Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Ratatosk

[@hertzeid]

Since all the subraces of the ratatosks seem to have swedish names (ekorre = squirrel, tradvakt = tree-guard), they should have a swedish accent

[@AJPickett]

Agreed.

[@robouteguilliman6662]

HINGA DINGA FREEGA DENGA HIRGA BÖRK BÖRK BÖRK BÖRK

[@andrewblack2596]

Pffft. I just imagined them speaking like the Swedish Chef!🤣

[@dbensdrawinvids8390]

Ratatoskr may not be a god, but he's a true AEsir in my heart.

[@AmigoRoberto]

As someone who grew up with the Redwall/Mossflower books, this is giving me some serious Rakkety Tam vibes.

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

YEEESSSS!!!!!

[@brianroberts783]

At one time I had memorized the poem from Rakkety Tam.

[@kmg9763]

Another great video. Might I suggest a video covering the famous Cities in DND? Like Waterdeep and its anti-Dragon Barrier or Neverwinter. The Cities were most campaigns take place.

[@peterusmc20]

A while ago I home-brewed some squirrel folk and called them tatosks and they had very similar characterisation as these guys. And I thought I was being at least somewhat original 🥺

[@AJPickett]

You must have absorbed some lore subconsciously.

[@lordnul1708]

If it's any comfort, in terms of sheer probability odds are if any idea exists, odds are someone thought it first. This goes double for if you believe extraterrestrial life exists.

[@skycastrum5803]

Nothing is outright new. Creativity is all about what you’ve experienced and how you connect it.

[@Greenscyth22]

I'm untrusting of most squirrels, less so of Ratatoskr. All I get are flashbacks to the Redwall series.

[@grimroten3299]

I thought the squirrels in redwall were good guys

[@Jeremycook_]

@@grimroten3299 sub squirrel for weasel, easy peasy

[@grimroten3299]

@@Jeremycook_ I just remembered in Martin the warrior there's a tribe of wild squirrels that are really mean.

[@Jeremycook_]

@@grimroten3299 You're probably right my memory's a little hazy on details having read the books 20 some years ago but I Do remember really enjoying them.

[@gammagong9435]

I miss Lord Brocktree.

[@purplehaze2358]

My favorite part about this channel is that it can casually just go from the hoards of wealth dragons keep to rat people.

[@markr.7835]

Don't forget death sheep

[@Zasek2112]

From root to tip and back, we climb we sail we track, all those who would attack, the bark and flesh and sap, of our mother. -A Ratatosk prayer to Yggdrasil

[@shishoka]

Sounds like a lantern oath.

[@Zasek2112]

@@shishoka A prayer, a warcry, an oath, a lullaby.

[@AmigoRoberto]

*REVEAL YOUR SECRETS TO THE SQUIRREL COURT*

[@coreyeaston6823]

You forgot to mention that the women in the party think they are SOOOOOOOOoooooo cute and have to have one. Here we go again!

[@zaqzilla1]

I played a tiny Ratatosk who wore Gauntlets of Ogre Power. The mental image of a tiny squirrel chucking things around with 19 strength is hilarious.

[@AJPickett]

Living the dream!

[@puppetmaster1420]

How did you explain the leverage

[@bskec2177]

Ratatoska would make an interesting patron for an Arch-Fey Warlock. Demanding a constant stream of news and gossip from his Warlock in exchange for magic.

[@skycastrum5803]

Thinking about the kind of person who would get stuck in such a contract. Could be interesting taking it multiple ways, either as a a grumpy old dude or a kid just as much a gossipy trickster as his patron.

[@tatsusama3192]

20:04 Squirrelvahkin! 🎶[Skyrim trumpets play]🎶

[@gekkehobbykoe]

"That was the voice of the Greybeards, summoning you to High Nutthgar! This hasn't happened in ... centuries, at least. Not since Tiber Squirltim himself was summoned when he was still Tails of Atmora!"

