societies. Because the ratfolk have very little in the way of their own culture, and they value new things and new ideas, they often find it very easy to acclimate to new ways of living and new social fabrics.
In recent years, slitherin have become sought after for their engineering prowess and building skills, especially since their construction of the Walled Warren. Slitherin engineers count as some of the most advanced of the Scarred Lands, due primarily to their willingness to work with nontraditional materials or use unproven theories and practices. Even the dwarves have on occasion come to marvel at ratfolk engineering talent.
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