Ratonga : We need more Info!

[Enever]

Yeah there was tons of threads....I know, but I wanna know more about the ratonga... I've been making up things due to some info I don't know about. Er... So...Why are we so mysterious? All the other races got lore released about them. I play nothing but ratonga, that is untill November for obvious reasons.All I know, ratonga are from The Underfoot, Brell Serlis created us. We have...very very slight ESP, from what I read too. We also surfaced shortly after the Shattering.  Can we possibly get more information on Our little rodent friends? Please? Devs? Some of the things can be clearifyed and all.

[Karisska]

<p>I agree. I know next to nothing about the Ratonga either, infact when i play mine, I just avoid doing anything other than what I've seen others do. How about a good page worth of info/history?</p>

[Telis]

Ratonga have always been a big mystery, which really makes me wonder about their real alignment, their lore, and their past. In all honesty their has been so much discussion and debate over the furballs that its almost impossible to make what is true and what is rumor. A little information would help. *mutters* Ratonga should be neutral (my two cents, but meh <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> )

[DocFlareon]

Info for us would be nice.  I'd even sign and abide by an NDA if that's what it would take.

[Shadowdragoon]

Yes. i to would sign a NDA for moore Ratonga lore. or buy a Adventure pack..Come on. i got so manny rats out of Fleaport, and a few staying, trying to kill Lucan D'Lear. a secret oranisation.. wes wants moore Infos on ourselves.

[Aya Lin]

Agree entirely - the snippets we get just make it more interesting.I keep hoping for more but what do we get - Elf lore!  Bah to elves I say.I remember Vhalen posting that there was something he'd like to tell Ratonga players but couldn't (my memory not the most reliable instrument) - I too would sign an NDA if that's what it took to know more.Please - Devs - something - some snippet of info.Ratonga are neutral btw - they're Ratonga first and anything else second <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /> - but also agree they're opportunistic and should be able to choose their city of residence.Just my 2cps - I've always had a feeling that Ratonga are matriarchal - the official lore only seems to mention female Ratonga.  But that could just be me reading too much into that.

[Cusashorn]

They've actually been tossing the racial lore of all the races to the wayside, while they focus on what is happening now in Norrath. Not just Ratonga, but everyone else. Not even the Fae and Arasai have that much lore about them. Especially the Arasai. Ratonga arn't headline news anymore. Only an expansion or zone that focuses only on them would bring them back into the limelight.

[Rabid-Othmir]

While I understand that many things are kept mysterious so they can have plots revealing them, it is rather annoying to have a player race with a clouded history. Shouldn't my character have an idea about the past of his own race?Also, "opportunist" isn't the right word to describe someone who will stab you in the back for a few copper. The Ratonga are generally evil, they're not some wussy neutral race.

[Enever]

If it takes an NDA....So be it....I still wanna know if I'm playing my rats right...*has two other rats, but they aren't really ratonga*

[Xalmat]

At Fan Faire this year, I believe the Dev Team said more Ratonga lore will be made available. When and what, though, remains a mystery.

[Enever]

Heh...must be something big then. Usually small stuff like this doesn't get mentioned in the conventions.

[FireDragon]