[@tatsusama3192]

@@gekkehobbykoe 🤣❤️

[@jackhussey6334]

In case you weren't aware, "the language of birds" is a specific concept from Norse mythology, interpreted as a divine or perfect language. Those who could speak it had a divine connection or were extremely wise.

[@Generalized615]

This is SUCH a strong video, honestly one of your best

[@AJPickett]

Thanks!

[@CAP198462]

A.J.: Red squirrel wearing a kilt swinging a shillelagh Me:....go on

[@trajanfidelis]

Jackson Crawford is a great teacher! I'm glad you know about him! I hope Freyja's chariot cats don't get loose or these squirrel folk might be in trouble.

[@honkeykong4049]

- Ratata - Raticate - Ratatosk

[@AJPickett]

Lol!

[@TheRauzKindred]

I've not seen these guys in, wow I'm not sure how long. I always love it when you find obscure fun lore for D&D as there is just so much that sadly newer editions either ignored or had forgotten.

[@Insane-Howl-Cowl]

Finally a squirrel race!

[@michaelbeal1400]

I miss the weirdness that was 2e... Look up kercpa when you get the chance.

[@bjarnivalur6330]

Small bro tip, the ð in 'Níðhöggr' is pronounced like th in 'the' (not like th in thing, just repeat "The Thing" over and over, you'll eventually notice the difference) and ö is like the first syllable in 'earth'. Also: Yes, I definitely recommend Dr. Jackson Crawford to anyone interested in Old Norse and Norse myth.

[@bjarnivalur6330]

@Pan Darius Kairos almost, ni(th)-huhg-r or ni(th)-huhg-ur The r at the end is sometimes treated as a vowel but a lot of people replace it with a 'ur' instead. (like how úlfr became úlfur (e. wolf))

[@AJPickett]

@@bjarnivalur6330 Thanks, that will serve me well next time I have to converse in old Norse :D

[@bjarnivalur6330]

@@AJPickett You are very welcome. It seems to happen a lot more than one might expect.

[@jcdarkknight9]

I had a pet squirrel. This is such sweet nostalgia. Thank you for making the video.

[@rogerburkowski357]

Could these Seed Darts work as small craft in Spelljammer? I'm sure there are some of these guys chilling out in Garden.

[@AJPickett]

They need an atmosphere.

[@justafox5356]

25:33 Ah, so they’re the arch-enemies of Vecna I take it.

[@AJPickett]

Oh yes

[@justafox5356]

@@AJPickett I do quite like the idea that Vecna’s true arch nemesis isn’t Kas, it isn’t the Dark Powers, insert adventuring party here or even some good aligned god of knowledge…it’s a bunch of overgrown nosy rodents constantly sharing universe shattering gossip from around the multiverse for fun like a bunch of stereotypical high schoolers.

[@Partimehero36]

Ok, these little guys are my favorite now.

[@jbsayno]

Just a heads up, I was unsbscribed and not of my own action. I don't understand how that happened but I'm happy for the video :D

[@efraim3364]

bit of an homage in Everquest 2 to this guy, in one of the planar zones is a *GIANT* tree and you can see him running around

[@miloselfesteem2326]

This video was NUTS!

[@Pynaegan]

I find your comment a bit squirrelly.😒😆

[@miloselfesteem2326]

Coming up with the right joke was no easy RataTASK..... ...Look for comedy in the obituaries, cuz i just killed it.

[@revshad4226]

squirrel. magic squirrel

[@kharijordan6426]

Ok so that's something to do. Become a god and a demi-plane at the same time. Pretty cool.

[@ReinQuest]

I created a Druid that will probably get harassed by these. She’s a Naga and circle of the stars Druid, who’s being guided by Yggdrasil in dreams to help balance all things. I figure the squirrels will think she’s like the serpent gnawing at Yggdrasil’s roots and not believe that she’s truly friendly towards Yggdrasil.

