Rahbe

Diminutive rat-folk with an inherent psionic gift

Diminutive, rodent-like creatures who share a psionic gift, rahbe were stumbled upon by humans when they settled in Independence. In the layers of ancient buildings below the island’s surface, these mysterious creatures had survived for countless generations in the ruins of what had come before. The rahbe brought with them stories of a “precursor” civilisation from the dawn of time, psions who once harnessed untold forces with their tremendous mental might. Then, some terrible tragedy wiped them from the world, leaving only the rahbe to recall them.

The story is considered apocryphal by many, but Alm’s scattered ruins of advanced civilisation—older even than the fey can recall—lend some veracity to the claim. In any case, the rahbe were greatly excited by the humans’ coming, and eager to work with them as they found their place in Alm. It is whispered in the deepest tunnels that humans and rahbe are kin, their fates forever interwoven on the loom of souls—and that, in time, they will open the way for the precursors to return to Alm.

Play a rahbe if you want…

• to be a small, speedy combatant.
• to share your memory and experiences with other members of your kind.
• to come from the oldest culture in Alm.

Physical Qualities

In general form, rahbe are very much like a miniature human with several rodent traits. Small and fine-boned, they seem extraordinarily frail, but their psionic nature makes them more resilient than appearance suggests. A long ratlike tail extends from the coccyx, used mostly for balance and body language.

Sex dimorphism is virtually nonexistent among rahbe, limited to certain scent markers that other creatures lack any chance to perceive. Their faces are generally humanlike, but with huge dark eyes and a large cranium, a slightly extended muzzle and soft fur up the bridge of the nose. Rahbe have long ratlike incisors, and the mouth often rests slightly open, narrowly exposing the lower front teeth.

The “hair” of a rahbe usually looks from a distance like tight braids or dreadlocks, but is in fact a series of fine, lightly-furred tendrils which grow all about the scalp. The length varies between individuals, but any “hair cut” is a very permanent decision. Their ears meanwhile appear long and thin—similar to elven ears—but in fact a rubbery membrane stretched between fine bones, which splays into a fan shape when alert.

Rahbe live only slightly longer than humans. However, their appearance and serene attitude—born of their collective racial memory—give them a certain ageless quality, which has led to the myth that they are much longer-lived.

Playing a Rahbe

Coming from a small, singular group, long isolated from all others, rahbe are much more like a single culture than most of Alm’s people. Mysterious and patient, they spend a great deal of time observing their surroundings. Although the depths of their tunnels keep ages-old secrets, they are both inquisitive and open-minded. They are always seeking to learn new things—especially since that means sharing such knowledge with their kin. Although they are careful in choosing quests and companions, they are typically eager to pursue new experiences. However, they are often bemused by the social constructs of other races, such as gender and caste, which seem bizarre to their thinking.

As psionic beings, rahbe make no distinction between the concepts of mind and soul; what are either, if not the sum of one’s every experience, emotion and dream? In turn, they view the presence of consciousness as more important than physical form. A “country” to a rahbe is not a place where one lives, but rather the community of people who live there.

With their unique psionic nature, the rahbe have developed a distinct philosophy on life and death. To them, the existence is a never-ending ebb and flow, where souls die in one life to begin anew in another. They call this cycle “the weave” or “the pattern”, likening the universe itself to a great loom where endless threads are woven into one cloth. Rahbe share a sort of collective memory, a pool of knowledge from which they all occasionally draw; they claim that this too comes from the weave, a place where an open mind can briefly glimpse the pattern that describes all truths.

Rahbe are perceived as… Thoughtful, introspective, perceptive, wise, exotic, philosophical, curious, patient, mysterious.

Names: Archer, Brewer, Caller, Carter, Hunter, Mender, Runner, Seeker, Smith, Speaker, Trapper, Wayfinder, Weaver, Wright.

Actual rahbe names are unpronounceable to non-psionic beings, so they typically adopt the common name of their job or purpose when dealing with other races.