Revision as of 22:32, 15 February 2023

Ratling

Ratlings are intelligent, rodent-like humanoids with gray, black, brown, or white fur and naked pink tails. They walk upright and from a distance could even be mistaken for halflings—if one overlooks their narrow snouts, long whiskers, and sharp, protruding teeth. With twitchy reflexes and relatively short lifespans, ratlings tend to value quick thinking over careful deliberation. A plan seldom survives contact with a ratling. A sudden inspiration or temptation can inspire impromptu “improvements” that alter a scheme beyond recognition. Those not comfortable with improvisation are well advised to avoid ratling partners. Ratlings’ origins are veiled in mystery and hearsay. In 768 all over the known world, strange humanoid corpses with rat-like features started washing up. Some partially eaten, most bloated. Then the boats arrived. Rafts made of all kinds of material, anything that looked like a ship had long been ripped apart by sea monsters. Hundreds of thousands of fugitives landed all over the known world, begging the question of how many millions started the perilous journey, losing untold numbers to the creatures of the deep. The harrowing journey left many in dire straits, all shocked to the core with not a coin to their name. A great calamity had befallen their great empire, of which they told only the name, Shaa-Tzik but none would speak of what befell it. And none have, up to now...

Ratling Traits

Characters with the ratling heritage share the following traits:

Age. Ratlings live quickly and with gusto. They mature to adulthood around age 14 and can live as long as 60 years.

Size. Ratlings average around 3 feet tall and weigh between 40 and 60 pounds. Your size is Small.

Speed. Your Speed is 30 feet.

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 cannot discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Keen Smell. Ratlings have survived by being able to scent out predators and food sources.

You have proficiency in Perception and gain an expertise die on Perception checks that rely on smell.

Poison Tolerance. You are immune to ingested poison.

Ratling Gifts

Ratlings are known for living in overpopulated refugee camps filled with squalor and hunger. In addition to the traits found in your ratling heritage, select one of the following gifts.

Bottomless Appetite

Your appetite is insatiable. Although you enjoy fine cuisine as much as anyone else, you can also eat foods that others can’t stomach. Even when you’re at death’s door, food restores your strength and vitality.

Grab a Quick Bite. You can eat and digest huge quantities of food in seconds. If you have sufficient food for one day (1 Supply), you can eat it as an action. When you do so, you gain temporary hit points equal to twice your proficiency bonus. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Strength in Numbers

You are adept at working in a team. Whether in combat or in other pursuits, you are quick to exploit any advantage your companions create.

Group Tactics. You can make an ability check with advantage as part of a group check. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you’ve taken a short or long rest.

Rat Swarm. Once on your turn, you can reroll an attack roll against a target within 30 feet if another creature has made a melee attack against the same target since the end of your last turn.

You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Ratling Paragon

When you reach 10th level, you are an exemplar of ratling-kind, and you gain the following paragon gift.

Lucky Escape

You are adept at avoiding the negative consequences of others’ hostility and your own unwise actions. Whenever you make a saving throw you are not proficient in, you gain a bonus to the roll equal to half your proficiency bonus (rounded down).