The Velvet-Eared Ratfolk
TWs and Content
This Velvet-eared ratfolk article has got to be my near pride and joy. It talks about SO many aspects of this culture, including things you may need to be gentle around such as:Each section has a TL;DR to it, as I know this is very lengthy! (sorry to my players LOL) so you can skin read each part to get the general gist of what it is about. Either way you read it, I hope you enjoy it!
Custodians of the Flow
To the surface dwellers of Cruinlagh, the sewers are an end point. They are where things go to be forgotten. To the Velvet-Ear Ratfolk, the sewers are a beginning. They are a river of constant gifts, a sheltered highway, and a home that is never too hot or too cold.While other species fight wars over borders that shift with the wind, the Ratfolk have conquered an empire that no one else wants. They are the happiest people in Mornvahl because they have solved the two problems that plague every other society: scarcity and isolation. Down here, the "garbage" provides endless resources, and the tight tunnels ensure you are never far from a friend.
Why the Sewers?
The migration of the Velvet-Ears into the Cruinlagh sanitation system was not an act of desperation, but instead a calculated migration of genius.- The Climate Stability: On Cruinlagh, temperatures can fluctuate heavily despite the constant internal heat of the walker. The winters of lower movement can freeze the surface over completely, and the summers can be sweltering. The sewers, insulated by tons of stone and earth, and heated from not too deep below from the core of the saltwalker remain at a constant, mild temperature year-round. For a species with high metabolism, this energy saving is crucial.
- The "River of Gold" Economy: Surface societies are wasteful. They throw away tools that are slightly bent, clothes with a single tear, and food that is merely bruised. To the Ratfolk, the sewer water acts as a conveyor belt that brings these resources directly to their door. They do not need to farm or mine because the city above does it for them.
- Safety in "Filth": The Velvet-Ears discovered early in their history that "civilized" races have a superstition about waste. Humans and elves will not enter the sewers unless forced. This creates a natural, impenetrable barrier. The smell (which the Ratfolk mask with sweet incense in their own homes) acts as an invisible wall that keeps guards, tax collectors, and armies away. They are safe because they live where no one else looks.
The Lifecycle & Rites of Passage
TL;DR The Velvet-Ear Ratfolk do not view life as an individual journey. They are born in litters and view their siblings as extensions of themselves. Child-rearing is a job for the entire community, not just the biological parents. Life is divided into three clear stages: The Pup (learning), The Scout (working), and The Elder (teaching).
It Takes a Village
In the damp, cozy warrens of the sewer, biological paternity is a detail of little importance. The phrase "it takes a village" is not a platitude here. It is a survival strategy.When a Ratfolk gives birth, the pups are not kept in a private home. They are moved almost immediately to the Grand Crèche. This is a central, warm chamber lined with the softest scavenged velvets and managed by the Elders. Here, litters are mixed together. A mother does not just nurse her own; she nurses the generation.
This destroys the toxic protectiveness and inheritance wars seen in surface societies. Since no one is entirely sure which pup belongs to which bloodline, every adult treats every child as their own heir. It is a perfect, chaotic socialism built on love and fur.
The Lying-In & The Whisker-Keepers
TL;DR Birthing a litter is physically exhausting. To ensure the survival of both mother and pups, Ratfolk society rigidly separates physical recovery from the mental load of parenting. Mothers spend a month in the "Soft Warrens" focusing solely on healing and nursing, while the Elders (the "Whisker-Keepers") take over the daily tasks of cleaning, comforting, and educating the newborns in the Grand Crèche.
When a Ratfolk mother births a litter (usually 4-8 pups), her body has undergone immense strain. Her energy reserves are depleted. For the good of the Warren, she must recover quickly. Therefore, the weeks immediately following birth are a period of enforced rest known as "The Soft Time."
The new mothers are moved out of their family homes and into the Soft Warrens -- chambers lined with extra layers of scavenged wool and heated by the warmest pipes. Their only job is to eat high-calorie fungal stews brought to them by the community, sleep, and produce milk.
They do not raise their newborns during this time. They nurse them.
The pups are brought from the Grand Crèche to the mothers for feeding every few hours, and then immediately returned to the Crèche. The mothers are not expected to soothe crying babies, change soiled wraps, or worry about their development. They are allowed to detach emotionally from the immediate stress of newborn care so they can physically rebuild themselves. The ultimate form of community support to a velvet-ear is recognizing that a healthy adult is a more valuable resource than an exhausted martyr.
The Role of the Whisker-Keepers
If the mothers are the food source, the Elders are everything else.Ratfolk who have reached the age where their joints are too stiff for swift scavenging runs do not become burdens; they become promoted to Whisker-Keepers. They are the staff of the Grand Crèche.
Their fur, often gone completely grey or white, is a badge of honor. It proves they have survived the dangers of the sewer for a lifetime. They are the living libraries of the Warren. A mother can provide milk, but only a Whisker-Keeper can teach a blind, week-old pup how to identify the smell of a dangerous "Sludge-Python" versus a delicious "Glow-Beetle."
The Elders provide the constant physical contact that pups need. They are a pile of warmth, patience, and stories. They teach the first crucial lessons of sewer life: how to move silently, how to share space without fighting, and the importance of grooming others.
The Nameless Days & The First Shiny
TL;DR Ratfolk pups are not named at birth. The first season of life is fraught with danger, and early death is a sad reality. To name a pup too early is to invite deeper heartbreak. Pups are referred to only by their coat pattern (e.g., "Little Spot") until they are old enough to venture into the training tunnels and find their "First Shiny", an object that speaks to them and defines their adult name.
Because of this reality, the Velvet-Ears observe The Nameless Days. For the first three months of life, a pup has no fixed identity. They are collectively cared for, loved, and protected, but they are not given a singular name. This is a cultural buffer against grief. Mourning a "Little Spot" is easier on the community soul than mourning a named individual.
The Naming Ritual
A Ratfolk earns their name the moment they prove they are a scavenger.Around three months of age, when their legs are steady and their "sewer-sense" has developed, the Whisker-Keepers take the pup cohort into the "Training Tunnels" -- safe, pre-cleared sections of the sewer near the surface grates where debris collects.
