Ratatosk

Ratatosk, also known as squirel folk, were a race of squirrel-like humanoids that were native to Yggdrasil.

"Down the tree is easy; back up is hard."

- Tisk the ratatosk.

Description
These creatures resembled flying squirrels, having a furry membrane between their arms and legs as well as large, flattened tails that they used to direct their gliding. The fur on their bodies &mdash; which ranged from shades of black to gray and brown to red &mdash; was thick enough to keep them comfortable in all but the coldest of winter freezes. The members of a pack almost entirely exhibited the same fur color. The fur of their tails was uniformly darker than the rest of their body, usually matching the bark of nearby trees.

Ratatosk typically wore no clothing other than protective hats and harnesses to carry gear in.

Personality
These creatures were rather careless with their lives and panicky fighters, more willing to fight in groups than alone. Though they rarely fought except when needing to defend their tribe, Yggdrasil, or their children. And even when they did engage someone in combat, they weren't interested in outright killing them.

Ratatosk has a fondness for riddles of all kinds.

Abilities
Ratatosk were expert climbers and skilled at flying.

Like other creatures that were native to it, ratatosk would not fall into the Astral Plane if they ever lost contact with Yggdrasil.

Combat
In combat the inner strength of these creatures was fueled by panic, rather than blood lust. When forced to fight they would swoop out of a tree, diving at their opponent, and attack with their claws. Though they generally tried to avoid melee combat, as they were masters of ranged combat. When they did, ratatosk would try to overwhelm their foes with sheer numbers. In terms of equipment they typically had shortspears, composite shortbows, and nets of cure light wounds. They were also particularly fond of iron and steel weaponry.

They typically fought in small bands of five to ten individuals, with a leader that they referred to as fireholders. They fought with raiding and skirmish tactics.

Society
These creatures lived their lives acting as guardians of Yggdrasil, putting out fires that may harm it and preventing both lawful and evil creatures from using it as a path for invading the Upper Planes.

Diet
Ratatosk were an ominorous species. They most commonly ate berries, fruits, insects, nuts, roots, growing bark, and tender leaves. They rarely bothered to cook food, with one of the few exceptions being the eggs of the eagles that nested in Yggdrasil's branches. During the spring season they would feast upon the branches and young shoots of Yggdrasil.

Homelands
"Never an acorn, Taller than stars, His fingers hold us, Our fingers hold him."

- A common ratatosk riddle, where the answer is "Yggdrasil."

Ratatosk were native to Yggdrasil, the World Ash, and were the most numerous race of beings to inhabit it. They knew of the tree's every branch and poral, including the root that led into Sigil. During the summer time they would travel as nomads across Yggdrasil, weaving nests from branches and leaves during the night, nests which are built to hold only their own weight.

Beyond this tree, large groups made their homes in the largest and most ancient woods of Arborea and Ysgard. Ratatosk typically made their way to these areas whenever food was was.

A sizeable pack of them lived within a forest on Arborea that surrounded a branch of Yggdrasil. A settlement of them stood close to the Yggdrasil root that surfaced near the lower, darker end of Arvandor. And during the summer season, a small pack of ratatosk would come to guard the High Grove in Alfheim.

Religions
These creatures considered Yggdrasil itself to be their patron deity, though many also worshipped Erevan Ilesere. and the Sylvan language.

Languages
Ratatosk spoke their own unique language, as well as the language of birds, the common tongue of Ysgard, and the Sylvan language.

Relationships
Ratatosk were antagonistic to almost any creature that they felt didn't belong on their tree, such as most planars. This was especially the case with dwarves, githzerai, and tieflings. Though they had some level of tolerance towards elves, bariaurs, and most Ysgardians. They sometimes allied themselves with bariaurs or other creatures of Arborea or Ysgard.

Despite their antagonism towards outsiders, ratatosks could be hired to act as someone's guide through Yggdrasil by bribing them with steel, magic, or food. Or bribed to carry a message to or from any plane that connected to Yggdrasil. Such bribes usually took the form of the enormous, sterile seed pods of Yggdrasil.

In Arborea and Ysgard they were often preyed upon by giant eagles, giant owls, giant wolves, and giants.

Some ratatosk acted as servants of the deity Rillifane Rallathil.

Rumors & Legends
Some believed that the ratatosk were creations of Erevan Ilesere.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Expedition to the Demonweb Pits