Skaven

Skaven is a name given to ratfolk by the races of men. Ratfolk have no cities or settlements of their own; they live as a sort of untouchable caste in human lands. They are below even the lowest serf in the eyes of the law and ratfolk who are murdered by humans are nearly always left without justice. Part of the reason for this is that the skaven have a reputation as thieves and murderers. This reputation is not entirely undeserved as many ratfolk due turn to crime, though this is likely more to do with upbringing and opportunity than any sort of racial inclination toward lawlessness or evil.

Ratfolk are considerably smaller than men, but larger than most halflings. They have the face and head of a rat and bodies similar to halflings, though skaven tend to be a bit thicker than a halfling. They age quickly and are considered adults by the age of ten. A seventy year old skaven would be the oldest of his kind.

They also have a reputation among men for being filthy and disease ridden, but this is untrue. They live in large tight knit family groups and multiple families will often join to form a clan (men would say a swarm). They are less reserved about nakedness or touching then humans and will bathe and groom one another frequently (a necessity as the closeness of their living conditions would otherwise promote the rampant spread of disease). They are a pious people and nearly all hold a deep reverence for Lady Velar, who they call The Warrenmother. Some darker skaven turn to Lord Vel, who they call Plaguefather.

In the eastern kingdoms men call the skaven nezumi.