The pups are told to find something. Not just anything, but something that "sings" to them. A pup might bypass a valuable silver coin to grab a brightly colored ceramic shard. Another might drag back a rusted gear mechanism three times their size. They bring this object back to the Whisker-Keepers.
The Elder examines the object and declares the name.
- The pup who grabbed the ceramic shard becomes "Shard."
- The pup who dragged the gear becomes "Cog."
- Other common names include Button, Weaver, Spark, Rust, or Glint.
The Tussle for Treasure
"I saw the glint first!" "But I touched the rust first! It is mine." "It is too heavy for you. You will drop it in the sludge." "Then do not let me drop it. Grab the other end."
It is rare, but sometimes two pups will spot the exact same object - perhaps a perfectly round, iridescent marble or a heavy brass handle - at the exact same second. Both grab hold. Neither wants to let go.
Among the Velvet-Ears, physical violence against a littermate is a supreme taboo. To draw blood from your kin over a piece of garbage is seen as a profound failure of instinct.
When a "Tussle" happens, the Whisker-Keepers do not immediately intervene. They watch. This is the ultimate test of the pups' social intelligence.
If the pups begin to bite or scratch, the Elder immediately steps in. The object is taken away and thrown back into the deep filth, lost to both of them. They learn quickly that greed leads to nothing.
The desired outcome is rapid negotiation. One pup might chitter a proposal, offering to help the other find an even better shiny if they let go of this one.
However, if they simply refuse to part, they often return to the Whisker-Keeper awkwardly carrying the object together, stumbling over their own tails to keep their grip. In these special cases, the object is not taken away. Instead, it bonds them.
These pairs are given "Twin-Names" (like Bolt and Nut, or Left-Handle and Right-Handle). They are considered soul-siblings, destined to work together as an inseparable scavenging team for the rest of their lives.
Adolescence: The Grooming Circles & Tail-Tying
TL;DR Adolescence for the Velvet-Ears is not marked by rebellion, but by connection. As pups grow into "Yearlings," they leave the Grand Crèche and enter the workforce. This transition is marked by two major social shifts: the obsession with "Grooming Circles" (where information is traded like currency) and the "Tail-Tying" ceremony, which solidifies lifelong platonic bonds between friends.
Around the age of six months, a Ratfolk reaches physical maturity. Their soft, downy pup-fur sheds, replaced by the sleek, water-resistant coat of an adult. This period is known as The Shedding. It is a messy, itchy time that forces young Ratfolk to rely on each other for relief.
This biological necessity births their most important social institution: The Grooming Circle.
The Grooming Economy
To a human observer, a pile of teenage Ratfolk picking through each other’s fur looks like simple hygiene. In reality, it is a complex political forum.Among the Velvet-Ears, you cannot groom yourself entirely. There are spots between the shoulder blades and at the base of the tail that you simply cannot reach. You need a partner.
Adolescents spend hours in the communal "Rafters" (Teenage Dormatories), brushing, braiding, and cleaning each other.
Touch as trust: To let someone groom your neck is the ultimate sign of trust. The monetary value of gossip: While grooming, they talk. Because the tunnels amplify sound, they whisper. This is where news travels. Who found a crate of apples? Which tunnel is flooding? A Ratfolk who doesn't groom is a Ratfolk who doesn't know anything.
Identity & The "Smock-Choosing"
Ratfolk society is refreshingly unconcerned with gender roles. In the darkness of the sewer, knowing if someone is male or female is far less important than knowing if they can weld a pipe or swim against a current.During adolescence, young Ratfolk undergo the Smock-Choosing.
Instead of a a more humanoid "Sweet 16" or a "Debutante Ball," the adolescents are brought to the Guild Hall. Laid out before them are the belts and vests of the various trades:
- A leather apron: For the Menders (Engineers and Builders).
- The Waxed Cape: For the Drifters (Scouts and Scavengers).
- The Silk Sash: For the Speakers (Merchants and Diplomats).
A young Ratfolk chooses their path by putting on the garment. It is common for their pronouns or social address to shift at this moment. A Ratfolk wearing a Waxed Cape is often referred to using terms of movement and speed, regardless of their biology. They are not defined by who they marry, but by how they help the Flow.
The Ritual of Tail-Tying
The climax of adolescence is the Tail-Tying.While romantic marriage exists among Ratfolk, the bond between "Cohort-Mates" (best friends) is often considered stronger and more permanent.
When two (or sometimes three) adolescents decide they are a perfect team - perhaps they are the "Left-Handle" and "Right-Handle" from childhood, or perhaps they bonded in the Grooming Circles -they petition an Elder to tie them.
This is a literal knotting. The friends sit back-to-back, and the Whisker-Keeper braids their tails together near the base using colorful ribbons, beads, and scraps of wire.
They must spend a full day and night tied together.
- They must walk in sync
- They must eat together
- They must sleep together without pulling the knot
The Inner Flow: Menstruation & Maturation
TL;DR Among the Velvet-Ears, menstruation is not a taboo topic whispered about in corners. It is viewed as a sign of health and a connection to the rhythms of the tides. There is no shame associated with "The Red Days." Instead, the community focuses on logistics: providing high-quality, reusable hygiene supplies for free and ensuring that anyone bleeding is given extra portions of iron-rich food.
When a young Ratfolk (regardless of their future gender identity, as biology and social role are distinct here) begins their first cycle, they are not isolated. Instead, they are integrated deeper into the care systems of the Warren.
The Moon-Satchel
The moment a pup notices their first blood, they go to the Whisker-Keepers. The elders then offer a Moon-Satchel. This is a waterproof leather pouch that every menstruating Ratfolk carries on their belt. Inside, the Elders have packed a starter kit of the highest quality scavenger-tech:- Moss-pads: Absorbent cushions made from dried, sterilized sphagnum moss encased in soft linen. They are washable, biodegradable, and free.
- The warming stone: A flat, smooth river stone that can be heated in a fire and slipped into a pocket against the stomach to soothe cramps.
