Desert Nomads

Due to their small size, ratfolk were driven to a nomadic lifestyle in the early days of their kind. The cruel desert winds and their physically weaker bodies meant that whatever territory they attempted to control had to be quickly abandoned.

This ultimately proved to be a boon to the ratfolk. Travelling from place to place, ratfolk learned early the value of trading goods and information.

Renowned Tinkerers

Due to their roaming from place to place, ratfolk gained the eclectic habit of picking up knickknacks wherever they went and fiddling with them. Over time, this developed to the mechanical or otherwise.

Now, more so than their reputation of merchants they often settle down and focus on one craft or another. Clockwork and alchemy being the most common, but others such as weaving or jewellery making are not unheard of. Ratfolk take pride in their craft, often teaching it to one or more of their children.

Though, close-knit, ratfolk families are large and sprawling so they neither have the time to teach all their children to do so nor is it a necessity (or good for the economy).

Often ratfolk often stay close to their roots, by selling what they make.

Ratfolk Traits

Your ratfolk character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Age. Ratfolk reach adulthood at age 12 and live up to 50 years.

Alignment. Ratfolk individuals are driven by a desire to acquire interesting items and a compulsion to tinker with complex objects. The strong ties of ratfolk communities give them an appreciation for the benefits of an orderly society, even if they are willing to bend those rules when excited about accomplishing their individual goals. Most Ratfolk are neutral.

Size. Ratfolk are usually between 3 and 4 feet tall and weigh between 70 and 90 pounds. Your size is Small.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Cornered Fury. If you have a number of hit points equal to twice your level or less, you make all melee attacks at advantage.

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.

Keen Smell. You has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

Small Frame. You can move through a space small enough to contain a tiny creature without penalty.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one additional language of your choice.

Subrace. While not truly subraces, there are two common sorts of ratfolk, ratfolk traders and ratfolk tinkerers and less commonly there are the street ratfolk.