The Rodentia

"Those nasty rodents... there's a reason they're at the bottom of the Beastfolk Hegemony"

~a Beastfolk Tavern Keeper in the Wind City.

Race:

The Rodentia

• Creature type. You are a humanoid.
• Size. Varies, see Subraces
• Age. Rodentia reach maturity around age 14 and rarely live longer than 60 years.
• Alignment. Rodentia are typically of the Evil alignment due to the circumstances in Freelands, they vary from Lawful to Chaotic depending on the family they come from and the resources available
• Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
• Ability Score Increase. Increase Dexterity (DEX) by 2.
• Darkvision. 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.
• Underworlder Skills. Your life beneath urban populations has necessitated certain skills. You gain proficiency with two of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Nature, Stealth, and Survival.
• Plague Carrier. You are immune to poison damage and the poisoned conditioned. You are also immune to disease.
• Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Rodentia. Rodentia uses Common lettering and looks like Common, but it requires an Investigation (Intelligence) check with a DC 10 to even remotely understand.

Subrace:

The Mouseborn

• Size. Your size is Small.
• Ability Score Increase. Increase Intelligence (INT) by 1
• Artisanal Paws. Your paws are more nimble than your other Rodentia brethren. You gain proficiency in two of the following Tools: Alchemist's Supplies, Brewer's Supplies, Herbalism Kit, Poisoner's Kit

The Ratborn

• Size. Your size is Medium.
• Ability Score Increase. Increase Strength (STR) by 1
• Blighted Fangs. Your mouth is filled with various toxins and is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. On a hit the creature must make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save the creature is poisoned and diseased, it has disadvantage on Attack rolls and Ability Checks for 1 hour

The Batborn

• Size. Your size is Small.
• Ability Score Increase. Increase Constitution (CON) by 1
• Winged. You have bat-like wings sprouting from your shoulders. You have a flying speed of 30 feet while you aren’t wearing heavy armor.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The physiology of the Rodentia, like all Beastfolk, resembles a bipedal version of their animal-cousins. All Rodentia have exceptionally large rodent like ears, a long snout with sensitive whiskers and sharp teeth. They have beady black eyes, with fur covering the majority of their body, and long wormlike tails they typically keep wrapped around their waist. The vast majority of their Race's population is on the short side with nimble paws and known as Mouseborn. One out of ten births within their population comes out as a taller and more vicious variant known as a Ratborn, and one out of a hundred births comes out as a small sized and winged variant called a Batborn.

Genetics and Reproduction

Rodentia tend to have multibirths, anywhere from 2 to 6 offspring at a time. Though usually only 1 to 4 reach adulthood, and only 1 to 2 end dying of old age. Life is hard and unfair to Rodentia, as they mature into Beastfolk society.

Growth Rate & Stages

Rodentia are considered children until they are roughly 14 years old, in which their Subrace features make themselves known: Mouseborn, the most common, remain small and develop a bit dexterous streak. The Ratborn, the more uncommon variant, dramatically increase in size within a few short months and become more easily agitated or violent. Finally, the Batborn spontaneously sprout wings from their shoulders and retain their smallish stature.

Ecology and Habitats

Like all Beastfolk, and not unlike most Freelancers, they are typically social creatures and omnivorous in nature. Unfortunately, due to their less than stellar reputation they tend either live in ghettoes, sewers, and other impoverished environments; they are treated like secondclass citizens even by other Beastfolk.

Dietary Needs and Habits

They are omnivorous in nature with voracious appetites; this is due to either their naturally high metabolism, or the how they typically are starving due to their lives usually being unnaturally difficult, or possibly both.

Biological Cycle

Not unlike other Beastfolk, they live like all other sentient races. The only difference being what happens to their physiology once they hit the age of maturity and take on their subrace features.

Behaviour

The good of their family and community always comes first in the eyes and minds of their people, they are very secretive and defensive. They have always been treated like outsiders when compared to other Beastfolk, and thus are typically very dark in their moods and minds when it comes to dealing with other races.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

All Rodentia naturally have Darkvision, and tend to have keener senses of smell and such.

Geographic Distribution

• The Freelands
• The Wind City

Related Ethnicities

• Beastfolk
• Freelancer