- Sweet root: A chewable root that dulls pain and settles nausea.
The Iron Feast
The only social ritual attached to the first menstruation is The Iron Feast.Ratfolk biology runs hot, and losing blood can make them lethargic. To combat this, the "Cohort" (the friends and littermates of the young rat) pools their resources to buy or scavenge iron-rich treats. They present the menstruating friend with a feast of "Red Foods."
- Beetle-Brittle: Crunchy, roasted carapace rich in minerals.
- Blood-Sausage: Scavenged or traded from the surface butchers.
- Dark Berries: For sweetness.
Marriage & Unions: The Heart-Kin & The Tangle
TL;DR Romance among the Velvet-Ears is fluid, warm, and rarely monogamous in the human sense. Because they raise children communally, the pressure for a "nuclear family" doesn't exist. Instead, Ratfolk form "Knots" -- romantic groups of three to six individuals who share a large sleeping nest and emotional intimacy. A wedding is not a contract of ownership; it is a celebration of "Finding Your Warmth."
The Philosophy of the warm
In the damp sewers, heat is the most valuable resource. Therefore, love is linguistically and culturally synonymous with Warmth.- You don't say "I love you." You say "You keep the cold out."
- You don't ask "Will you marry me?" You ask "Will you share my straw?"
Courting: The Exchange of Soft Things
If you want to woo a Ratfolk, you don't bring them gold (which is cold and hard). You bring them softness.- The courtship gift: A suitor might present a potential partner with a patch of velvet, a handful of lint (highly prized for bedding), or a pristine feather.
- The "Nest-Building" Phase: When a relationship gets serious, the partners start building a "test nest" together in a quiet corner of a pipe. If they can build a bed that doesn't collapse and they can sleep in it without kicking each other, they are ready for a union.
The Wedding: "The Tangle"
TL;DR A Ratfolk wedding is a sensory explosion designed to overwhelm the gloom of the sewers. It is characterized by "Magpie Formal" attire (wearing your shiniest scavenged finds), a menu that turns pests into delicacies (honey-glazed insects and fungal wines), and music that utilizes the acoustics of the pipes.
The Menu: Scavenged Gourmet
The central philosophy of a Tangle feast is "Transformation." The goal is to take things surface dwellers find gross (bugs, fungi, stale bread) and cook them into something undeniable.- The Melting Pot (Centerpiece): Every Tangle features a massive, bubbling cauldron of Cheese-Fondue. Ratfolk are famous for their ability to salvage "hard rinds" thrown away by surface cheesemongers. They melt these down with white wine and herbs into a thick, golden sauce. Guests dip chunks of "twice-baked bread" (croutons made from stale loaves) into the pot. It represents the shared warmth of the union.
- The Insect Charcuterie: Protein is crucial. The wedding platters are piled high with:
- Glazed Crickets: Roasted in honey and chili until they shatter like glass.
- Beetle-Hams: The cured legs of giant subterranean beetles, sliced thin like prosciutto.
- Slug-Escargot: Giant slugs purged on herbs for a week, then roasted in garlic butter.
- The Drinks: Glow-Wine: A fermented mushroom wine that is slightly bioluminescent. It makes the guests' mouths glow softly in the dark, adding to the lighting of the party.
The Sound: Pipe-Music & The Echo-Choir
You cannot bring a lute or a harp into the damp sewer; the wood would rot. Velvet-ear music is percussive and wind-based, designed to travel down tunnels.- The Bottle-Xylophone: Musicians set up racks of glass bottles filled with varying levels of water to create crystal-clear notes.
- Pipe-Drumming: Guests use spoons or metal rods to rhythmically strike the actual plumbing pipes of the room. A skilled group can turn the entire room into a drum kit.
- The Echo-Choir: Singers do not stand together. They stand at opposite ends of the tunnel, singing "rounds" that harmonize with their own echoes returning from the deep.
The Dance: The Weaver’s Reel
Ratfolk bodies are long and flexible. Their dancing is not about hopping or stomping; it is about flow.- The Weave: The main dance involves the entire party holding hands in a long chain. They run through the tunnels, looping over and under each other’s arms and tails, tying the group into a literal "knot" before untangling again.
- Tail-Waltzing: For couples (or triads and tangled groups), the dance is done back-to-back. They link elbows and tails, spinning in perfect synchronization to prove they can move as one unit without looking.
- The Hand-Dance: For Elders or disabled Ratfolk who cannot run, there is "The Hand-Dance". an intricate, fast-paced clapping game played while seated, miming the rhythm of the weavers.
The Look: Magpie Formal
Fashion at a Tangle is about Refraction. Since sewer light is dim, you want to wear things that catch the lantern light.The Fabric: There is no "white dress" tradition. Instead, the couple wears Patchwork Vestments. Friends donate their best scraps of silk, velvet, or brocade, which are sewn into a chaotic, beautiful coat. To wear a coat made by your friends is the highest honor.
The Accessories:
- Veils of Wing: Delicate veils made from the iridescent wings of giant dragonflies or moths found in the deep filtration chambers.
- Button-Armor: Vests covered entirely in polished brass buttons, creating a "scale mail" of shine.
- Tin-Crowns: Headpieces snipped from aluminum cans, curled into floral shapes and polished until they look like silver.
Divorce: The Unraveling
Because Ratfolk live long lives (for rodents) and value harmony, they recognize that sometimes a Knot gets too tight or too loose. Ending a marriage is called "The Unraveling." It is not a legal battle. It is a sad but accepted parting where the partners painstakingly unpick the ribbons they tied years ago. They return the "soft things" they exchanged and move to different sleeping piles. There is no stigma; only a community acknowledgment that "The heat has moved on."Death: The Final Gift & The Great Compost
TL;DR To the Ratfolk, a body without a soul is just organic matter, and in the sewers, organic matter is fuel. They practice Fungal Composting. The dead are laid to rest in deep, restricted tunnels called "The Bloom-Crypts" where they are transformed into the bioluminescent mushrooms that light the city. To die is to literally become the light for your descendants.
