Abilities or Traits that "define" races in Fantasy Wargaming?

[Hobgoblin]

A good primary source for "Ratmen" is Fritz Leiber's Lankmhar series of books. I'm fairly confident they are the concept that was eventually turned into the Skaven. They certainly fit the model of the sewer-dwelling, scheming creatures that many of us have come to know.

Yes - the Lankhmar rats even have a Council of Thirteen, if memory serves!