[@zeroexmachina]

I added a homebrew SparkSquirrel to my game about 15 years ago, thdy were just regular squirrels with flint nails and steel teeth that could be used to create sparks. Lets say the ancient groves never stood a chance

[@AJPickett]

But why? Why would squirrels burn down trees?

[@zeroexmachina]

@@AJPickett it turns out industry. They evolved into fire benders that. Plundered the landscape with firepowered tractors. Which really angered one of my players who was a plant. Edit and Leon (the plant) took that personally.

[@louisschlechtweg8634]

Ratatosk would love your channel AJ - since you present so many good Storys to so much people :D

[@jasonulysess3652]

On the East Coast of the U.S. We have Red Squirrels. You could use them as the basis for Chaotic Evil barbarian and Hex Blade warlock Ratatosk who are constantly at war with every other member of their own race. They are amazing to watch, especially when they charge humans to drive them off.

[@benadams5557]

I have a big fox squirrel who kicks my grey squirrels off the feeders and attacks feral cats

[@jasonulysess3652]

@@benadams5557 The reds drive off greys and humans but attacking feral cats is a whole other level.

[@travisterry2200]

Omg yes. Thank you

[@chriscalvin5083]

good video AJ

[@davidfletcher6703]

In some stories Nidhoggr is in line to become the next Midgard Serpent of the world that comes after Ragnarok

[@epiccthulu]

I know I keep bringing up the novels, specifically the Spellplague (Its just my favorite era-altering event), but Yggdrasil was consumed in spell plague, with all the little dryads running and screaming for their lives. A very intense scene, and my first introduction to how dark the realms can get outside the Drow stories. Now just picture how the Ratatoskr would react, how they're now (I don't recall the tree being restored along with the Tablets of Fate and the Second Sundering of Abeir from Toril) like refugees from a planet the Empire destroyed. Think about them being scattered across the outer planes, in little colonies of resistance. Now just forget the ones that lucked out and landed on Mount Celest and let's look at the ones stuck on one of the layers of the Abyss, or the first layer of the Nine Hells. World destroyed and stuck in a hostile environment, the campaign/book just writes itself! And what of the ones that were warped by the flames of plague?! Ugh! Maybe this is a sign I need to try my hand at the DM's guild, lol.

[@Grinnar]

One of my friends is very interested in this.

[@TheHornedKing]

Can we get a video about Nidhogg? Also, there is a poem about the mythological one that mentions him "shedding corpses" or seem to imply that he carries corpses on his wings. Now that would be quite the sight.

[@AJPickett]

His role in Norse mythology is interesting. His role in D&D lore, not so much. 😕

[@TheHornedKing]

@@AJPickett Damn, that's a shame.

[@Zasek2112]

@@TheHornedKing Sounds a bit similar to the Greek Dragon's teeth myth. Reminds me of it anyway.

[@michaelpettersson4919]

@@AJPickett Cheer up and see it as an opportunity to write that lore.

[@kiraward1125]

I am sure to be in the minority here but that squirrel (Tradvakt) with the eye patch and sward needs to be an action figure or a series of sculptures so I can buy it. He reminds me of the few RedWall books I have read before I wound up letting the kids borrow the series and it got "disappeared" into their rooms.

[@jacksparrowismydaddy]

omg I want to make squirrel folk plushies that armor was freaking adorable.

[@rocknrollmanic]

Time to make a Ratatosk Bard of Whispers

[@JoseMolina-ij3xx]

I can just imagine a Ratatosk and a Kender going through a rag war with each other and getting nowhere.

[@krispalermo8133]

Years ago for my young teenage cousins that had a thing for gnome illusionists, I ran a campaign treating gnomes and goblins closer to their folk lore mythical stories .. Yeah, I had all goblins short lived reincarnating sorcerer/ druids waging a forest war with gnomes illusionists/ druids. The insult contest in the house were legendary, even my 70 year old grand mother joined in.

