Norman Rathskeller (pronouned rats-keller, much to his chagrin) is a character from the tabletop RPG, Victoriana. In that continuity, he's a Beastman, part of a race that has existed alongside Men for a long time, basically appearing as half-animal humanoids. Beastmen are somewhat low on the social scale as it is; as a Rat, Norman is undisputably at the the bottom of the scale.

Norman ("Ratsy" to his friends) started out life on his way to becoming a thief. He has a positive talent for it; he's small, lean and quick. There's just one thing missing.

The ability to convince himself that it's okay to hurt other people and take their stuff.

Since giving up on the criminal life, Ratsy is a sign painter for the cheapest of the restaurants around his home neighborhood in Ratcliffe Cross (his landlord gives him a discount, being the sirt of person that finds humour in a Rat living in Ratcliffe Cross), painting the menu boards they hang in the window. Given his situation and the rigid structure of the Victorian society in which he lives, he's rather a resigned sort. "I knows me place, guv'. Long's I use me loaf an' keep me nose clean, at's enough f'me." That said, he does have a sense of humour; "More's the pity. I'm a right good painter..."

Dark Natasha did a wonderful job on this pencil sketch, I think; the clean lines and expressive look really bring him to life. The cheese, of course, was her idea; he looked so sad, she just had to give him some...