The Disposal: The Bloom-Crypts
Burial is impossible in stone tunnels. Cremation is a waste of precious fuel. The Velvet-Ears have chosen a third path: accelerated decomposition.When a Ratfolk dies, their body is washed by their Knot-mates (partners) using scented oils. They are then wrapped in a shroud of raw linen heavily dusted with the spores of the Ghost-Cap Mushroom.
The body is carried to the Bloom-Crypts, deep chambers sealed off from the main residential areas. Here, the body is laid directly onto the earth (or nutrient-rich mulch beds). Within weeks, the fast-acting spores break down the organic matter.
The Wake: The Scattering of the Hoard
A Ratfolk spends their life collecting "shinies" - buttons, coins, tools, and glass. A hoard is a point of pride. However, you cannot take it with you.The funeral ceremony is called The Scattering. The deceased’s entire collection is poured out onto a large rug in the center of the Guild Hall.
- The Story-Telling: As each item is picked up, someone must tell a story about it. "He found this wrench during the Great Flood of '92."
- The Redistribution: The items are given away. The wrench goes to a young apprentice. The glass beads go to a new bride. The hoard flows back into the community.
- The Empty Room: By the end of the night, the deceased possesses nothing. They have given everything back to the Flow.
The Survivors: Widows, Widowers, and Severed Knots
TL;DR Because Ratfolk often live in polyamorous "Knots," the death of a partner rarely leaves a survivor completely alone. However, the grief is still profound. Widows and Widowers are known as "The Severed." They do not lose social status; rather, they gain a temporary sacred status as those who have "touched the chill."
The Visual of Grief:
The Shorn Patch Ratfolk do not wear black clothing to mourn (black is hard to see in the dark). Instead, they modify their bodies. A widow or widower will shave a patch of fur directly over their heart.- This exposes the pink skin beneath, symbolizing vulnerability and the "cold" they feel without their partner.
- As the fur slowly grows back over the course of weeks or months, it acts as a natural timer for the mourning period. When the fur is fully grown, the formal grieving is over.
The Role of the Knot
If a member of a romantic triad or quad dies, the surviving partners close ranks. They sleep in a tighter pile ("The Grief Knot") to physically compensate for the missing body heat.- Community Support: It is the job of the neighbors to bring hot food and fuel to a Severed Knot. The mourners are not expected to work or scavenge until their fur begins to fuzz over.
Status & Remarriage
A Severed Ratfolk is treated with gentleness. Loud noises are kept down around them. There is no stigma against remarriage. In fact, finding a new partner to "fill the cold spot" is encouraged once the fur has grown back. To remain alone and cold is seen as a tragedy, not a virtue.The Domestic Sphere & Architecture
TL;DR Ratfolk homes are carved into the thick brick walls of the sewer tunnels, always above the high-water line. These homes, called "Dry-Docks," are designed around a central heat source: The Pipe-Hearth. Because the sewer contains flammable gases, open fire is taboo. Instead, Ratfolk divert steam from the city's industrial pipes to heat heavy stones in the center of their living rooms. This "radiant heat" culture dictates their architecture, their cooking, and their sleeping habits.
Housing Layouts: The "Onion" Design
A typical Dry-Dock is not square; it is round. Ratfolk abhor corners (hard to clean, bad feng shui). They excavate spherical chambers into the earth behind the sewer walls, lining them with scavenged bricks and waterproof clay. The Center: The Pipe-Hearth In surface houses, the fireplace is on the wall. In a Ratfolk home, the heat is in the center.- The Mechanism: They tap into the city’s hot water or steam pipes, running a loop through a massive pile of river stones in the middle of the room.
- The Function: These stones radiate a constant, gentle warmth (approx. 25°C/77°F).
- The Social Gravity: The "Knot" (family unit) sleeps in a pile directly against these warm stones. The closer you are to the Pipe-Hearth, the higher your status in the cuddle-pile.
The Kitchen: The Slow-Cooker Culture
Because they cannot use open flames (risk of methane explosions), Ratfolk cuisine is defined by Slow Heat.- Pipe-Ovens: Metal boxes welded directly onto the hottest steam pipes. You put a pot of stew in before work, and 10 hours later, the ambient heat has cooked it perfectly.
- The Result: Their diet consists almost entirely of stews, braises, and fondues. Nothing is fried or seared.
A City Built for All Paws
This section is crucial. The Ratfolk prioritize the comfort of their "Whisker-Keepers" (Elders). A home that excludes the elderly is considered a broken home.Verticality & The "Tail-Ramp" Standard
The sewers are naturally vertical, but stairs are the enemy of the elderly Ratfolk (who suffer from "Stiff-Hock" arthritis) and the very young.- The 1:12 rule :Long before humans invented ADA compliance, Ratfolk architecture mandated that for every 1 inch of rise, there must be 12 inches of run.
- Texture-Grip: Ramps are not smooth stone. They are lined with Grater-Plate (textured metal or scored brick) to allow claws to grip easily without slipping, even when wet.
Sensory Navigation: The Scent-Map
The sewers are dark. Eyesight fails with age. To accommodate this, Ratfolk architecture is Olfactory.- Scent-Lintels: The doorframe of every room is rubbed with a specific waxy paste.
- Lavender Wax: Marks a Sleeping Chamber.
- Sage Wax: Marks a Kitchen/Eating area.
- Citrus/Acrid Wax: Marks a Waste/Sanitation area.
- Tactile Walls: A "Guideline" is carved into the wall at hip-height throughout the entire city. A blind Ratfolk can run their paw along this groove to navigate from their front door to the Guild Hall without ever needing to see.
Sanitation: The Cleanest Place in Cruinlagh
The irony of the Ratfolk is that while they live in the sewer, their homes are sterile.The "Mud-Room" Airlock
You never, ever bring the sewer into the Dry-Dock.- The Entryway: Every home has a sealed vestibule. Before entering the main living space, a Ratfolk must strip off their "Wet-Gear" (waxed cloak and boots) and wash their paws in a basin of vinegar-water.
