Burrowfolk - Small Magi of the Grasslands
A small idea I had knocking around in my head after reading a bit about prairie dogs. They’re sort of halflings, sort of gnomes, sort of their own thing. I haven’t fully figured out what sort of world they factor into just yet, so everything’s kinda subject to change!
The smallest of the mortal races, the Burrowfolk originally hail from the wild western prairies. Their underground burrow-towns stretch for miles beneath the surface of the grassland, sustained by careful maintenance and powerful earth magic. Their native languages are a dense, chattering mixture of chirps, growls and barks, unpronounceable and largely unintelligible to human ears. Walking on four legs and standing on two, when stripped of clothing and fur-dye they can seem quite similar to many of the non-sapient rodents that call this world home.
They aren't natural fighters, and often prefer to flee rather than stand their ground. Even amongst themselves, their fights tend towards displays of dominance and authority rather than full-fledged combat. Still, despite their lack of physical prowess, they display an aptitude for magic that far surpasses those of humans - their mastery over elemental magic and illusions is noted throughout much of the world.
Their colonies are stratified and clan-based societies, with small aristocratic clans controlling much of the colony’s actions. The most powerful clans tend to be those that are most talented in magic and alchemy, often presenting themselves as great Priest-Kings, expecting the less fortunate labourers to carry out their whims. Within each clan, things tend to be more egalitarian. Typically three to four generations will live together within the clan, with almost everything being shared. Older Burrowfolk are looked upon with more reverence and wield the ultimate authority when it comes to making decisions. Traditionally, they are polyamorous, with males and females alike having multiple mates, often of each gender.
In recent centuries, things have changed however. More and more, the other races of the world have intruded upon the Grasslands, bringing trade, cultural exchange and conflict. Initially, the Burrowfolk were seen as little more than rodents - smart, industrious ones, but animals nonetheless. Ancient colonies were dug up to make way for human cities, and the Burrowfolk who survived were taken as exotic pets, or hunted for their pelts. It was only when enterprising scholars among the Burrowfolk decoded and learned to speak human languages that they were able to prove themselves as sapient and open diplomatic negotiations.
Nowadays, colonies of Burrowfolk can be found all around the known world. They still face discrimination in plenty of places - terms like “rat” and “vermin” are often thrown at them, along with gossip that they bring disease and parasites in their fur. The Burrowfolk, for their part, maintain that their burrows are far cleaner than most of the pig-sties they see humans living in. With access to trade, a growing merchant class has achieved more influence. These merchant clans often live separate to the traditional Burrowfolk, enjoying their newfound prosperity.
A fear of being called ‘animals’ has led to an uptick in many new cultural traditions. From rich to poor, the Burrowfolk decorate their fur with dyes, powders or even charcoal. While they used to lack any taboo around nudity, many have now taken to wearing human-style clothing, self-consciously showcasing their intelligence and sophistication, to avoid being dismissed as rats and vermin again.