Rat-kin

Overview

Rat-kin are a newly introduced species to the campaign world, first encountered when Mortimer and Ulion captured Rattrick during the Hearthgate crisis in Session 4. These small, individualistic creatures represent a diaspora species—scattered across cities rather than forming their own communities.

Physical Characteristics

Size: Rather small rat creatures, smaller than dwarves and humans.

Appearance: Humanoid rats with features adapted for urban life and independent survival.

Common Attire: Clergy robes appear common among rat-kin. Rattrick wore clerical vestments (though tattered and dirty after two weeks marching with a Void Titan).

Social Structure

Individualistic Culture: Rat-kin are not communal with their own species. Unlike races that form kingdoms, tribes, or nations, rat-kin operate as scattered individuals integrated into other societies.

Life Cycle: "Once they've been raised with their family, they sort of like go off into the world to seek their fortune." Young rat-kin leave their family groups to pursue independent lives elsewhere.

Diaspora Distribution: "Rather sparse, but you can usually find at least one of them in any medium to large city." Rat-kin have spread across the world individually rather than establishing territorial holdings.

Cultural Traits

Independent Fortune-Seekers: Leaving family groups to seek fortune independently is the defining characteristic of rat-kin culture. This drive for individual achievement scatters them across civilizations.

Urban Integration: Often found in urban environments, living and working within cities of other races. Blackwharf had a rat-kin population before its fall.

Religious Roles: Some rat-kin serve in religious capacities. Rattrick was a cleric from Blackwharf, suggesting rat-kin may be drawn to spiritual vocations when integrated into other societies.

No Communal Identity: Unlike races that maintain cultural enclaves even when living in foreign cities, rat-kin appear to fully integrate into their adopted homes without maintaining separate rat-kin communities.

Known Rat-kin

Rattrick: Cleric from Blackwharf, first rat-kin encountered by the Fellowship. Survived being absorbed by a Void Titan, experienced severe time dilation (two weeks felt like one hour), and was successfully restored through the Fellowship's intervention.

World-Building Significance

Rat-kin demonstrate organic world-building through play—the species was created during Session 4 when players needed a specific type of character among the void titan's victims. This collaborative creation process shows how the campaign world expands naturally through gameplay rather than pre-planned exposition.

Current Status

Newly Discovered: The Fellowship's knowledge of rat-kin as a distinct species is limited to their encounter with Rattrick. Further exploration of cities may reveal more about rat-kin history, culture, and distribution patterns across the world.