- The Floor: Floors inside the home are covered in "Softs" (rugs, pillows, moss). If mud touches the Softs, it is a grave social offense.
Waste Management: The Drop-Chutes
Ratfolk distinguish between "Grey Water" (washing water) and "Black Water" (biological waste). From there, Every home has a ceramic chute that bypasses the living levels and deposits waste directly into the deep "Slurry Flow" (the lowest level of the sewer, which carries waste out of the city). They utilize rainwater catchments from the surface grates to create gravity-fed flush systems. They had indoor plumbing centuries before the nobles on the surface did.Housing Logistics: The Hearth-Wardens & The Rafters
TL;DR There is no "real estate market" in the sewers. You cannot buy a home with gold. You earn a home through labor and maintenance. Houses are managed by a Hearth-Warden (usually the senior member of the household), and ownership is based on "Pipe-Rights"—if you maintain the plumbing, you own the room. Teenagers live in communal dormitories called "The Rafters" until they form a marriage Knot and build their own home.
Who Runs the House? The Hearth-Warden
Every Dry-Dock (home) needs a manager. This role is called the Hearth-Warden.The Role: The Warden is not necessarily the "head of the family" in a patriarchal sense. They are the Facilities Manager. They hold the wrench that fits the main steam valve.
Responsibilities: They decide when the heat is turned up, they schedule whose turn it is to scrub the floors, and they manage the household pantry.
Selection:This role usually falls to the member of the Knot with the most patience or the best organizational skills. In multi-generational homes, it is often a "Whisker-Keeper" (Elder) who runs the logistics while the younger adults go out to work/scavenge.
The Teenage Years: Life in "The Rafters"
Where do they live before they get married? Between the ages of 1 (Physical Maturity) and 3-4 (Social Maturity/Marriage), young Ratfolk move out of the Crèche and into The Rafters. The Dormitories: These are massive, long tunnels lined with hammocks and bunk-nests, usually located directly above the Guild Workshops.The Purpose:
- Socializing: This is where the Grooming Circles happen. It is where they find their future partners.
- Independence: They learn to manage their own laundry and washing without an Elder watching over them.
- Labor: They are close to the workshops where they are apprentices.
Acquiring a Home: The "Dead-Leg" Protocol
When a group of Ratfolk forms a romantic Knot (The Tangle) and wants to leave The Rafters, they go to the Guild of Menders.Step 1: The Allocation
The Guild assigns the new couple a "Dead Leg" -- a section of sewer tunnel that is currently unused, clogged, or damaged.Step 2: The Sweat Equity
The couple must rehabilitate the tunnel themselves (with help from their friends).- They must scrape the moss.
- They must waterproof the bricks with clay.
- Crucially: They must tap into the main steam line to build their own Pipe-Hearth.
Step 3: The Inspection
Once the hearth is warm, a Mender inspects the work. If the seals are tight and the ventilation is safe, the couple is granted Pipe-Rights. The home is theirs forever, as long as they keep the pipes from leaking.
If a Ratfolk cannot physically build their own home due to disability, the Guild treats this as a community infrastructure project. A team of "Wall-Raisers" is dispatched to build the home for them. Housing is considered a right, not a reward for able-bodiedness.
Food & Preservation: The Harvest of the Dark
TL;DR The Ratfolk diet is based on "Vertical Farming" (growing fungus on sewer walls) and "Pipe-Curing" (using industrial heat to dry food). Their staple crop is Cloud-Fungus (a giant puffball used for flour), and their primary protein is Chitin-Meat (farmed beetles). Preservation is vital because the sewers are damp; without their specific "Pipe-Drying" techniques, food would rot in days.
The Staple Crop: Cloud-Fungus
Since wheat requires sunlight, the "bread" of the Velvet-Ears comes from the Cloud-Fungus.These are massive, spherical puffball mushrooms that grow on the ceilings of the humid "Agri-Tunnels." They can grow to the size of a pumpkin in a week. Ratfolk use long poles with scrap-metal hooks to carefully detach the puffballs before they burst naturally. The fungus is not eaten fresh. It is dried until the outer skin cracks, revealing the interior spores which have turned into a fine, nutrient-dense grey powder. This is "Spore-Flour." This flour is mixed with water and beetle-fat to make "Steam-Buns" (dense, dumpling-like bread cooked in baskets over steam vents) or "Grey-Noodles." It is earthy, filling, and incredibly high in protein.
The Chitin Ranches
Ratfolk do not hunt rats (that would be weird). They are Entomophagous (insect-eaters). They farm "Land-Lobsters" (Giant Isopods/Woodlice) in penned-off sections of the sewer where the organic sludge is thickest. These creatures convert sewage into clean, white meat. Roasted Isopod tastes exactly like crab. When surface dwellers realize this, they often pay high prices for "Sewer-Crab" (rebranded, of course).Pipe-Curing & The Sour-Crocks
The sewer is humid. Mold is the enemy. To store food for winter, the Ratfolk rely on two industrial preservation techniques.Method A: Pipe-Curing (Dehydration)
They weld rows of metal hooks or wrap wire mesh around the hottest steam pipes in their homes. Slices of mushroom, strips of beetle meat, or scavenged fruits are hung directly against the scalding copper pipes. The intense contact heat dries the food bone-dry in hours, effectively "jerking" it before mold can set in. It is tough, chewy, and lasts for years. It is the standard ration for Scouts.The Sour-Crocks (Pickling)
Ratfolk love vinegar. Why? Because vinegar kills bacteria. They scavenge bruised fruits (apples, pears) thrown away by surface markets and let them rot in sealed vats to create strong apple-cider vinegar. Any vegetable found (carrots, turnips, cabbage) is scrubbed, chopped, and submerged in the vinegar vats. These "Sour-Crocks" line the walls of every pantry. The acidic taste covers up the "earthy" flavor of the water.Winter Survival: The "White-Hunger"
Winter in the sewer is not cold (thanks to the pipes), but it is lean. Humans on the surface eat less fresh produce in winter, meaning there is less trash to scavenge. The "Flow" of resources thins out. From November to March, the Ratfolk live almost entirely on their stored Pipe-Jerky and Sour-Crocks. This is when the "Communal Pot" becomes law. No family eats alone in winter. All dried rations are pooled into the Guild Hall kitchen to ensure that even the poorest families get a ladle of stew every day.Sleep Habits: The Pile & The Segmented Rest
TL;DR Privacy in sleep is a foreign concept to the Velvet-Ears. To sleep alone is considered a punishment or a sign of illness. They practice Communal Sleep in a structure called "The Soft-Pit," a sunken, fabric-filled depression near the central hearth. Their sleep schedule is Biphasic (two shifts), timed around the rhythms of the surface world: they sleep while the humans are awake and noisy, and they work when the city above goes quiet.
