Ratonga History (As current) [Archive] - EQ2 Forum Archive @ EQ2Wire

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Tanooki_Kabooki

03-22-2011, 03:00 PM

I was searching up Ratongas last night to see if Velious expac released any more info on Ratongas and I got a whole slew of threads on this history of Ratongas that were wierd, even some that were somewhat recent. Someone even thought that they were Chetari who evolved from eating to much dragon carron.. so.. here is another Ratonga History thread.Ratongas image and lore has evolved since the original game's launch. If you noticed they are actually a mix between gnomes and half elves in personality, there are a large number of good Ratonga NPCs. The Ratongas in the Moors for example. There is even a Ratonga who's a priest of the turtle spirit (Possibly a follower of Prexus) that you must work with to do the new Othmir HQ regarding a shield, to save the holy turtle. Brell created the Roekillik, a powerful race of rat-like creatures, whose 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 monstrosities 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 siege.

Tanooki_Kabooki

03-22-2011, 03:00 PM

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 accommodate their arrival, shared with the gnomes. Ratonga's follow several cults and deities like most races. It is believed that Ratonga's are Neutral by nature, but since Antonia Bayle judges the nature of beings by their appearance, Ratongas ended up only in Freeport at first. Being in the slums of Temple Street caused them to take on the nature of Freeport, thus becoming evil. The Ratonga's seemed to have followed two deities but could have worshiped Brell or/and Bristlebane as well. Caertex and Belaska. "From what outsiders can decipher, most Ratonga and all Roekillik worship a deity named Caertex. He is a mad being of supreme mental powers. Along with these powers comes the inability to block the thoughts of other entities within a massive range. This rat-like deity is said to exist deep in the Plane of Underfoot, within a portion called the Endless Tunnels. This is said to be a place not even planars venture. Those who enter the Endless Tunnels are lost forever. Here can be found the only peaceful sanctum for Caertex, who hides from the thoughts of nearly an entire plane" loreofnorrath.wordpress.com Roekillik and Ratongas are not the only rat race which Brell made. Chetari are from Dragon Necropolis in Velious are also creations of Brell, possibly pre-Roekillik. They are the tiny Ratongas that pose as Roekillik throughout Norrath in EQ2. The wererats are an EQOA deal and not sure if that is cannon for the storyline EQ2 is a part of. There is also another rat race I believe but not sure what they are called. Ratongas have a symbol/brand on their bodies, all of them apparently. If you are a Ratonga, visit the Windstalker village's bar. One of the tables has a bit of fun lore that only shows up to Ratongas (illusions work). Stories of the Ratonga. This is a book quest you can do in three parts, it suggests that Brell was successful with the Ratongas and they had a personality that wasn't evil. Some of these stories make me think they were tribal like Native Americans living in the underfoot at one time. What their heritage was when they lived in the underfoot is barely described here. Story 1 Since 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 2 The 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 3 Know 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. If you have anything extra to add please feel free. I will probably have to change wiki info soon because its way outdated.

Cronyn

03-22-2011, 03:17 PM

Okay, what the...SERIOUSLY, Domino and I were JUST talking about ratonga lore, and our thoughts on how it's been delivered and how we want to expand it... and then this gets posted. It's clear the ratonga have the multiverse's biggest and fastest spy network.That is weird. However, I am going to get the universe's hint and write more ratonga lore.

Cusashorn

03-22-2011, 03:29 PM

You left out the details about the Paebala rat race who lived on the other side of Dragon's Necropolis, away from the Chetari. They are the more benevolent of the two races there. The Chetari were cannibalistic and often preyed upon the Paebala. The Ratonga are closer related to the Paebala, while the Chetari are to the Roekillik.Then there was the generic unnamed "Ratmen" from The Hole but we all know where that ended up leading.Even though Caertix is worshiped as a diety, I do believe it was stated that he is just another mortal like all the other Ratonga and Roekillik.BTW, what ever happened to those plans of making Ratonga a neutral race? Does it really take years of planning to make a switch like that? It's pretty obvious that seeing what the Roekillik enjoy doing has convinced the Ratonga to reconsider their lives.

Tanooki_Kabooki

03-22-2011, 03:32 PM

Actually those two factions were the same race.. there isn't much info on them from what I could find though. I just labeled them as the majority faction rather than Ratmen or Paebala. Then again there might be small differences in the factions like humans have different races. There is also a rumor that they just evolved from normal rats eating the magical essences of dragons.Caertix was rumored to have shown up in game before in Kaladim but that was a rumor I heard.