I agree, Ratonga are way overdue for a revealing of their lore.Perhaps we can use this thread to gather together all pieces that are in the game at the moment? or is there anything at all?Heres my most intreresting contribution:<div > <h3>The History of Ratonga</h3> </div> <div > Through my own experiences, I have gained knowledge and insight into the ratonga.Each part of this history tome can only be completed in its own time.Story 1Since the world is changed and we come to live on the surface, some traditions may be lost. May you learn the ratonga ways and keep them. Many are the grains of sand in the desert and also many are the years of the ratonga. Long did we dwell in the hidden places of the world, in the hidden places of the heart. Listen now, my children, draw close to hear our story, our song.In the long-ago when the shape of the world was different, we first awoke in the darkness. See our hands? They are thin and quick and more agile than the hands of any other. See our whiskers? They take the measure of the air and the thoughts of others.There are many paths to the light, but few that lead back into the darkness. Many are those of the surface that fear the dark, but if they could see what we see in the light, they would fear that as well. Light creates shadows. Without light, there is no dark.In the darkness, the Ancient of ratonga whom we call Belaska was pursued by her enemies and they caught her. She kept her fur combed and clean and slipped from their grasp, but they clung to her and would not let go. She found a small tunnel and fled into it.Still her enemies grasped at her, pulling and pulling as Belaska twisted and clung to the sides of the tunnel. She was stronger than her enemy and pulled herself free, but her enemies' hands had stripped the luxurious fur from her tail. And that is why the ratonga tail has but fine silken hairs and not fur. Run combs of ivory and bone through your fur often and you will live long.Story 2The worlds above change as the bright sun rises and sets. Over and again, the days of the overworld come and go. Feel the rhythm of their days, through light, then half-light, then dark and half-light again. And while the overworld had its rhythm, so too had we our own.For is not all life of a rhythm? That is why we dance, all who breathe and know that they live will dance to music, such beautiful and haunting music. It is soft and gentle. It is hard and fast. It throbs like the pulse along the tenderest length of the neck. Listen to the rhythms, children. Listen!Those of the overworld cannot hear the music, do not feel the rhythms as we can. And in those half-beats where they are unaware, we are keeping count. Pulse for pulse, when the rhythm is in your blood and heart, it gives you speed and grace. It gives you stealth.That is why there is the Dance of the Ancient, my children. When the rhythms of the light and dark have spun past the world, young ratonga gather before their tribes to dance. Those whose steps are most airy and graceful are taken and trained in the Ways of Belaska, of which we will say no more.There is a leader among them who feels the rhythms, however, and it is to this leader that we are drawn. For around him he gathers power and prestige, and those who value these things value possessions of the world as well. They hoard their treasures, and we have seen them.Story 3Know then, that we lived many seasons of the overworld in the dark places and we danced many times over the Dance of the Ancient before the people of the overworld first knew us. They do not think as we do. They do not feel the rhythms around them. And so we watched.In one of the many wars of the overworld, our help we granted to the leader with prestige. Through many of our secret paths (though not all) did we lead them to their victory. And in thanks, their leader gave us a patch of the overland upon which to build homes such as theirs.Our feet are ever on the ground and we feel its rhythms though the overworlders feel it not. And so, they trembled and cried when the rocks split and the waters churned, for they did not know it would happen. We knew and we changed our rhythm to match. In our many long lives, our places in the dark often change and shift. It gives us purpose, to anticipate what may yet be. We feel the changes and we change with them. Look at our tails!Now, many of the old paths are shut and many new ones are open and we have seen them. With our delicate fingers we have touched the secret centers of the world and felt its pulse. Though it may always change its shape, its pulse is known to us.Changes come with the shifting of the worlds. Learn the rhythm of the new world around us, but never forget the ways of our past. While we are now in the overworld, our feet still touch the ground. Sit in the open spaces of the overworld now and touch the sky as well. </div>

[Sapphirius]

<cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>They've actually been tossing the racial lore of all the races to the wayside, while they focus on what is happening now in Norrath. Not just Ratonga, but everyone else. Not even the Fae and Arasai have that much lore about them. Especially the Arasai. Ratonga arn't headline news anymore. Only an expansion or zone that focuses only on them would bring them back into the limelight.</blockquote><p>Actually, there's just enough Fae lore out there to make me happy and to form a fairly decent backstory for any of my Fae girls that I may roll. (Thank you, Owlchick, for spelling the basics of Fae lives out for us.) However, there's not enough Arasai to answer the questions about the basics of their life and creations. In fact, what is out there contradicts Fae lore, and Arasai are supposed to be corrupted versions of the Fae.</p><p>Ratonga are pretty much in the same boat as Arasai. There's a couple of books out there and a little bit of information... just enough to get a vague idea and no more. The lore released along with the Roekillik for the Icy Digs gave very little info that we didn't already know beyond the Roekillik desire to commit genocide on the Ratonga. I think this is because, like Fae and Arasai, they're a relatively new <i>playable</i> race in EQ history, and so they haven't have 4 years (7 now) to build up an acceptable amount of lore. Actually it's been longer than that, hasn't it?</p><p>I remember reading something that discussed the creation of the Ratonga, and I'll see if I can find it. I know that it's written in the Prima guide for EQ2. The book basically said that Brell created the Roekillik first but then decided that they were too strong and too clever and locked them away in the Underfoot to create a new version of Roekillik that were larger and not as dangerous. The thing mentioned stuff about steel claws and psionic powers. According to the book, some of the characteristics they possessed were mischeviousness and cunning. Anyhow, the Rending happened, and out they crawl.</p><p>"Hey, here we are. What shall we call ourselves?"</p><p>"I know. Ratonga!"</p><p>It's kind of anticlimatic and not a very good explanation. It leaves a lot of gaping holes and unanswered questions with <a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?start=30&topic_id=186814�" target="_blank">a vague promise</a> by Vhalen that there would be more information forthcoming, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?start=15&topic_id=187018�" target="_blank">a statement</a> that they supposedly know more than what's been realeased, and a comment regarding <a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?start=0&topic_id=187539�" target="_blank">the roekillik</a>, ratonga, and the gods.</p><p>In the meantime, here is something that I managed to dig up.</p><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://everquestonlineadventures.station.sony.com/lore_4.vm" target="_blank">The Wererats</a></p><p>Another of Wegadas' sons, Yindrius, was abducted shortly after his birth; not an easy task for the abductors considering how closely guarded the children of Wegadas were by the Lujien and Gihjna.</p><p>However, the abductors were the Ratonga, masters of stealth and deception. A Ratonga spy living beneath Qeynos had learned of Corindas years before Yindrius birth and had agents watching the Unkempt Druids for an opportunity to steal one of Wegadas' offspring and learn of the spirit deities and rituals called upon for the offsprings' spiritual and physical tranformation into a werecreature.</p><p>The Ratonga succeeded. Their most powerful magic-wielders called upon their deity Caertex and convinced him to bestow upon Yindrius powers similar to his brothers. He was given the ability to change into the form of the ratman; and was charged with creating a network of wererats that would infest the surface cities, provide information to the Ratonga, and manipulate the surface civilizations to their favor.</p><p>Unfortunately the Ratonga vanished into the Underfoot from which they came not long after Yindrius established his network of spies dubbed the Topi di Ombra. The wererats became servants of Yindrius and forgot about their former masters.</p><p>Yindrius lost all recollection or knowledge of his family or the affairs of the other lycanthropes.</p><p><b>EDIT:</b> to link the source of the wererats snippage</p>

[Enever]

Caertex? Now this is something new to me. Now...just reading that little post of Vhalens made me rethink of how my ratonga can go, spiritual wise. To be honest, this is the first time I heard of him... and he's a rat-like deity as well? I'm even more curious now...

[Sapphirius]

There was a little discussion about Caertex and whether or not he is even a god in <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?start=30&topic_id=378866�" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Pantheon</a>. He's one of the <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=187460" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">lesser-known deities</a>. I don't really know much of anything about him beyond that he is mentioned in the lore of EQOA and that he is credited with the creation of wererats.

[Cusashorn]

<cite>Sapphirius wrote:</cite><blockquote>There was a little discussion about Caertex and whether or not he is even a god in <a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?start=30&topic_id=378866�" target="_blank">The Pantheon</a>. He's one of the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=187460" target="_blank">lesser-known deities</a>. I don't really know much of anything about him beyond that he is mentioned in the lore of EQOA and that he is credited with the creation of wererats.</blockquote>Caertex has already been proven he's not a diety. Just a really, REALLY powerful mage.

[Sapphirius]

<p>But being a powerful mage instead of a god does nothing to change that the Ratonga thought of him as one and worshipped him as one regardless.</p>

[Cusashorn]

But what's the point in calling him a "lesser-known diety" when he's not a diety?

[Sapphirius]

<cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>But what's the point in calling him a "lesser-known diety" when he's not a diety?</blockquote>It was the title of the thread that I linked. <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> It also leads to the question of whether or not one actually has to be one of the recognized "gods" of Norrathian lore in order to be a deity. By definition, a deity or god is a being that you worship. If the ratongans worshipped Craetex, then he is, by definition, a deity... albeit a lesser-known one.

[Cusashorn]

yeah I guess that makes sense.

