Murine

Murine creatures, sometimes called mice, mouslings, ratkin, and rabbit people are descended from humans and small woodland creatures shifters. They cannot fully change shape as their full lycanthrope forebears could, but can take on a quadrupedal form — a state they call shifting. Murine have evolved into a unique race that breeds true. They have a distinct culture with its own traditions and identity.

Physical Description

Murine are basically humanoid in shape, but their bodies are exceptionally small and covered in fur reminiscent of the breed of murine strongest in their genes and can range from the black of a rat, spotted as a rabitt, grey as a mouse, etc. Males tend to be taller than human average, ranging from 4 to 6 feet, while females are typically smaller, ranging from 3 to 5 feet tall. They often move in a crouched posture, scurrying along while their companions walk normally alongside. Their faces have a bestial cast, with small, pink or red noses, beady eyes, flat teeth are prominent in the rabbitfolk and sharp but small for their rat counterparts and all have ears and a tail reflective of their breeding.

Base Age Age Mod Middle Age Old Venerable
13 +1d6 50 75 100
Gender Base Height Height Mod Base Weight Weight Mod
Male 6' +3d12 150 lb *1d4
Female 4' +2d12 100 lb *1d4

Personality

The personality and behavior of shifters are influenced by their animal natures. Murine are bred from creatures that hide themselves in shadows, hunt and keep secrets, and travel underground out of sight. Many are highly regarded from the most esteemed in society all the way down to the gutter filth for their subtle way of locating anything and everything as well as their ability to slip unnoticed into smaller spaces.

Society

Relations

Many races feel uncomfortable around murines the same way they feel around any small rodent. Of course, some grow to appreciate individual murine despite their natural aversion, and halflings in general get along well with them. For their part, murine are accustomed to the disgust and don’t expect better treatment from members of the other races, although some try to earn respect and companionship through acts and deeds.

Alignment

Religion

Language

Murine speak Common and rarely learn other languages.

Names

Murine use the same names as humans, often ones that are short in syllables.

Adventurers

Moving from the small, confined spaces of their home to crawl through a dungeon is a small step indeed. Many murine find themselves embarking on adventuring careers after something happens to disrupt their everyday routines—a monstrous incursion into their village or forest, for example, or a guide job gone sour, or simply the love of finding something shiny for their collections.

Notable Murine

TieganMurine Ninja 1

head.jpgTiegan01.jpg

Racial Traits

Murine characters have the following racial abilities and characteristics.

  • -2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence — Murine are agile and intelligent, but are not very strong.
  • Small — Murine are Small creatures and gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a -1 penalty to their Combat Maneuver Bonus (CMB) and Combat Maneuver Defense (CMD), and a +4 size bonus to AC.
  • Normal Speed — Murine are fast for their size and have a base speed of 30 feet.
  • Shapechanger — Murine are humanoids with the shapechanger subtype. Humanoid (Shapechanger)
  • Shifting(Su) — All Murine have two forms — a humanoid form and an animal form. Equipment melds with the new form when shifting into its animal form. Both the animal and humanoid forms remain the same throughout the Murine's life and can never be altered. Changing into the animal form requires a standard action and grants a +2 size bonus to Dexterity and a +1 natural armor bonus. It also gains the climb and swim speed abilities (20 feet each) see climb and swim, and may use its dexterity modifier in place of its strength modifier on climb and swim checks. Shifting, though related to and developed from lycanthropy, is neither an affliction nor a curse. It is not passed on by bite or claw attacks, and a feline can’t be cured—shifting is a natural ability for the race. Wearing anything made of silver, even a ring, prevents this ability for as long as the item is worn.
  • Bite — A Murine can make a bite as a primary natural attack dealing 1d4 + Strength Modifier piercing/slashing/bludgeoning damage. A Murine is proficient with its bite attack.
  • Murine Immunity — Murine are immune to disease. If a Murine loses a saving throw against a disease, he becomes a carrier and can transmit the disease through his bite for 1d4 days.
  • Low-Light Vision — Murine can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
  • Scent(Ex) — This ability allows the feline to detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell. Murine can identify familiar odors just as humans do familiar sights. It can be used in place of the Track feat.
  • Fast Healing(Ex) — Murine heal 1 point of damage each round.
  • Sneaky — Murine are incredibly sneaky receive a +2 racial bonus on Escape Artist and Stealth checks.
  • Languages — Automatic: Common. Bonus Languages: Elven, Gnome, Halfling, and Sylvan.
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