[@nicolaezenoaga9756]

@@krispalermo8133 EPIC!

[@krispalermo8133]

@@nicolaezenoaga9756 Thank you. But as a 26 year old, there was only some much trash talking 13 year olds I could handle. My grand mother on the other hand had eight siblings, her put downs were near mythical.

[@nicolaezenoaga9756]

@@krispalermo8133 I'm sure you did your best.

[@chickenmobile]

Just got the Book of Ebon Tides. Now I knore more about them! So thankyou. The weight listed for Ekorre seems a bit much (20-40lbs) while only being twice as tall as a normal squirrel (1-2lbs.) They must have some chonk under that fur!

[@zacharyweaver276]

Huh thought you did a video on these guys already oh well I'll still love it

[@AJPickett]

I did, but it used material from the D&D Wiki that was stolen from an author (Taron Pounds) and I removed the video as soon as I was informed of the situation. Anyway, this video is quite a lot more detailed and up to date.

[@reapersritehand]

Way back in the day one my characters got turned into one, for "accidently" stomping thru their village, and failing all diplomacy checks while on trial, once I was finally found away to turn back to my race I was still stuck as little but extremely quick

[@coreyshorter8526]

Colossal living tree that can draw stay travels from many plains including the shadowfell sounds like that could be asking for trouble. I am sure Null would love to take up the role of nythogg and chew at the trees roots.

[@MaeljinRajah]

I think a better alignment for them would be chaotic chaotic

[@johnathanbrandt2526]

If the wood of yggdrassil remain alive while close to the tree I wonder if one could take clippings of a small branch and a chunk of root and graft them together in a pot on yggdrassil then take it and plant it or even a grove of yggdrassil daughter trees on some other plane.

[@AJPickett]

I think there is special reasons why this doesn't work, but I am not entirely sure what they are or where to find the references. That being said... I like the idea and I see no reason why that could not be included in a game.

[@recursiveslacker7730]

@@AJPickett Wasn’t there some planet or moon in realmspace from one of your videos that was said to possibly, among other stories, be a fragment of Yggdrasil?

[@AJPickett]

@@recursiveslacker7730 That's an excellent question. *dives out window*

[@TyLarson]

You should check out my friend Peter's new Chaldea project which has some neat pseudo norse mythology along with other pantheons.

[@jimmyg7100]

Red Wall. Viking. Squirrels. =D

[@burningbronze7555]

I returned to request for a Bard and a monk class video please.

[@joshuazane3210]

Squirrels with armor always make me smile.

[@Shrikeswind]

How do you tell if there's wood elves in a forest? A voice from the canopy shouts "Fire!" and then you die to a hail of arrows. How do you tell if there's Mossflower squirrels in a forest? You die to a hail of arrows, and then a voice from the canopy shouts "Fire!"

[@CidGaius]

SQUIRREL FRIENDS!

[@DwarfBaerdyn]

"Wherever there are trees, there are squirrels..." Now I'm thinking of an aquatic variation that lives among some roots stretching into the Plane of Water, or maybe into some swamp-filled land hard won long ago by their ancestors who saw the native inhabitants encroachment onto the roots as an affront to their goddess.

[@michaelpettersson4919]

That is needed for completion since flying squirrels actually exist. Well, actually they are gliding but still.

[@johnedgar6448]

I wonder what there relationship with vecna would be?

[@sirlora8828]

The Scholar speaks, Quercus! He does seem rather informed for a member of the giant races. But I doubt even he knows the horrors that await when the Great Acorn falls.

[@TheReZisTLust]

Nothing, it even a cutscene

[@UNSCMarine117]

There are squirrel people in D&D now? Man that's just nutty.

[@adreabrooks11]

I love the whimsy of this race! Thanks for imparting their secrets. -_^

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

The most famous Ratatosk spy? Secret Squirrel.