[Rabid-Othmir]

It should be noted that there is a <span class="postbody">King </span><span class="postbody">Caertex in Kaladim. I haven't actually bumped into him personally, so I don't know if he is the real deal or just somebody using the name of Caertex.</span>

[Spindle]

<p>Heck yeah. I would LOVE to see more on the Ratonga. (Prima guide has a nice little bit about the naming of Ratonga. When two ratonga meet, and they have a name, they HAVE to have a fight. The winner gets the name, the loser slinks off, or is killed.)</p><p>Also, the devs have been saying about something coming from below. It pushed up the Ratonga, and the Splitpaw gnolls, and has been referenced in numerous prophecies. I hope that they DO do something with it. (Would LOVE to see an Underfoot expansion.)</p><p>Oh yeah, Tonga rule. Rawr.</p>

[Sapphirius]

Interestingly enough, some of the stuff I read states that Christanos was trying to take over the Underfoot when she had Neriak sealed off. Could it be that those two events are related?

[Lodrelhai]

<p>There has been some lore development in EoF, I think.  The Roekillik and Ratonga, or some factions among them, aren't at war anymore.  At least, that's what I take from the fact that the rat-folk in Kaladim are called Ratillik.  <a href="http://www.lorelibrary.com/?page=book&bid=350" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The New Path</a> also seems to support this (link is to the text as recorded at The Anthenaeum):</p><p>"Where once we were brothers at war, we now unite under N'Gurai. The blood feud must end. Our fight should not be between the forsaken sibling rodent races, but between below and above."</p><p>King Caertex is also addressed in there:</p><p>"A false prophet and king shall be chosen and he shall carry the name of the supreme father."</p><p>Plans definitely seem to have come to fruition, and I'm eager to see what those little rats are going to do next. </p>

[Sapphirius]

<cite>Lodrelhai wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>King Caertex is also addressed in there:</p><p>"A false prophet and king shall be chosen and he shall carry the name of the supreme father."</p></blockquote>Well, if King Caertex is the false prophet, then either the rat-mage is somebody pretending to be Caertex, or Caertex is the false prophet pretending to be Brell... Only, he isn't pretending to be Brell.  Ummm. OK, now I'm just rambling. So is the King Caertex in Kaladim <i>really</i> Caertex? Or a ratonga pretending to be Caertex?

[DocFlareon]

<cite>Sapphirius wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Lodrelhai wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>King Caertex is also addressed in there:</p><p>"A false prophet and king shall be chosen and he shall carry the name of the supreme father."</p></blockquote>Well, if King Caertex is the false prophet, then either the rat-mage is somebody pretending to be Caertex, or Caertex is the false prophet pretending to be Brell... Only, he isn't pretending to be Brell.  Ummm. OK, now I'm just rambling. So is the King Caertex in Kaladim <i>really</i> Caertex? Or a ratonga pretending to be Caertex?</blockquote>My best guess is that the mortal ratonga named Caertex that you can find in Kaladim has chosen to take up the name of Caertex the deity as his own.

[ratdeath]

Goods or evils?Not sure where I read this or even if I read it somewhere, maybe its just a dream or something I made up.<div align="left"><i>After the shattering the ratongas sent delegations to both Qeynos and Freeport and where turned down and frowned upon at Qeynos and not very welcome, thats why we ended up in Freeport. But it's also known that we helped Freeport during some war with supply in our hidden tunnels and perhaos thats the reason we were more welcome in Freeport then Qeynos. </i>Would be nice with more Lore about uses! <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />I am also a Ratonga only player, well the reason I bougt EQ2 is because of Ratongas.Squeek!</div>

[Sapphirius]

<p>Good thing to know. I agree that ratongas should be neutral, but I have a feeling that real the reason ratongas are evil aligned was to keep the number of evil-only races even with the number of good-only races. Remember the outcry when EOF first came out and it was discovered that the Fae were in fact good aligned instead of neutral? Now, we have the Arasai.</p><p>Good</p><ul><li>High Elf</li><li>Wood Elf</li><li>Frogloks</li><li>Halflings</li><li>Dwarf</li></ul><p>Evil</p><ul><li>Troll</li><li>Ogre</li><li>Dark Elf</li><li>Ratonga</li><li>Iksar</li></ul>

