Ratfolk
“Sneak take! Sneak find shiny.”Writhing, crawling, gnashing: The Verivan, Ratfolk, are some of the most gruesome, guilesome, and repulsive native beasts that roam the lands of the new continent the colonists find themselves on. They infest nearly every abandoned structure of this land, laying their infernal nests in any wet, warm location. However, their true numbers can only be found when one ventures into the depths of the Talidurian Underdeep.
Appearance
Verivan are small rat-like humanoid creatures covered in fur all across their body. The only areas that do not have fur are their vermin-like hands, feet, and tail. Their teeth are rather gnarled and long, useful for chewing and gnawing on whatever they desire. Male Verivan typically have stronger body builds, with broader shoulders, larger heads and thicker tails than that of their female counterparts. Female Verivan, on the other hand, tend to have more streamlined bodies, their shoulders being less broad and their overall proportions being smaller. Female Verivan have thin, shiny coats while male Verivan have coarser, rougher coats. Verivan fur coats themselves tend to mimic the fur patterns of their rodent counter-parts, with all different shades of greys and browns. While the actions the Verivan take may be gruesome and vile, they themselves are surprisingly well-groomed compared to the situations they are often in.Racial Abilities
Verivan have an empathic connection with all rodent-kind, be it small or giant rats, gerbils or squirrels, chinchillas or porcupines. Ratfolk can give simple orders such as 'Go there', 'Come here', or 'Grab that'. Verivan vision is incredibly good in low-light scenarios. While in perfect darkness Verivan can make out shapes and still see their whereabouts. Verivan are fast and twitchy, making them great dodgers. In combat, they only require 2 cardinal directions to be open in order to dodge, three times per CRP. In addition, their claws and musculature relative to their total weight are almost perfectly suited for climbing, allowing them to climb most surfaces with relative ease, as long as there are handholds for them. Verivan also have long, strong gnarled teeth that allow them to chew through most brittle materials. It is not uncommon to see them chewing on wood or stones of higher mineral content to upkeep their teeth. See Cold Resistance.Redlines
Verivan can not speak with rats, though they can understand them in the same sense that a rodent can understand a Verivan. Simple statements, no more than three words at most. Their vision comes at a detriment, while able to see in perfect darkness are light sensitive. Without some form of eye protection being out in the open on a bright sunny day can cause a Verivan to go blind. They are not blindingly fast when it comes to them chewing through brittle materials. The rate and ability at which the rat can chew through the material is the same as one using a tool of Adept quality. If something were to break an Adept tool, it would often chip and harm a Verivan's teeth.Naming Traditions
Family names
Verivan naming is very simple and to the point, it's usually made up from their normal vocabulary. The second name is always the name of their nest, though they can have a Warren name as well Examples of Verivan name's include: Khol Ironthorn, Breaks Nademaker, Skav Ratlord Greatburrow.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
Verivan live among the scraps of other societies. Their nests, that one often finds when rummaging through older ruins or through the Underdeep, are slapdash at best. Mostly these structures are cobbled together from fallen pieces of Talidurian ruins such as chairs, walls, window sills, and a plethora of other such goodies.
A Verivan Warren is usually split up by a caste-like system where every Verivan has their own job. The first caste of the Verivan, also the largest, are called 'Sneaks'. The Sneaks serve one singular purpose: To go out and gather new 'shinies', food, and building materials for the Warren as the Verivan alone do not have the capacity of generating such resources. The Sneaks comprise nearly sixty percent of a Warren's workforce. The next thirty-five percent of a Warren is made up from 'Breakers'. Breakers, disregarding the name, are actually the forgers and crafters of a Warren. Though, true to their name, their crafting ability is usually used to make explosives and other weapons of war. These weapons are routinely and majorly made for the purpose of disabling a city's defenses. The last five percent of a Warren are called 'Handlers', the Handlers job is to Handle the Warren. This caste ensures the logistical throughput of the Warren, the taming of large subterranean beasts, and lastly the spiritual convening with the spirits and ancestors.
Almost all Ratfolk speak Verivan and Common.
Religion
The God or Spirit these vermin primarily defer to, beyond their ancestor, is known as the ' Three-Eyed Rat '. This odd creature is very similar to a rat one might find running through the sewers of a Gravican Villa; Its fur is dark gray in color and its eyes are a bright, everpresent ruby. The key defining feature of this rat is the third eye it has emplaced on the center of its forehead. The being's presence is always mysterious and can never be guaranteed; But, whenever it appears what comes next is never good for non-Verivan. Usually a plague, prophecy or a new discovery in Breaker technology is what follows the three-eyed rat's appearance.Family
These creatures, however vile, are incredibly family-centric. If one were to ask a Verivan to name their mother's, mother's, mother then very likely could do it without a second thought; Their nests are almost always comprised of one family. Thusly most Verivan are severely inbred - Though, it's not very easy to discern the difference between a wholly healthy Verivan and an inbred one. When enough Verivan families come together and nest they form what's known as a Warren. These underground expansive Warrens are filled to the brim with hidey holes that Verivan live, breed, and die in. By nature Verivan are extremely communal; Every individual Verivan's word is the word of their family, of their nest. This being because of the intense bond they feel with their large nest and family networks; The bond also extends out to both ordinary rodents and giant rats. This results in a mass of writhing, horrific, deadly teeth and claws whenever a Warren is threatened. When a specific Warren grows overcrowded and the surrounding environment won’t support a bigger Warren, newly born Verivan will, by instinct, seek out new places to nest and eventually form a new Warren.Common Myths and Legends
Creation Story
Verivan believe that The Master was their creator, and, as he was aptly named, their master. They also agree that the urges were also his creation.
Skin Tone: Light pink to dark pink.
Height: Male: 4’7-5’5 Female: 4’3 - 5’1
Eye Color: Black, Red, Ruby, or Pink
Hair Color: Shades of Gray and Brown
Age Range: Adulthood at 5 Middle-age at 20 Elderhood at 40
Block Speed: 7
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