[@AzraelThanatos]

Anything about the Skiurid in how they connect to the Tatatosk...murderous shadow squirrels from 3.5...those things were not fun to deal with for their CR...

[@schrokittyschrokatzerl1050]

@AJ Pickett Yggdrasil is actually a yew tree. The misconception that it is an ash is very wide spread though and it is a long standing misconception due to an extremely old mistranslation. It is in fact supposed to be a yew tree though.

[@justinbaskall8291]

I've got a friend who would love this, expecially with the fey races just released, you can play a small folk campaign

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

I could see there being a subspecies of Ratatosk for each main branch of the Yggdrasil, with the biology and culture of each being influenced by the realm the branch leads to.

[@PureVikingPowers]

I only know Ratatosk from my religion so it's going to be a blast to see this video

[@danagroupsrl6613]

What is the name of your religion? Can you please tell me?

[@michaelpettersson4919]

@@danagroupsrl6613 Old Norse faith are having a revival among some people. And the everyone have a reason to know about the faith of our ancestors.

[@danagroupsrl6613]

@@michaelpettersson4919 Huh, interesting. ''And the everyone have a reason to know about the faith of our ancestors.''- Also, true.

[@danagroupsrl6613]

Thanks. Oh girl, this is a long one!

[@minimmats]

So, important question: do they speak like the swedish chef? They are nordic, after all.

[@AJPickett]

They sound like PewDiePie

[@TheReZisTLust]

Man i miss prerework Ratatoskr in smite he was fun.

[@TheLycanSubscriber]

Not so sure about player characters for the other two subraces, unless the player would be willing to expand their abilities over time, but I love the idea of a jester-style flying squirrel bard

[@davidlewis8814]

They’re a hoot!

[@rogerburkowski357]

AJ, any chance for a Warlock Patron video? Exploring pacts, patrons, and what they potentially would gain from mortals?

[@trajanfidelis]

Check the playlists. He did 2 videos on warlocks an patrons.

[@rogerburkowski357]

@@trajanfidelis I know the 2 part Warlock video where he touched on Patrons. But I feel there is a lot more to explore there. Patron relationships are fascinating and with the addition of genies and such I feel it is right up AJ 's alley to speak on and postulate about the why and how of pacts.

[@AJPickett]

They are one of my favourite class options

[@grimroten3299]

Will you cover the Kercpa?

[@AJPickett]

Just reskin this stuff.

[@grimroten3299]

@@AJPickett oh i will. I just like to hear the lore. Thanks for another great vid!

[@garrettwhite3922]

So we are doing a sprint to godhood campaign and I accidentally got squirrels in my pantheon... I have to show my DM this

[@nicolasmountcastle4724]

Are there any badger races? What a dynamic duo that would be.

[@AJPickett]

They are down near the giant snake, among the mushrooms...

[@nicolasmountcastle4724]

@@AJPickett badger badger badger badger mushroom mushroom?

[@AJPickett]

@@nicolasmountcastle4724 indeed!

[@tystick124]

Foamy the squirrel is a great example of this race

[@garrettdaly9893]

Getting this so early it's like a morning news report 😂

[@maxwellvindman7212]

Squerrel

[@AJPickett]

Skverrile

[@Lurklen]

"...plane of dreams..." I've been tryng to find information of such a place within Forgotten Realms lore, but have had trouble doing so. Does anybody know where info of such can be found?

[@AJPickett]

Codex of the Infinite Planes Volume X: Plane of Dreams www.dmsguild.com/product/244520/Codex-of-the-Infinite-Planes-Vol-10-Plane-of-Dreams

[@Lurklen]

@@AJPickett Cool! Thanks.

[@Kravockian]

If I may recommend a species I’ve never heard mentioned that would make a good video, the Tsochar. They are one of my favorite horrific creatures and they really capture an eldritch threat in my opinion.