Cronyn

03-22-2011, 03:45 PM

<cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>BTW, what ever happened to those plans of making Ratonga a neutral race? Does it really take years of planning to make a switch like that? It's pretty obvious that seeing what the Roekillik enjoy doing has convinced the Ratonga to reconsider their lives.</blockquote>It's happening, it's just a question of when - there's some necessary code support, and they have their hands full right now.That was actually a piece of our discussion this morning, too. <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Cusashorn

03-22-2011, 04:00 PM

<cite>Tanooki_Kabooki wrote:</cite><blockquote>Actually those two factions were the same race.. there isn't much info on them from what I could find though. I just labeled them as the majority faction rather than Ratmen or Paebala. Then again there might be small differences in the factions like humans have different races. There is also a rumor that they just evolved from normal rats eating the magical essences of dragons.Caertix was rumored to have shown up in game before in Kaladim but that was a rumor I heard.</blockquote>I've seen him there actually, but he was just a false prophet, a mortal like the rest. So is the Caertix that spawns in the Roekillik part of The Hole. I fought him there, he really had nothing special in terms of abilities or strategy that would suggest him to be anything terribly special, but I am just basing this off game mechanics, which don't necissarily reflect the lore.

Tanooki_Kabooki

03-22-2011, 04:02 PM

I also heard the rumor that they are going to fix the way ratonga females run and walk. They should run more like the guys but I guess its hard to change it built on a dwarven frame. They also look like they have adam's apples at time looking up <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /> lolMaybe if a SOGA ratonga model was created? But I think SOGA is done with new models having gotten mixed feedback. Some hate alternate models, some love them, and most like only a few.And I think personally the races should have their own dance like the arasai, fae, and sarnak. Halflings can keep the crazy foot stoping seizure thing <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" />Anyways back to the lore, I would like to see maybe an underfoot expansion or a mini expansion like the split paw saga which would be a great way to bring out lore to fill in the gaps.And for Caertix.. I don't know, he could have imitators or ratmen named after him. Kinda like how some people name their children after their religious deity in the real world.He's a demi-god of sorts so he would have to be a x2 raid mob atleast or part of an event like Shard of Love where you fight Mithanial. Unless he's dead or reincarnates, I don't see him being just a normal heroic boss.

Tanooki_Kabooki

03-22-2011, 04:10 PM

<img src="http://common.allakhazam.com/images/2/f/2f9bb1b53b34b9a1c1042e84edede7a1.png" width="472" height="478" />Roekillik<img src="http://images.wikia.com/eq2/images/7/70/Race_roekillik.jpg" width="358" height="583" />Ratongas<img src="http://images.wikia.com/eq2/images/a/a8/Race_ratonga.jpg" width="241" height="300" />

Squeecha

03-22-2011, 04:54 PM

<cite>Cronyn wrote:</cite><blockquote>Okay, what the...It's clear the ratonga have the multiverse's biggest and fastest spy network.</blockquote>Of courses. Just asks around the office and you'll finds out how efficient we is.

Lethe5683

03-23-2011, 02:48 AM

<cite>Tanooki_Kabooki wrote:</cite><blockquote>I also heard the rumor that they are going to fix the way ratonga females run and walk. They should run more like the guys but I guess its hard to change it built on a dwarven frame. They also look like they have adam's apples at time looking up <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /> lolThey did sort of but they didn't get the animations timing correct which caused it to be way too fast so they set it back to default while they work on it. <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=491979" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=491979</a>Maybe if a SOGA ratonga model was created? But I think SOGA is done with new models having gotten mixed feedback. Some hate alternate models, some love them, and most like only a few.No thanks! Ratonga models are perfect and I for one loathe the SOGA models.And I think personally the races should have their own dance like the arasai, fae, and sarnak. Halflings can keep the crazy foot stoping seizure thing <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" />That would be nice.</blockquote>

Tanooki_Kabooki

03-23-2011, 02:54 AM

<cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Tanooki_Kabooki wrote:</cite><blockquote>I also heard the rumor that they are going to fix the way ratonga females run and walk. They should run more like the guys but I guess its hard to change it built on a dwarven frame. They also look like they have adam's apples at time looking up <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /> lolThey did sort of but they didn't get the animations timing correct which caused it to be way too fast so they set it back to default while they work on it. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=491979" target="_blank">http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=491979</a>Maybe if a SOGA ratonga model was created? But I think SOGA is done with new models having gotten mixed feedback. Some hate alternate models, some love them, and most like only a few.No thanks! Ratonga models are perfect and I for one loathe the SOGA models.And I think personally the races should have their own dance like the arasai, fae, and sarnak. Halflings can keep the crazy foot stoping seizure thing <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" />That would be nice.</blockquote></blockquote>I don't care if they have a SOGA or not model. You don't have to have any SOGA models on if you don't want.. but I like some of them over the original ones. Human males look 200% better thanks to SOGA imo for example. Just personal pref really. Ratongas will probably change looks slightly when Everquest Next is released if they are a player race.

Lethe5683

03-23-2011, 03:10 AM

<cite>Tanooki_Kabooki wrote:</cite><blockquote>I don't care if they have a SOGA or not model. You don't have to have any SOGA models on if you don't want.. but I like some of them over the original ones. Human males look 200% better thanks to SOGA imo for example. Just personal pref really. Ratongas will probably change looks slightly when Everquest Next is released if they are a player race.</blockquote>I thought Everquest Next was supposed to basically be a remake of EQ1? Which was extremely disappointing news.