The Structure: The Soft-Pit
There are no "bedrooms" in a Ratfolk Dry-Dock. Instead, one side of the main living chamber has a sunken floor, usually about a foot deep. This pit is filled with layers of:- Base Layer: Dried, springy heather or straw (for airflow).
- Middle Layer: Scavenged mattresses or wool sacks.
- Top Layer: A chaotic mountain of "Loose Softs"—shredded velvet, cotton scraps, and quilts.
The Social Hierarchy of the Pile
The entire household (The Knot) sleeps here together.- The Core: The Whisker-Keepers (Elders) sleep in the center where it is warmest.
- The Wall: The able-bodied adults sleep on the outer ring, acting as living insulation and a physical barrier against drafts.
- The Rotation: It is polite to rotate positions. If you slept in the warm middle last night, you offer to take the "Cold Edge" tonight.
Biphasic Sleep: The Rhythm of the Scavenger
The Ratfolk live in the negative space of the city. When the surface is loud and busy, the sewers are dangerous (flushing toilets, industrial runoff). When the surface is asleep, the sewers are calm.Therefore, the Velvet-Ears follow "The Segmented Rest."
Phase 1: The Sun-Sleep (Dawn to Noon)
As the sun comes up and the humans start their day, the Ratfolk return from their night shift. They eat a heavy meal and collapse into the Soft-Pit. This is the "Deep Sleep," where the heavy physical recovery happens.The Waking Hour: "The Grooming" (Noon to 2:00 PM)
Around midday, the entire Warren wakes up for a few hours. This is not for work. It is for social maintenance.- They do not leave the Soft-Pit.
- They groom each other.
- They discuss the night's plan.
- They play with the pups.
Fashion, Textiles & Visual Language
TL;DR The Ratfolk aesthetic is "Upcycle Couture." Living in damp sewers means waterproofing is essential, leading to a culture of layered, waxed fabrics scavenged from the surface. Because they are a communal, often non-monogamous society, clothing acts as a complex signaling system. What you wear tells the Warren your current job role, your relationship status, and even your current emotional capacity for social interaction.
The Materials: The Scavenger's Loom
Surface dwellers discard clothes for the smallest tear. The Ratfolk are the beneficiaries of this wastefulness. Their textile industry is based on Reclamation and Indigenous Fungal Tech.A. Sludge-Waxed Cotton
The sewers are wet. Cotton kills you if it gets wet and cold. Ratfolk take scavenged surface clothes (sheets, shirts, curtains) and boil them in vats of rendered "Gutter-Fat" mixed with sweet-smelling herbs (lavender, mint) growing near the surface grates. The result is a heavy, stiff, waterproof fabric similar to oilskin. It has a distinct, slightly waxy sheen. The smell is earthy and herbal, the signature scent of a well-dressed Ratfolk.B. Myco-Hide (Mushroom Leather) Their one true indigenous textile.
They also grow huge, flat bracket fungi on dedicated "Farm Walls." These fungi are harvested, soaked in urine (for ammonia tanning), pounded flat, and rubbed with oils. The result is a tough, flexible, waterproof material that feels like suede but has a marbled, organic pattern. It dyes beautifully using rust (for reds) or copper oxidation (for greens/blues) scraped from pipes.The Silhouette: The Layered Onion
A Ratfolk is never wearing just one outfit. They are wearing their entire wardrobe at once.- The Base Layer: Soft, unwaxed linen or cotton against the fur to prevent chafing.
- The "Smock": The main tunic, usually made of Myco-Hide. It has dozens of pockets. A Ratfolk without pockets is considered naked.
- The Outer Shell: A heavy, Sludge-Waxed hooded cloak designed to shed water.
The Tail-Code (Relationship Status)
The tail is the most expressive part of the Ratfolk body. How it is decorated tells the Warren if you are open to romantic overtures, have a tail-tie mate, or anything else!Bare Tail: "I am focusing on myself / not interested in social interaction right now."
Loose Ribbons (Trailing): "I am single and looking for Warmth (romance)." The longer and brighter the ribbons, the more actively you are courting.
Complex Braids/Knots: "I am Tangled (Romantically Partnered)." The complexity usually indicates how many partners are in the romantic Knot.
The Base-Band (The Anchor): A single, tight band of fabric tied at the very base of the tail, close to the spine. It is short and does not trail. This is the specific ribbon cut during the Tail-Tying ceremony in adolescence. It signifies: "I have a Best Friend. I am not alone."
If you see a Ratfolk with a Base-Band, you know that if you mess with them, their partner is somewhere nearby. You are never fighting one; you are fighting two.
Social Infrastructure & Community Care
In the Warrens, survival is not a solo act; it is a collective discipline. The Velvet-Ears believe that a "civilized" society is defined by how it treats its most vulnerable members.
Healthcare is universal and preventative, utilizing fungal biology to ensure that disability is supported, not hidden.
Social Life revolves around the "Steam-Hollows," where communal bathing creates a radical equality free of rank or sash.
Justice is restorative, not punitive. There are no prisons in the sewers - only "Debts of Sweat" paid to repair the harm done.
Healthcare is universal and preventative, utilizing fungal biology to ensure that disability is supported, not hidden.
Social Life revolves around the "Steam-Hollows," where communal bathing creates a radical equality free of rank or sash.
