A nander (pl. nander or nander folk; H. robustus) is a sapient creature.
Nander are similar to humans, except with shorter, generally stockier bodies (average height: 127 cm). The head appears comparatively large because the changes to growth pattern affect the head much less than other parts of the body. The lungs are also large, and the legs are short. The shortening of the legs gives an intermembral index (arm to leg length ratio) closer to even, compared to the 69% of humans.[1] And because shorter bodies mean shorter nerves, they don't live in the past quite as much. Nander are known as artisans for their smaller, quicker hands that improve fine motor skills.[2]
In some, growth pattern changes affected the sex hormones, leading to fuller and more rapid development of body hair than humans, albeit with faster pattern baldness. Others are no hairier than humans, and at times there is racial tension between "clean" and "hoary" nander.
It is thought that they are optimized over generations for mining and crafting in the more frigid, higher altitude lands. In any case, it fits the tendency of smaller mammals to have rounder bodies and more fur to conserve heat[3] and the tendency of burrowing mammals to have stockier builds.[4]
It takes a while to come to understand the mindset of people living in a city-scale mining colony,[5] especially when a lot of them grow up knowing far more about mining and metalworking than some of our scouts do. For example, ventilation is driven by the forge at the center of each section of the mine. The rising warm air in the exhaust chimney creates a draft toward the forge, supplying the inhabitants with air. Intake and exhaust chimneys are topped by structures resembling wells, [6] whose function H. G. could explain.[7] Thus areas bordering nander mines never had to hire children as chimney sweeps. Underground cities not near a mine are kept warm with geothermal vents.[8]
However, mining colonies have to maintain friendly relations with the world above. Those who seal themselves off too much from outside society risk a repeat of when the upworlders invaded Moland with smoke, water, and poison.[9]
Behind the scenes: name |
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Influences on the design of nander include fantasy dwarves, various hereditary conditions that produce short stature, and Fisher-Price's Little People (especially 1998-2012 generation). The name "nander" used in English materials can be traced to the "Neanderthal" subspecies of real-world humans,[10] Latin nanus meaning dwarf, and one of the German plural patterns. In various situations, they can be used as hobbit expies or dwarf expies. |
Behind the scenes: real-world physiology |
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Laron syndrome or growth hormone insensitivity (GHI)[11] is an umbrella term for any of several conditions that result in reduced sensitivity to growth hormone. This has significant pluses (no cancer, no diabetes, less bone aging) with the biggest minus being short stature, which itself is a plus in the right niche. There's also a tendency toward obesity in many. Most dwarfs on TV have achondroplasia. Unlike GHI, achondroplasia isn't the kind of dwarfism that could become fixed in a population. For one thing, a double dose of the achondroplasia allele is lethal to newborns. And even if it weren't, it still causes bone, joint, and sleep problems.[12] Short people tend to live longer because they tend to get less cancer and less coronary heart disease.[13] Neanderthal man was better adapted to cold.[14] |
Behind the scenes: occupations |
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In the real world, children pulled coal through mines and cleaned chimneys because they could fit through narrow spaces. Should a scout find an excuse for the shunning of child labor in the game world, we'll end up with an explanation for how nander thrived by filling this gap. That'd justify the high-fantasy trope of dwarven miners. See also Limyaael on how to make fantasy dwarves convincing In the real world, with its decreased emphasis on learning a trade fit for your subspecies, little people try to adapt to full-grown-people jobs, where they sometimes run into bigotry.[15] |
Categories: Races