Tanooki_Kabooki

03-23-2011, 04:46 AM

<cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Tanooki_Kabooki wrote:</cite><blockquote>I don't care if they have a SOGA or not model. You don't have to have any SOGA models on if you don't want.. but I like some of them over the original ones. Human males look 200% better thanks to SOGA imo for example. Just personal pref really. Ratongas will probably change looks slightly when Everquest Next is released if they are a player race.</blockquote>I thought Everquest Next was supposed to basically be a remake of EQ1? Which was extremely disappointing news.</blockquote>From what I know, its a new norrath. Not sure if its supposed to be another EQ1 but its a different storyline with familar places but quite different. I'm looking forward to it. Anyways we're off thread again <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> just youtube Everquest Next.

Cusashorn

03-23-2011, 10:35 AM

It's a reimagining of the original EverQuest and the Norrath from 500 years ago. No canonical relation to either game in terms of storylines.

Enever

03-29-2011, 01:31 PM

I'd like to see progression on the ratongan plans too. More lore, yes, and the plan to make them neutral.

betatester7

04-29-2011, 02:59 PM

with the New Game update: Children of WarThe ratongas are appearing in the city of Qyenos, they don't know the reason for this. In freeport are talking about some rumors on the subject.

Anaogi

04-29-2011, 05:13 PM

Huh. So that's why my Qeynos troubie's cheese supply keeps disappearing.The agenda procedes apace...

Cusashorn

04-29-2011, 07:15 PM

So nearly a year or so later they're finally getting around to making the Ratonga a Neutral race, huh?

Iskandar

04-29-2011, 08:18 PM

Yay! The Kerra of Nettleville have a grand feast planned! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" />uh... to umm... welcome them... yeah... to welcome the Ratonga... <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/49869fe8223507d7223db3451e5321aa.gif" border="0" />

Zabjade

04-29-2011, 09:55 PM

<cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>You left out the details about the Paebala rat race who lived on the other side of Dragon's Necropolis, away from the Chetari. They are the more benevolent of the two races there. The Chetari were cannibalistic and often preyed upon the Paebala. The Ratonga are closer related to the Paebala, while the Chetari are to the Roekillik.Then there was the generic unnamed "Ratmen" from The Hole but we all know where that ended up leading.Even though Caertix is worshiped as a diety, I do believe it was stated that he is just another mortal like all the other Ratonga and Roekillik.BTW, what ever happened to those plans of making Ratonga a neutral race? Does it really take years of planning to make a switch like that? It's pretty obvious that seeing what the Roekillik enjoy doing has convinced the Ratonga to reconsider their lives.</blockquote>Take a look over on Test there are Nervous Ratonga and Qeynos Citizens all over North and South Qeynos...Haven't checked harbor or the Elddar Grove to see if there are any related Quest yet.BTW if there is a Welcoming Quest would other Evil races that have seen the Light side be able to benifit as well as the Ratonga? I moved my Iksar and Dark Elves to halas because they where more open-minded.

Meirril

05-01-2011, 07:25 AM

I'm kinda suprised that NOBODY has actually commented on the OPs lore.From what I understand Brell created 2 races called "Roekillik". Presumably the Roekillik in The Hole (EQ2) are the first Roekillik. The second race are the miniture versions found in Thundering Stepps, Enchanted Lands and another zone (it escapes me for the moment) for one of the old World Events where the Roekillik were working for the Drakota. The Lore behind it talks about the elder race being able to mentally enslave the younger race and the younger race being able to escape the vault of brell. The younger race was given a mission but what that mission is was never discussed.The second race created wasn't the Ratonga. I don't believe an actual creation mythos for the Ratonga has entered game yet. While it is very likely Brell created the Ragonga, we don't have any idea when.There is a book in game that discusses (from the Ratonga point of view) when they first appeared. From the book it wasn't clear if they appeared before, during or after the Rending. There isn't anything I know of in Lore that suggests that Qeynos was approached. There is a great deal to suggest that the Ratonga appeared before the Shattering. Considering everything, I find it very dubious that Queen Antonia Bayle would be the monarch at the time the Ratonga appeared. Unfortunately we don't have much information about the Bayle line of succession to go on from the past 500 years. Just that the Bayle line that Antonious Bayle the IVth was from has died out and the leadership of Qeynos searched for the closest successor and found her on the Isle of Erollisi in the care of the Sisterhood. Not trying to derail this into a succession thread...Concerning Caertex: he is lumped in the same category as Veniril Sathir, Lucan D'Lere, and Cristanos. A powerful being who has claimed to be a god. Largely they benifited from the absence of the gods themselves and show some signs of benifiting from worship but show no actual signs of being anything more than powerful mortals. The Caertex that have shown up in game so far have been fairly easy to defeat, none requiring a raid effort while Veniril Sathir was a x4 encounter that showed definate signs of being something out of the ordinary with him calling on his made-up "all-soul of the iksar" Sylix for additional power.The Chetari shouldn't be pre-Roekillik. According the the Roekillik's claim they were the first, and the best. The Roekillik would claim to be before all other creations which is certainly possible. It is their interactions with other creations that made Brell angry and caused the race to be confined. When were the Chetari created? When were the Ratonga created? Undefined.Now, I hope someone comes along and corrects me. Enjoy!