Justice is restorative, not punitive. There are no prisons in the sewers - only "Debts of Sweat" paid to repair the harm done.
Social Infrastructure: The Safety Net
TL;DR In the Warrens, there is no such thing as "private healthcare." Medicine is communal, based on advanced fungal antibiotics ("Mold-Magic") rather than expensive divine spells. The society operates on the "Whole-Warren" Philosophy: the architecture and language are designed to accommodate every body type. Disability is not viewed as a tragedy to be fixed by high-level magic, but as a variation to be supported by engineering and community effort.
Healthcare: The Mold-Menders
Surface dwellers pray to gods for healing. Ratfolk trust in the Rot. They have discovered that the same damp darkness that breeds disease also breeds the cure (essentially, penicillin).The Village Healer: The Spore-Wardens
Accessible Magic: Divine magic from gods requires tithes and temples. The Ratfolk rely on Spore-Wardens, alchemists who cultivate specific medicinal molds on the sewer walls.The "Green-Bread" Cure: For infections, they use "Green-Bread", stale bread cultivated with a specific blue-green mold. It is free. If you are sick, you go to the Wardens, and you are fed. No coin changes hands.
Preventative Care: Every water cistern has a block of purifying charcoal and silver (scavenged) dropped into it by the Wardens. Public health is invisible but constant.
The "Sick-In" Culture: Being sick is boring. In Ratfolk culture, if someone is confined to their Soft-Pit with a fever, it is social protocol for friends to hold a "Sick-In." They bring their work (mending, carving) to the sick person’s home and sit with them, ensuring they are fed and entertained. Isolation is the enemy of recovery.
Disability in Society: The Adapted Flow
The Velvet-Ears do not view disability as a "broken" state. A Ratfolk who loses a leg or is born blind is not "retired"; they are simply re-specialized.The Deaf & "Tail-Sign"
The sewers are loud, pipes clang, water rushes. Verbal communication is often impossible.Every Ratfolk is fluent in Tail-Sign. This is a complex language involving the position, curl, and flick of the tail, combined with ear twitches. Because of this, Deaf Ratfolk are often the best scouts and diplomats. They can communicate silently across crowded rooms or dangerous tunnels without alerting predators. They are not "impaired"; they are "Quiet-Fluent."
The Blind & "The Whiskers"
Ratfolk rely on touch and smell more than sight. A Blind Ratfolk is called a "Draft-Feeler."They are highly valued as navigation experts. They can feel the shift in air pressure that indicates a storm on the surface or a blockage in a pipe miles away, things a sighted Ratfolk would miss. As mentioned in the housing section, the "Guide-Grooves" on walls ensure a blind Ratfolk has full autonomy of movement.
Mobility & "The Scuttle-Chairs"
For those with "Stone-Leg" (arthritis) or missing limbs, the Guild of Menders builds Scuttle-Chairs. They are low-slung, multi-wheeled sleds designed to fit perfectly into the curvature of the sewer pipes. If a slope is too steep, it is an automatic reflex for any passing Ratfolk to hook a tow-rope to the chair and help pull. It’s not charity; it’s just traffic flow.The Third Place: The Steam-Hollows & The Exchange
TL;DR The Ratfolk do not have "bars" in the traditional sense. Their primary social hub is The Steam-Hollow, a communal bathhouse system powered by the city's thermal vents. This is where business is conducted, disputes are settled, and news is shared. It is a space of radical equality: when everyone has shed their sashes and tools to soak in the hot water, there are no ranks, only neighbors.
The Steam-Hollows (The "Town Square")
Because the Velvet-Ears are obsessed with cleanliness (to combat the stigma of living in a sewer), their social life revolves around getting clean. These are large, tiled chambers built around leaks in the industrial hot-water pipes. They feature multiple pools of varying temperatures, from "The Scald" (for deep cleaning) to "The Tepids" (for relaxing). The steam hollows are a "neutral zone." No weapons or tools are allowed in the water. Arguments that start in the tunnels must end at the water's edge.The pools are designed with gentle, sloped ramps (not ladders) and sturdy hand-rails at two heights (one for adults, one for pups). There are floating cedar trays for holding snacks, allowing those with limited mobility to eat without leaving the warmth.
The Scavenger's Exchange (The "Flea Market")
If the Baths are for relaxing, the Exchange is for shouting. Located in a dry, wide junction of tunnels, this is a permanent, chaotic flea market. The Currency of Smalls: Ratfolk rarely trade in gold coins (too heavy, useless). They trade in "Bits" or useful scrap. A handful of copper screws might buy a bowl of stew. A pristine glass lens might buy a new coat.The "Library of Things": In the center of the Exchange is a community tool-library. You don't buy a saw; you borrow it from the pile. If you don't return it, the "Whisker-Keepers" will ban you from the Steam-Hollows (a fate worse than death).
Gossip as Infrastructure: The "Echo-Vine"
Information travels faster in the sewers than anywhere on the surface. This phenomenon is called The Echo-Vine.The "Washer-Folk" (those scrubbing clothes at the communal basins) and the "Groomers" in the baths are the information brokers. They hear everything. Because the pipes carry sound, a rhythmic tapping code or a specific hum can alert the entire Warren to danger (like a "Flush" of storm water) in seconds.
If you want to know a secret about a surface noble, they shouldn't ask a spy. They should ask the Ratfolk who cleans the noble's drain. They know exactly what the noble is trying to flush away.
Justice: The Mending & The Cold
TL;DR The Velvet-Ears possess no jails, no stocks, and no executioners. To them, crime is a "tangle" in the social weave that must be smoothed out, not cut. Their system is built on Restorative Justice: the offender must repair the harm they caused through labor. However, for crimes that threaten the safety of the Warren, they utilize the most terrifying punishment a communal species can imagine: Enforced Isolation.