[Cusashorn]

<cite>Sapphirius wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Good thing to know. I agree that ratongas should be neutral, but I have a feeling that real the reason ratongas are evil aligned was to keep the number of evil-only races even with the number of good-only races. Remember the outcry when EOF first came out and it was discovered that the Fae were in fact good aligned instead of neutral? Now, we have the Arasai.</p><p>Good</p><ul><li>High Elf</li><li>Wood Elf</li><li>Frogloks</li><li>Halflings</li><li>Dwarf</li></ul><p>Evil</p><ul><li>Troll</li><li>Ogre</li><li>Dark Elf</li><li>Ratonga</li><li>Iksar</li></ul></blockquote>Yeah but don't forget that Frogloks weren't unlocked until 6 months later in the game. Before that, Evil races outnumber Good by 1.

[einar4]

<p> This is a tidbit from an old ingame book that I really enjoyed, as it reflects the philosophy of the Ratonga that is very much alien to what you normally consider to be "honorable."   This is the kind of thing that does really breathe life into a world of diverse races and cultures. </p><b>Dance of the Ancient</b> <p>The Dance of the Ancient is a tradition among the Ratonga that they trace back to an ancestor named Belaska the Ancient. Is there more to the stories of the Ancient than the Ratonga let on? In the days when the Ratonga lived below, they held gatherings several times a season. At the end of each of these gatherings, the young Ratonga joined in the Dance of the Ancient. The story told is that it represents the pursuit of the Ancient, Belaska and how she evaded those who chased her. Cheska could not wait for the Dance of Ancients. She walked always on the tips of her toes, graceful and swaying. She knew that only the best dancers would be selected for the secret rites that went back to the days they lived under the ground. She knew they would pick her. Whenever anyone teased her for walking on her tiptoes, Cheska would retort, "I must practice for the Dance of the Ancient." Everyone knew what Cheska hoped for, and they would wish her well. Some seasons, no one was selected at all to learn the Ways of Belaska. Some seasons, only one or two were chosen. Cheska wanted to be chosen. The morning of the Dance dawned bright and clear. Though they had lived in burroughs just outside Freeport for several seasons now, the Ratonga retreated now to darker places to perform the Dance. All through the morning, Cheska twirled on her toes, dipping and swaying gracefully, her arms arched perfectly before her, fingertips barely touching. There was no music for the Dance. Not since the time the orcs came through the Commonlands and slaughtered an entire tribe. The Ratongas cursed the orcs, but they also learned a lesson. Under the ground, sounds echoed so that their origins were hard to trace. Beneath the open sky, sounds were easier to track. Cheska joined the line of Ratonga girls formed for the Dance. At the nod from the elder, her head snapped back and her dark eyes glittered with pride. "This is my Dance," Cheska thought. She swooped along gracefully, twirling higher than she had before and bending lower than the other girls. As the lines continued the Dance, the elders sat watching them, conferring by the simple twitching of their whiskers. Cheska stood even straighter, her smile even more dazzling as the girls' line spun before the elders. They simply had to choose her, she was dancing better than she ever had before. On their next turning, the girl immediately in front of Cheska skipped a step, breaking the rhythm and faltering as she tried to return to the proper Dance steps. Cheska's concentration was broken. "Left foot, left foot, glide...glide..." she murmured to the other girl, who smiled her thanks as she returned to the flowing movements. The elders rose. Cheska's heart pounded; they were choosing now! The elders picked five boys and three girls. They did not pick Cheska. She held herself up proudly gritting her teeth to congratulate the ones selected to learn the Ways. There would be other Dances, but she would never dance again. One of the elders called her aside and said, "Cheska, we would have chosen you, but...you failed us." At Cheska's puzzled look, he said, "To be Ratonga, is to save yourself. You tried to save that girl. The Ratonga will only survive on the surface if we think of ourselves. Remember that." Cheska simply nodded. It was a lesson she would never forget.</p>

[Sapphirius]

<cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>Yeah but don't forget that Frogloks weren't unlocked until 6 months later in the game. Before that, Evil races outnumber Good by 1.</blockquote>The difference here being that the devs <i>knew</i> Frogloks would be coming when they released the game. They just didn't know <i>when</i>.