[@philurbaniak1811]

Their craft rotate; you might say in a Tailspin.. no wait that was chipmunks 😊👍

[@ChrisCCou812]

Need a Ratatosk Glider Ranger who specializes in rescuing people . . .

[@coreycoffell6219]

What does Gandalf and Dick Bridges have in common?

[@coreycoffell6219]

NONE SHALL PASS!!!

[@krispalermo8133]

" Ratatosk " was recently featured in a series of Wonder Woman comics.

[@BaneRain]

Getting smite ptsd

[@bitterzombie]

Does Yggdrasil grow continuously? If part is removed, say a branch or a root, will it grow back? Are there any consequences for harvesting from the world tree without permission, aside from pissing off the inhabitants? If this afflicts you with some kind if curse, what would be required to break said curse?

[@AJPickett]

It does seem to grow continuously, yet, who really knows if it is getting bigger? When a part is removed, the rest just grows around it. And yes, the Ratatoskr protect the tree, as do a LOT of gods and far worse things.

[@dpme3fan193]

Pretty random question but does Yggdrasil share a connection to sigil or the infinite staircase or both. Both Yggdrasil & sigil share the property of being nexises connected with countless places. And the infinite staircase connects to some unknowingly other place and no one knows how high into the upper planes Yggdrasil ascends. I guess what I'm asking, do they exist as counterparts or are likely just some random hubs for cosmic shortcuts?

[@AJPickett]

They are counterparts, yes, so Yggdrasil has direct connections to the Staircase and Sigil, a Ratatosk guide may use these locations as shortcuts.

[@demetrinight5924]

I could definitely see a Ratatosk having Vicious Mockery as a racial spell like ability. The gray squirrels in North America also have a chattering call that sounds like a bunch of squeaking insults. I have had several of them berate me for walking under their chosen tree.

[@faultyinterface]

I really hope Netflix doesn't screw up the Redwall series they're working on...

[@Goatbeez]

I know it's kind of a homebrew and maybe more allowable in pathfinder, but could you cover Ratfolk?

[@ethanwilson7412]

Where is Valheim at?!? 2:28. Lol im a dork.

[@joshuamiles5293]

I absolutely have to play one now!!!

[@ginocrededio7421]

Really liked this one

[@44Kokoloko]

A bit of a sidelines question; I have watched the videos on the shadowfell and the darklings. WHat is the relationship between the dark ones and the unseelie fey? how do the unseelie feel about the shadowfell? What would happen to a fey (seelie or unseelie) if it spent time in the shadowfell?

[@AJPickett]

The Unseelie are still fey, they just exist as a loose affiliation of those who reject the rule of Titania, and generally fall into the category of "Bad" in folklore and stories. They may or may not have dealings with the Shadowfell, but, so can the Seelie fey. So I hesitate to make any broad statements about it.

[@thomasrobson6370]

I don't remember the Ratatosk which is weird my DMs were kind of sadistic and should have used them. L.O.L. a kender with fur and a tail 😛

[@foodomanthemagnificent2650]

So rap battle squirrels

[@DaniMartVTen]

I heard a rumour that All Things DnD is looking for a Ratatoskr tale?

[@gwyndolin1536]

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Calling all Adventuring Bards! The regional Lord is offering a substantial reward for any champion who can "layth the verbal smack down" against the Ratatosk Horde for "dissing his household" and "calling his Mama so fat that when she walks around people thing there is a giant doing jumping jacks nearby."

[@WhisperingShade]

@TMG You forgot the Giant Black Squirrel from Ad&d. A black emaciated fuzzball the size of a dwarf with a very carnivorous disposition. It's in the MM of that edition.

[@AJPickett]

This is not a video about all possible squirrel creatures :)

[@reifuTD]

No ground squirrel Ratatosk that live out in the dessert? Shame,

[@AJPickett]

Use the Tradvakt stats, give them the power to mesmerize and control giant insects.