Rodentians
Last updated
Last updated
Rodentia are humanoid rodents characterized by upright postures, compact frames, and rounded faces. They lack canine teeth but have large, ever-growing incisors, typically yellow or orange due to iron in the enamel. Most develop a habit of gnawing on wood or other materials to prevent overgrowth. Their fur-covered bodies and long, flexible tails aid in balance and communication.
Rodentia have sharp eyesight, acute hearing, and an exceptional sense of smell, making them skilled foragers and adept at detecting threats. They are omnivorous, capable of surviving on seeds, fruits, leafy plants, and insects, though they may hunt small animals when food is scarce.
Rodentia societies are typically formed around familial ties or cooperative survival, with communal foraging and shared defense against predators. Their playful behavior persists into adulthood, reinforcing social bonds and group cohesion.
Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, Rodentia thrive in diverse environments. They nest in tree hollows and underground burrows and, when threatened, flare their fur and chatter their teeth as a warning.
The races of rodentians are:
Muridens are humanoid mice, averaging 0.75 meters (2’6”) in height and 10 kg (22 lbs) in weight, with a lifespan of up to 45 years. Their short, soft fur, typically brown, gray, or black, is lighter on the belly, throat, and lower jaw. They have large, rounded ears set high on their heads, dark eyes, and hairless, scaly tails measuring 0.3 to 0.4 meters (1’ to 1’3”). Their hairless hands and feet provide exceptional dexterity.
Colloquially called "squeakborn," muridens are highly social, living in large, intricate burrow systems. Their societies, known as mischiefs, are lively, unpredictable, and centered on curiosity and playfulness. Leadership is typically held by a dominant male or female, with age, wisdom, and respect determining status and responsibilities. They often communicate with one another through a complex series of squeaks, using pitch and intensity to convey emotions, coordinate movement, and share information.
Adaptable and resilient, muridens thrive in diverse environments and are primarily found in the southern and southwestern Praetoria, particularly the and .
Quilliuns are humanoid porcupines, averaging 1.45 meters (4’9”) in height and 22.7 kg (50 lbs) in weight, with a lifespan of up to 110 years. Their soft fur, typically brown, black, or white, is interspersed with dense, barbed spines in alternating bands of brown, black, and white covering their back, sides, and tail. They have a small, rounded face, beady eyes, and a blunt snout, with swept-back quills around their head. Their small, rounded ears are often hidden in their fur. Their prehensile tails, measuring 33 to 41 cm (13” to 16”), are shorter than those of other rodentia races and are also covered in quills. Though bipedal, they are capable of swift, quadrupedal scurrying.
Quilliuns are generally solitary and less playful than other rodentia races but may form loose groups, or prickles, for foraging, defense, and social bonding. They practice self-anointing, chewing objects and applying the scent to their quills to communicate emotions, reflect mood, and mask scent. Their quills serve primarily as defense, flaring outward when threatened. However, they also use them offensively, swinging their quilled tails like clubs or even launching themselves at adversaries. Their quills are painful and difficult to remove.
Scavos are mole-like humanoids, averaging 1.1 meters (3’7”) in height and 13.2 kg (29 lbs) in weight, with a lifespan of up to 65 years. Their bodies are covered in thick, velvety fur in shades of brown, black, or white. Unlike moles, they have hairless, humanoid hands with three fingers and an opposable thumb rather than clawed paws. Their small, weak eyes make corrective goggles common for enhancing vision.
Scavo societies are organized into labors, named for their industrious nature. A labor can tunnel up to 1.95 km in a day while producing an average of 3.45 unique technomagical artifacts—which may or may not function as intended. Their burrows are extensive and intricately structured, with chambers dedicated to sleeping, storage, personal effects, and waste disposal. Labors are typically led by the most venerable male or female, chosen based on age, wisdom, and character.
Venari are humanoid rats, averaging 1.1 meters (3’7”) in height and 22.7 kg (50 lbs) in weight, with a lifespan of up to 45 years. Their coarse fur is typically brown, black, or gray, with lighter shades on the belly. They have large, rounded ears, small beady eyes, and long, hairless tails measuring 0.4 to 0.5 meters (1’3” to 1’7”). Their hairless hands and feet provide exceptional dexterity.
Venari societies are structured into colonies ranging from a few dozen to several hundred individuals. Most are led by a dominant male or female, with a hierarchical structure based on strength and power. Venari have a notable fondness for shiny objects, often hoarding items with little intrinsic value. Their assertive, aggressive, and territorial nature is driven by curiosity, with material fascination often taking precedence over morality.
Quilliuns prefer forested, grassland, and badland habitats and are primarily found in northwestern Praetoria, particularly the and , making their homes in tree hollows or underground burrows.
Unlike other rodentia races, Scavos are primarily insectivorous, favoring worms, insects, and other small invertebrates. They are found primarily in the five realms of the .
Highly adaptable, Venari thrive in diverse environments but are found primarily in the five realms of the and the .