Homebrew Burrower Species Details

Short and Stout

Bold and hardy, Burrowers are known as skilled miners and workers of stone and metal. 

Burrowers skin ranges from mid-brown to a paler red-brown,  but the most common shades are light brown or deep tan, to blend in with the earth. Their skin often has pale freckles and patches. Their hair, worn covered, is usually black, gray, or brown and thick, ranging from 2b to 3a, they have white bushy eyebrows, and most adult Burrowers have short white beards they care for carefully.

Burrowers are carnivores and have small sharp teeth and small but sharp talons on their hands and feet. Their talons are scoop-like with an indent on the inside part to help with burrowing. The bottom of their feet and hands are tough skin, and they do not wear shoes. Their wings are short and broad, and they can fly silently when out and about at night. They average 170 cm and are not sexually dimorphic. They have smaller mouths and bigger noses to detect fresh air. Their eyes are larger than those of their counterparts and are deep set, often some shade between yellow and red.

Society

Burrowers live to about 120 years and mate for life. They typically have 2-4 children but have multiple batches of kids. Kids become adults at about 15, when they first grow their beards. Burrower Society is a matriarchal society, though it’s hard to tell who is and isn't a woman. Many Burrowers change their gender, so the split is about 60% women, 30% men, and 10% Ermen (they/them). Their clothing is typically made of woven wool and metal and mostly consists of just Kilts (breasts do not exist since they're not mammals). Most individuals wear metal armor inside the mines, and metal jewelry is also very common. Typically, Burrowers have tattoos that are only visible when it gets dark, and these tattoos glow in the dark.

Clans and Households

Burrower Clans stretch deep beneath the mountains and Islands where the Burrowers mine gems and precious metals and forge items of wonder. They love the beauty and artistry of precious metals and fine jewelry. Whatever items they can’t find in their mountains, they gain through trade. They live closest to Finches and Sparrows, so trade with them most frequently. Trustworthy members of Finches and Sparrows and most Albatrosses are welcome in burrows, though some areas are off-limits even to them.

The chief unit of Burrow society is the clan and Burrowers highly value social standing. Burrowers cherish their clan identities and affiliations, recognize related dwarves, and invoke their ancestors’ names in oaths and curses. To be clanless is the worst fate that can befall a Burrower.

Burrower Names

A Burrower’s name is granted by a clan matriarch, in accordance with tradition. Every proper Burrower name has been used and reused down through the generations. A Burrower's name belongs to the clan, not to the individual. A Burrower who misuses or brings shame to a clan name is stripped of the name and forbidden by law to use any Burrower name in its place.

Male Names: Adrik, Alberich, Baern, Barendd, Brottor, Bruenor, Dain, Darrak, Delg, Eberk, Einkil, Fargrim, Flint, Gardain, Harbek, Kildrak, Morgran, Orsik, Oskar, Rangrim, Rurik, Taklinn, Thoradin, Thorin, Tordek, Traubon, Travok, Ulfgar, Veit, Vondal

Female Names: Amber, Artin, Audhild, Bardryn, Dagnal, Diesa, Eldeth, Falkrunn, Finellen, Gunnloda, Gurdis, Helja, Hlin, Kathra, Kristryd, Ilde, Liftrasa, Mardred, Riswynn, Sannl, Torbera, Torgga, Vistra

Clan Names: Balderk, Battlehammer, Brawnanvil, Dankil, Fireforge, Frostbeard, Gorunn, Holderhek, Ironfist, Loderr, Lutgehr, Rumnaheim, Strakeln, Torunn, Ungart

Burrower Traits

Your Burrower character has an assortment of inborn abilities, part and parcel of Burrower nature.

Size

Burrowers stand at an average of 1.7 meters (5' 6") and average about 150 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 1 and your strength score increases by 2.

Age

Burrowers mature at the same rate as Corvids, and are considered young until they reach the age of 15. On average, they live about 120 years.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 20 feet. Your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor.

Darkvision

Accustomed to life underground, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can discern color in darkness, but they are muted.

Burrower Combat Training

You have proficiency with the battleaxe, handaxe, light hammer, and warhammer.

Tool Proficiency

You gain proficiency with the artisan’s tools of your choice: smith’s tools, brewer’s supplies, or mason’s tools.

Silent Flier

Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin of stonework, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus. You also have proficiency in (Stealth).

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Burrowish. Burrowish is full of hard consonants and guttural sounds, and those characteristics spill over into whatever other language a Burrower might speak.