Were-rats are typically found in all major cities around the world. They may not always be the group in power but they are more often than not the deciding factor on which group remains in power. Their numbers are large (usually 500+) and highly organized, though it may not always appear so to outsiders. The rats are a clever, secretive bunch making it a wise decision to stay on their good side.

The rats are unique in the sense that no other group of lycanthropes has such a complex hierarchy. The rats have courts that are very similar to those you'd find in early France or medieval England. Candidates for King are chosen, not by birthright but by the rats as a group. There can be anywhere from one to five "elected" who are then put through a series of physical and mental tests against each other and outside rats who have made themselves "heirs to the throne".

The candidate that survives the tests and other rats is crowned King in a ceremony that ends with the brand of a crown being burned into his forearm. It is then up to the King to start putting together his court. Ideally, the King will choose a Queen right away, followed by his Knights (numbering anywhere from two to five), a Jester, Courtesans (usually three to six, depending on the size of his "kingdom"), and rarely, Nobles. A rat Noble is usually someone who tried for King and did not quite make it -- this makes the Noble either a strong ally or a dangerous nuisance. Choosing a Noble is often a sign of weakness to other rats, a King must be able to handle his people himself no matter how large their numbers may get.

Rodere Knights are much like bodyguards for their King. Before you can reach the King, you must get past his Knights. Knights are allowed to have a single Squire apiece, who they may choose and then present to the King for approval and the chance to prove themselves. If the King does not approve, then the potential Squire is denied and the Knight is reprimanded for a poor choice.

Nobles, though not a part of every clan of rodere, are nonetheless important. The savvy King will make use of their presence -- keep your friends close and your enemies closer, etc. -- and reward his former competition with individual provinces which they must run, much like the laird of the manor. Once commonplace, Nobles have turned into a rare thing indeed (much like the lukoi's vargamors) due to the mindset of "If a King cannot control his people, he does not deserve to be King." This is partially influenced by the fact that in the past, Nobles could help in making or breaking a King.

Jesters are in a class all their own. Most outsiders have a difficult time taking rat lycanthropy seriously, which is not a problem for rodere Jesters. While the rodere have embraced what they are and used it to their advantage, a good Jester is not unlike a secret weapon. Jesters mirror their medieval counterparts in the way that they do and say things no one else ever would. They have no social status, no reason to care what people think and are essentially free of most expectations. However, a rat Jester takes a more sinister turn. They answer to no one save the King. Only the King has control of a Jester and at best, even that is tenuous. Jesters are privy to all of a King's dark secrets and dirty deeds, because they are the ones to carry these things out. For this reason alone they are both above and below the court.

Jesters are both made and chosen, something wholly unique to the rat court. A Jester's position is passed down from one rodere to another. The current Jester will make a plea (this is more for show then anything, a Jester is never denied their plea) to the King for retirement and once permission has been given, the Jester will choose a Page. The Page answers to only two people: the King and the current Jester. They will essentially act as a mirror and shadow to the current Jester. When the Jester has decided the Page is ready, they will both go before the King. Then the Page is no longer, and there is only the Jester. The former Jester will take leave of the court (re: self-imposed exile) and never look back. If any of the King's secrets become public, the new Jester will hunt down and kill the former, bringing his head back for the King.

While rats are not the most sexual of animals, a sexual surrogate is a must. Because with a rat, when the urge hits, it really hits. There are typically four courtesans, two females and two males. Their position has little to do with any real power, but nevertheless, they are highly-valued members of the court.

And unlike most lycanthropes, sex is not the driving force between the rodere (although it is certainly not unimportant -- these are still people, as well). Once a month, a week before the full moon, the rodere King calls his clan together for a feast. It is here that the rats and the King's court intermingle and bond. Food, entertainment and clan discussions are present, and any proclamations the King may have to make are most frequently spoken at a feast. This event is a banquet at the least, a party at the most, and most rodere use this as an opportunity to let their hair down.