Ratonga

## Ratonga (Roekillik) - The Cryptic Cabal

### **Background**

Ratonga are a race of intelligent rat-like creatures approximately the same height as Dwarves. While the Ratonga are evil, they are not aggressive or cruel to others. They are a devious and selfish race, looking for any opportunity to take advantage of weakness on the part of their adversary. They are specialists in the acquisition of items and information.

The Ratonga are not native to the surface world. The Roekillik (their true name) were created by the Duke of Below, Brell Serilis. Brell imbued the race with psionics and placed them deep in the Underfoot, where they would rule the lowest depths. There they built cave dwellings with claws and teeth created to carve through stone. They propagated rapidly and soon had a teeming society. It would seem they would be content to rule the darkest trenches, but they turned out to be far too intelligent and evil. The Roekillik moved on the sacred cities and villages in the underworld. With great numbers and psionic powers they overwhelmed all resistance. Their territorial lust kept them ever on the move to seize new land. Brell found it hard to totally eradicate a race he once loved, so he exterminated all but a small number, and placed the remaining few in a titanic Underfoot vault. He wished to create a rat race to dwell in his darkest worlds, and the Roekillik were almost perfect. He decided to try again.

This second version had few psionic powers, uncontrollable by the race. He asked the god of mischief, Bristlebane, to supply a pinch of mirth in hopes that he could keep the spirits of his rat race high. He also removed the large and formidable claws and teeth so they couldn’t tunnel from the isolated depths. He then placed them deep in the Underfoot and observed once more. This second incarnation at first seemed perfect. They lived content for a while. But something odd began to occur. They began to appear in the higher reaches of the Underfoot, an area believed to be cut off. Brell soon found that the new Roekillik were given a bit too much of Bristlebane’s touch. Not only did they have mirth, but also a bit of the god’s power of deception. When they began to meet adventurers from the surface, they claimed the name Ratonga, not Roekillik. Being of tiny builds, Ratonga rarely attempt to become Fighters. However, their high Intelligence helps them excel at magic, and their ability to blend into their surroundings makes them natural Scouts. Ratonga often emblazon a symbol on their chest. This symbol is always the same; it may be a link to their secretive past. The symbol appears to be a series of circles, one within another. Closer examination shows unaligned gaps in each circle.

### **Faith**

Ratonga show no spiritual inclinations or visible worship of any known deity.

### **Effects of the Shattering**

The Shattering caused great quakes in the Underfoot of Norrath. Fissures created new passages to the surface while closing off old ones. A number of Ratonga lurking in the dark niches of the surface world were cut off from their underworld homeland. Many Ratonga are still in the Underfoot, although many perished in the cataclysms. On the surface of Norrath, the Ratonga sought refuge within Freeport. There were already a number of Ratonga acting as hired scouts to the Freeport Militia, so an alliance of sorts had existed before the Shattering occurred.

The Shattering also cracked the Vaults of Serilis so that the original Roekillik escaped from their prison. Led by the great mage N’gurai, they sought refuge in a ruined city fortress of the Dark Elves once called Anetiff. Home to a caste of powerful mages, it held many dark secrets. It seemed a fitting home to the Roekillik. In the years since, they have begun to hunt and slay the Ratonga who survived the great tremors in the Underfoot.

### **Pros and Cons**

#### **Pros:**

* A Ratonga has very high Agility, making it a perfect Scout.
* Intelligence is also a high stat. This makes them very good Sorcerers: quick to avoid hits and powerful on attack!

#### **Cons:**

* Strength is very low, making Ratonga one of the worst Fighter options.
* Stamina is another low for you, meaning fewer Hit Points.