The Philosophy: A Tangle, Not a Crime
In surface courts, justice is abstract. In the sewers, it is physical. If you steal a loaf of bread, you haven't "broken a law"; you have taken calories from someone else's belly. Therefore, the goal of justice is not punishment. It is Restitution. The question asked by the Elders is never "Guilty or Innocent?" It is "How will you fill the belly you emptied?"Disputes are resolved in The Knot-Moot. A circle of three Whisker-Keepers (Elders) sits in the Guild Hall. The accuser and the accused sit in the center, not apart, but facing each other, knees touching. They must speak until the "heat returns." They talk through the conflict until the anger dissipates and a solution is agreed upon. The Elders do not judge. They facilitate. They ask, "What do you need to feel safe again?"
The Sentence: The Debt of Sweat
If a Ratfolk admits to causing harm, they are assigned a Debt of Sweat. They must work for the victim until the balance is restored.Theft: If you stole tools, you do not pay a fine. You work in the victim's workshop, unpaid, repairing the tools you damaged or crafting new ones.
Violence: If you hurt someone in a brawl, you become their personal servant. You carry their water, cook their food, and clean their home until they are fully healed. You literally carry the burden of their injury.
Social Impact: This forces the offender to see the human (or Ratfolk) cost of their actions every single day. It builds empathy rather than resentment.
The Extreme Case: The Cold
There is one crime that cannot be mended: Betrayal of the Warren (e.g., leading surface guards to a hidden entrance, or hoarding medicine during a plague). For this, the punishment is The Cold.The Grey-Out (Social Shunning)
For minor but serious infractions, the offender is "Greyed Out."No one speaks to them.
No one touches them (no grooming, no piling).
They are invisible. In a species that relies on constant touch for serotonin regulation, this is psychological torture. It usually breaks a rebellious spirit within three days, leading to a desperate plea to make amends.
The Severing (Exile)
This is the death sentence, though no blood is spilled. The offender is stripped of their sash, their "shiny" (name-object), and their tools. They are escorted to a storm drain that leads out of the city and into the wilderness.
The Sentence: "Go find your own heat. You have none here."
A solitary Ratfolk in the wild rarely survives winter. It is a harsh, silent end.
Calendar, Festivals & Time
TL;DR The Velvet-Ears do not look up to see the sun; they look up to hear the pipes. Their calendar is defined by the "Pulse of the City", the daily and seasonal rhythms of water usage from the surface world. Their work-life balance is enshrined in "The Hand-Count Week" (5 days), ensuring that rest is guaranteed. Their festivals are chaotic celebrations of hydrology, turning the sewers into playgrounds and the city's trash into treasures.
The Work Week: The Hand-Count
Surface dwellers work until they drop. The Ratfolk believe that an exhausted worker makes mistakes, and mistakes in the sewer lead to drowning. Therefore, they strictly adhere to The Hand-Count Week (5 Days, based on the 5 fingers of a paw).Days 1-3: The Flow (Work Days)
These are the high-intensity scavenging and maintenance days. The Warren hums with activity.Day 4: The Mending (Chore Day)
No heavy labor is done. This day is for fixing your own house, darning your socks, and crucially, spending hours in the Grooming Circles. It is a day of social maintenance.Day 5: The Drift (Rest Day)
t is taboo to work on a Drift Day. This is for sleeping, playing games, eating, and "drifting" (aimless walking). If a Guild Leader tries to force work on a Drift Day, the workers simply lie down and refuse to move.The Festivals
The Quiet Night (Mid-Summer)
The sewers are an acoustic nightmare. Constant dripping, clanging pipes, and rushing water. It leads to sensory overload. For one night a year, on the hottest night of summer when the tunnels are steamy, the entire Warren takes a Vow of Silence. No work is done. No music is played. Ratfolk communicate only in "Tail-Sign." They sit in the cool dark, burn unscented candles, and let their ears rest. It is a holiday explicitly designed for sensory regulation.The Mender’s Jubilee (The "Tool Birthday")
A Ratfolk is nothing without their tools. On this day, you do not work. Instead, you honor your gear. Wrenches are polished with expensive oils. Saws are sharpened. Patches on coats are restitched with gold or bright yellow thread to highlight them. It is customary to gift a "backup tool" to a friend. Giving someone a 10mm socket wrench is the equivalent of giving them a box of chocolates.The Feast of the Found Book
Paper dissolves in the sewer, so books are rare and precious treasures. When the surface university throws out old textbooks or novels, the Scavengers rush to save them before the damp gets them. The community gathers in the driest chamber (The Archive). The Whisker-Keepers choose a "Reader" (often a young Ratfolk learning to read) to read a chapter aloud. It doesn't matter if it's a romance novel or a treatise on crop rotation, the community listens with rapt attention, celebrating the knowledge.Warm-Toe Jubilee
Everyone knows the "goblins eat socks," but in Mornvahl, the Ratfolk know the truth: gravity takes them. Single, unmatched wool socks are constantly washing down the drains. To the Ratfolk, these are gifts from the "Great Clumsy Giants" above. All the unmatched socks collected by scavengers throughout the year are dumped into a pile in the main square. Because Ratfolk pups are small, a thick human wool sock makes a perfect sleeping bag. The newest generation of babies is ritually tucked into the softest, most colorful socks found that year.Common Superstitions
The "Third Flush" Rule
If you hear the pipes rumble with a flush three times in rapid succession, you must stop what you are doing and freeze.Technically, it warns of high water pressure. Culturally, it is believed to be the "Great Serpent of the Sewer" rolling over in its sleep. If you move, it wakes up and floods your home.
The "Empty Pocket" Curse
It is bad luck to leave your Dry-Dock with completely empty pockets. It manifests poverty.Even if you are just going to the bathhouse, you must put something in your pocket! a pebble, a button, a piece of string. This ensures the "Flow" knows you are ready to receive wealth.
The Cat-Step
To say the word "Cat" is to summon one.Instead, they refer to them as "The Soft-Death" or " The Scratchers." If you accidentally say the C-word, you must immediately spit on the ground and spin your tail counter-clockwise to "unwind" the bad luck.
The Knotted whisker
If you wake up with a kink or knot in your whiskers, it means someone was talking about you while you slept.Left Side Knot: They said kind things (or they have a crush on you).
Right Side Knot: They were gossiping about your work ethic.
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