Talpa

The Talpa are a race of short, stout humanoids that are covered in soft, supple fur. Often called Mole-Men, they're known for having a caste system based upon the length of the claws they carry. Longer claws are typically reserved for the working class, while the scholarly Talpa are generally either born without claws, or leave them short so their fingers can manage more tactile tasks.
Talpa are known for being exceptionally intelligent -- even working class members, who seldom hold anything more than the dirt they carve through -- are far more resourceful and inventive than other races.
They are a scattered race, fragmented across the world much like the Elves due to unfortunate circumstances that have decimated their old home.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Talpa are short creatures with most of their muscle being focused on their arms and biceps. They have particularly long arms with exceptionally sharp claws; some with sharp nails that are left hanging low towards their ankles. Their heights can range from three to four feet tall. They often grow their hair to long lengths and have fluffy, stiff ears that point down towards the floor.
Their bodies are covered in a smooth and velvety fur that's supple and soft, yet sturdy and tough. They have particularly dense muscle and thick skin beneath their fur that makes them sturdy despite their small size. Talpa have a broad tail that's somewhat flat; often times dragging behind them as they move. The tail is surprisingly strong despite its lack of dexterity.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

As befits their underground dwelling, Talpa are known to be particularly susceptible to both sound and vibrations. The slightest rumbling beneath their feet can alert their immediate attention. Their vision, however, is often on the weak side. It's not too uncommon for Talpa to go blind at some point in their later years.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Talpa names typically reference the achievements and deeds committed by their ancestors; both castes lack a last name but earn a 'title name' to serve as their new name whenever they manage to perform a truly remarkable accomplishment. Traditionally, Talpa of a higher caste earn title names through the inventions they create, while the working class earn it through the burrows they carve.
Talpa do not have gender-assigned names; they are all gender neutral.
Common Names: Kai'olo, Moke, Manumakli, Ahonui, Koa, Huanani, Ke'Ala, Kapuni, Kohana, Haloa, Melika, Nualani, Loe, Huapala

Average Technological Level

Talpa are known for being highly advanced despite their scattered state. Many inventions that have sprang up across the world can be traced back to a Talpa source; firearms, for example, were already being compacted into shells and bullets by the Talpa by the time humans continued to use crude powder weapons that were prone to long reload times and misfiring. Steam engines and mechanisms that utilise boiling water for pneumatic engineering is also courtesy to the Talpa, who invented such things to attempt making use of a resource they've too much of.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Although the Talpa are scattered across the world, they maintain a rudimentary network of understanding through each other's achievements. The cultures vary depending on the place that Talpa are from.

Mountain Dwellers

Talpa still dwelling within Kalimourne live under an ancient and traditional caste system where the working class are encouraged to keep their claws for the sake of expanding their homes and boring through the earth. The ruling caste shears their claws after they learn to create their very first invention, which serves as a rite of passage to allow them into Talpa aristocracy. Those that have proven themselves to be exceptional in Kalimourne have an opportunity to become one of the ten Magnates; a council of highly esteemed inventors that dictate the laws and regulations of the city. 
Those living under the Mountain are markedly more stubborn and somewhat unwelcoming of outsiders; if only due to their desire to preserve their ancient ancestral home despite the ever-rising waters. Outsiders are seen as a hindrance unless they can provide something to their people, and are thus eschewed and forbade from entering the main city.
Those that leave Kalimourne or are exiled from Kalimourne are forever branded as a Nalo'Wa; or 'lost'. Those marked as Nalo'Wa are forbidden from ever entering the city outside of the High Magnate's express permission again, something that is seldom granted.
Despite that, the Magnates of the Talpa people is still held in high praise and esteem from both outsiders and insiders alike. His efforts in inventing methods of providing an everlasting home for his people have certainly not grown unrecognised, even if others may see it as a fruitless effort.

The Lost

All Talpa that have left their home are considered Nalo'Wa; be they descended from ancestry that left their home or fled Kalimourne themselves. While fragmented, these Talpa have developed unique cultural habits that help prove each other's own accolades.
Many 'Lost' Talpa have shorn their claws regardless of their caste; viewing them as shackles that hold them back from expressing their personal creative freedom. Despite that, the claws are often kept for posterity's sake; especially the thumb spike. These smaller claw spikes are referred to as story spikes. 

Story Spikes

Though they have left their home, Talpa still respect avid inventors and have pre-established rankings amidst each other that can be conveyed by showing a marked thumb spike. These thumb spikes serve to mark one's standing amongst their people; with a total of five rankings to achieve. A ranking on a thumb spike can be etched only by those that carry the appropriate rank and have laid witness to a Talpa's accomplishment as a person. 
This etching takes the form of a ring, and written text detailing the Talpa's accomplishment that brought them to that standing.
Those that hold five etchings on their spikes are deemed to be equal to a magnate in terms of potential and capability; permitting the accolades writ into the bone are worthy enough to be considered such. Nothing short of the High Magnate's praise can allow a Talpa to go beyond that point.

History

Talpa history is fairly long and extensive, yet very well documented. This fact leads credence to their belief that the world was once far, far different from the world the other races are familiar with.

Primordial Earth

As far as Talpa history goes, they've convinced themselves that they're among one of the first races to exist in the world. They come from a time where waters were much more shallow and the world's oceans had yet to swell to a point that left Veska mostly island. During this time, primeval beasts and ancient dangers prowled and preyed upon anything and anyone that walked above land. The waters were no better; if not even more dangerous.
To hide from the beasts that dwelt above land, the Talpa adapted. They learned to use their claws to bore holes into the earth and create humble hovels with sod roofs and dirt walls. Centuries of using their burrowing skills had eventually lead to them creating massive underground cave systems and labyrinthine complexes that wound their way through the earth. However, there came a time where the seas swelled and the skies wept.
Though the Talpa still hold accurate accounts of a life before the waters supposedly rised enough to swallow the primeval land, much of their civilization was buried beneath the water until survivors found their home within Kalimourne; a volcanic mountain that has, until recently, remained consistently above sea level.

The Sinking Mountain

Though Kalimourne is a small island, the dormant volcano was once far more massive in scope. Little by little, the waters have began to raise higher to swallow their sinking mountain home, forcing more and more of their people to leave in hopes of finding a new place to call theirs. With their travels, they bring technology that has evolved through centuries of unchecked innovation.
Many Talpa have fled to Tregaron, serving as tradesmen and inventors that offer their services for profit since the feudal ages. For the most part, they are a scattered people.
The few that cling to their old traditions still remain within a dormant volcano that will one day sink beneath the sea, but that hasn't halted them from attempting to attain a means to continue their way of life.

Lifespan

80 years

Average Height

3'~4'5

Geographic Distribution

• Llyne
• Tregaron