RATAILOR – TIMELINE #63334

(Timeline Tuesday #5)

Ratailors are highly intelligent humanoids from a nearby timeline. Unlike this reality, where primates evolved to become the dominant species, the ratailors home timeline features several species of leading bipedal rodents.

These creatures stand between five and six feet tall, with large black eyes and light pink noses. Their ears are pointed and long, protruding from either side of their head and capable of picking up on the most delicate sounds over a distance of several miles. Ratailors are covered in thick fur that ranges from brilliant white to jet black, with several earthy tones in-between like brown, golden, red or grey.

Ratailors bear a striking resemblance to the common rat or mouse on this timeline. One thing that is distinctly different, however, is that they have no tail.

This species speak in a native language of chirps and growls, but they have no problem learning the common tongues of this timeline (albeit with a distinct accent that rarely, if ever, fades).

The home reality of the ratailor is one that exalts crafting above most things, admiring creation with an almost religious ferocity. Because of this, ratailors are incredibly skilled in fine arts and are notorious tastemakers. They are particularly adept at sewing and fashion, however, which is where the species derive their common name.

Most serious fashion houses employee at least one ratailor to serve as creative director, or in a similar position of power. Typically, Ratailor taste pushes toward wild and funky patterns and haphazard pieces of bold couture, but there are also plenty of ratailors who enjoy stark minimalism.

Ratailors are omnivores, preferring a diet similar to that of humans. Because of their association with rats, they are sometimes viewed as dirty or unkept, but in truth this species suffers from substantially less bouts of sickness or disease due to strong immunities derived from their timeline’s harsh elements and faint natural radiation.