[Zeltaria]

<p>I doubt I'm the first one to think of this, and I might just be rambling.. but upon thinking about all the stuff that's been said before, about "something needed from above" to unlock something, I saw someone holding stormhammer the other day and got a screenshot, and read the text on the weapon.  I dont know if Stormhammer came from "above" or not.. but it WAS made by Brell... and didn't Brell create the Ratonga? (along with Bristlebane).  </p><p><img src="http://www.trish-art.com/temp/stormhammerinfo.jpg" alt="" width="309" height="841" border="0" /></p><p>and the text that someone posted on <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=357439" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this thread</a> about the text upon completing the quest </p><p><cite>Godofthunder wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><snip>Also when we completed Stormhammer the dialogue led  me to believe that the hammer is some sort of key that will unlock something down the line.</blockquote><p>Well, would Stormhammer have anything to do with unlocking Ratonga Lore? I dont know what text is said when working or completing the Stormhammer quest, I haven't started it, but I plan on it soon hopefully.</p><p>I dont know, just my wild theories *lol* I really enjoy reading the History and Lore forums and you guys are great at figuring stuff out. </p>

[RaphaNissi]

The thing from above is referring to the symbol engraved on the table at Windstalker Village that helps unlock the chest found in the vaults where The New Path is found.  As for Caertex, there is just no way the one in Kaladim is the real one.  The real one is a deity of sorts and is where he is because of his ability to hear the thoughts of those around him and not be able to block them out.  He stays in a place no one enters inorder to find peace for his mind.  It's highly doubtful the one in Kaladim is anything but a namesake of the rat-like deity.

[Enever]

Brell did Create the ratonga. I heard he borrowed a little bit of Bristlebane's magic as well to add the mischievous part of the ratonga?

[IrishWonder]

<cite>Enever wrote:</cite><blockquote>Brell did Create the ratonga. I heard he borrowed a little bit of Bristlebane's magic as well to add the mischievous part of the ratonga?</blockquote>Correct. Brell created the Roekillik, cousins of the Ratonga, which turned out to be a little more evil than Brell would have liked. These he locked up in a gigantic vault in the Underfoot in hopes that they could not escape... and he tried again, this time creating the Ratonga. In order to ensure that they didn't turn out like the Roekillik, he asked Bristlebane to add a bit of his influence. This, in turn, had the effect of making the Ratonga sneaky and opportunistic.

[Enever]

Right I just had to get that confirmed. Thanks for the information so far guys, heh. Still curious about the past and what our beliefs, if any are.

[Aya Lin]

I'm not sure if you've seen these?:<a href="http://www.eiwyn.arcanya.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.eiwyn.arcanya.com/</a>Eiwyn's Library has the text from racial tomes found in game.  More tantilising glimpses into the Ratonga.Apologies if I'm repeating information.

[Nakaru-Nitepaw]

I also think it's long overdo. We need Ratonga Lore revealed. Theres so much we don't know about ourselves. I don't think we evolved from wererats though. The whole concept of were's involves mutation from human to animal caused by some interaction, such as a full moon, consumption, or a triggering sound. Ratonga don't seam to mutate.<span class="postbody">As for my insight on the </span><span class="postbody">Arasai comments. </span><span class="postbody">As i recall from Lore, The </span>Teir’Dal<span class="postbody"> are Innoruuk's Children created from the </span>Koada’Dal. It seams likely the <span class="postbody">Arasai are his children created from the fae. I could be wrong, but thats how i see it.</span>

[Nocturnal Aby]

<p>Regarding the Arasai, all sources, including their own, and even those who oppose the Queen (Spires of Innoruuk and the Indigo Brotherhood) claim that it was Cristanos who was behind the creation of the Arasai, though it was inspired by how Innoruuk created the Dark Elves.</p><p>What we know about the Ratonga is as follow:</p><p>Brell created the Roekillik, a powerful race of rat-like creatures, who's claws and teeth were designed to bore through solid rock, and who had powerful psionic powers.  What Brell hadn't counted on was how evil the Roekillik became.  They soon began to take over the Underfoot, enslaving, if not outright demolishing the other denizens they came across.  Saddened by the monstrosites his creations turned out to be, but unable to destroy them outright, he killed a vast number of them, but saved a few of their kind, locking them away in an impenetrable Vault.  Once that was done, he went back to the proverbial grindstone, recreating his rat race.  This time, however, he asked for the aid of Fizzlethorpe Bristlebane, hoping that the influence of the god of Mirth might curb the cruelty of his creations.  Bristlebane agreed, and together, they created the Ratonga.  The Ratonga were not as mentally powerful as the Roekillik,though still having some skill in the arcane, as well as gaining great agility, and stealth.  Happy with their newest creations, Brell placed the Ratonga in a chamber to let the peoples grow.  Soon, however, they were popping up in places all over the Underfoot.  Adventurous and curious; sneaky and opportunistic.  It was at this time that they first made contact with the surface world, and helped the supply trains of the city of Freeport during the Rallosian seige.</p><p>Then the Rending began.  The Rending reshaped the Underfoot just as it had the Surface world.  Old passages were cut off, and new ones made.  The Vault that held the Roekillik was broken, and when they found the Ratonga, they were enraged.  Feeling themselves superior, and seeing the Ratonga as abominations, they began to hunt Brell's second generation down, eradicating the "blight."  This drove the Ratonga into hiding, and eventually, in fact, very near the time of the Shattering, they made their way to Freeport, and before anyone knew it, they had spoken to the Foci, and even to the Overlord himself.  What deal their ambassadors struck with the Overlord, no one but they know, but in exchange, the Ratonga were offered haven, in Freeport, and a district was set up to accomodate their arrival, shared with the gnomes.</p><p>In the most recent of times, a new cult has been seen in Kaladim.  A cult made up of many followers of Brell, most his creations, but some simply those who have lived in his domain, and follow him dilligently.  In this cult, witnesses have preported seeing Ratonga and Roekillik alike.  Whether this bears ill or fortune has yet to be truly seen, though I have have little doubt that the dwarves feel it a good omen.</p><p>Though I'm not entirely sure where all the original sources for this information can be found, I believe it all to be true.  If Vhalen, the Tome Keeper, or Jindrack, or Ilucidae, or Owlchick can elaborate, correct, or corroberate, it would, of course, be most appreciated.</p>

[Sapphirius]

<cite>Eschia@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>I also think it's long overdo. We need Ratonga Lore revealed. Theres so much we don't know about ourselves. <b><u>I don't think we evolved from wererats though.</u></b> The whole concept of were's involves mutation from human to animal caused by some interaction, such as a full moon, consumption, or a triggering sound. Ratonga don't seam to mutate.<span class="postbody">As for my insight on the </span><span class="postbody">Arasai comments. </span><span class="postbody">As i recall from Lore, The </span>Teir’Dal<span class="postbody"> are Innoruuk's Children created from the </span>Koada’Dal. It seams likely the <span class="postbody">Arasai are his children created from the fae. I could be wrong, but thats how i see it.</span></blockquote><p><i><b>No one</b></i> said ratonga evolved from wererats. You misread something. In fact, the wererat creation story from EQOA specifically includes mention of abduction by ratongas, so this is proof positive that ratongas existed <i>before</i> wererats. It's just additional information for any who are curious.</p><p>As for the Arasai, Innoruuk didn't create them. It was Queen Christanos, and all indications are that she is possessed by... something, but I doubt it's Innoruuk. You can gain a bit more insight into Fae/Arasai lore in <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=379651" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this thread</a>.</p>

[Nakaru-Nitepaw]

I guess i did misread the wererat part. Thx for clearing that up. Nocturnal's story seams to fit really well. Judging by that huge demon standing next to <span class="postbody">Christanos, I'd say what ever possessed her is pretty evil. XD</span>

[Sapphirius]

<nod nods> I'm sure it is. I just wish I knew what.

[Nocturnal Aby]

Just wanted to clarify that I didn't make that story up, heh.  It is a paraphrase of something I read before, but it was a long time ago (back before they redid the boards the first time, I think), and I really don't know it's original source, so there is a possibility of it being slightly off.  However, as you pointed out, it seems to fit all the goings on, and I have yet to find any evidence to oppose it.