Hraniľud je jedným z hrateľných druhov mysliacich bytostí v stolnom RPG Príležitosť robí zlodeja. Hráčova postava môže byť členom hraniľudu a to isté platí aj pre nehráčové postavy.
Often characterised as slim and brisk bundles of unstoppable energy, the
stoatfolk (or “stoaties”, as they are colloquially called) are by far
the most energetic of the various beastfolk species, particularly the
mustelid-based ones. While they quite commonly live settled lives, many
of them have a compulsion to move regularly from place to place,
migrating in search of work and opportunities several times during their
lives. Some of them take it even further, and live a semi-nomadic or
completely nomadic existence, often jokingly (but aptly) described as
“nimble furry tramps”. Many of these are (in)famous for their
street-smarts.
Unsurprisingly, this had led to a fair few stoatmen and stoatwomen
living rather adventurous and roguish lives, to the point that stoatfolk
are stereotypically considered to have the most mercenaries (brigands,
privateers, bodyguards) and most professional thieves and smugglers out
of any of the beastfolk species. The “canty stoatie, with a dirk hidden
in his trouser leg, a lockpick
under his hat, and a toothy, deceptively honey-coated smile on his
face” is a widespread and popular folk caricature. The more settled,
“classy” and intellectually-minded stoatfolk naturally reject such
imagery and such a reputation, but the sheer numbers of stoatfolk making
a living in questionably legal activities doesn't exactly help…
“Stoaties”, even the most serious ones, are often described as vivacious
and bobbish, with a very lively way of moving, talking and smiling, as
well as showcasing signs of impatience whenever they're forced to wait
for a bit longer than usual or mind the way they behave in order to
shake off suspicion. They can't really help it, as this is their natural
behaviour, but humans in particular have grown to view most stoatfolk
as “childish” or even borderline “hyperactive” (leading to further
stereotypes and myths, such as the one about stoaties being avid
substance abusers).
Famously, the universally popular commedia dell’arte comic play Companions in the Trade
features the stoatwoman character of Frizi, who serves as a foil to the
rather dour and earnest martenman Navr and the punctuality-obsessed
human businessman Arbogast. Countless adaptations of the play (including
the latest, “comic opera” variation) have consistently portrayed Frizi
as “a cute-eyed but mischievous presence, pixieshly swaying around even
while standing in place, and making friendly, borderline flirty jabs
(both literal and metaphorical) at the increasingly grouchy Navr”, thus
further cementing the popular image of stoatfolk in the minds of many.
Nowadays, most stoaties make a living as merchants, travelling salesmen,
travelling craftsmen, hunters, hired workers and mercenaries, but also
as musicians and other entertainers. Relatively little is known of their
family lives, outside of the fact that they usually have extended
families and that monogamy isn't particularly favoured by their species
(stoatie babies from the same litter can have mixed parentry).
The native language of the stoatfolk is referred to as Stoatjabber, or Stoatjab for short.
Skills and stealth, combat and thieving talents
Stoatfolk are generally courageous (sometimes to a fault) and though
they are slim and rather petite when compared with the other sapient
species, they are always willing to put up a fight if driven into a
corner. If you need agile, light-footed brawlers, or agile and
hard-to-tire swordsmen
and marksmen, you can always bet on stoaties to deliver. This, and
their almost extreme capability to squeeze through most holes and
spaces, makes them very good material for professional thieves.
However, their natural tendency for jauntiness and impatience can make
them an occassional liability, as some less self-aware stoaties can be
prone to prematurely ruining intricantly planned heists or burglary
infiltrations. As far as armour is concerned, most stoatfolk don't
bother with it at all or prefer only very light types of armours. The
idiom “a stoatie in plate” reflects this, being a folk synonym for
“improbable”.
It is no surprise that plenty of thieving guilds hire stoatmen and
stoatwomen into their ranks, many of them as swordfighting instructors
and fighting instructors in general. One such stoatwoman-swordswoman
instructor would be Rhíko Zarzara of the Old Ditch Street Thieves' Guild
in Melza.
Autorove poznámky
The stoatmen by and large play a role that would be analogous to the one
played by various cat humanoids in most existing fantasy works.
Cunning, lively, skillful, nimble, etc. They are also, along with the
hedgefolk, kind of the smallfolk/hobbit equivalent to the martenfolk's,
otterfolk's and wolverfolk's more bigfolk/man-like disposition.
While hedgefolk are the more settled, polite and calmer variation on
this, the stoatfolk generally represent the more boisterous and
happy-go-lucky side. However, the idea that stoatmen are also overly
mouthy and shouty is an unjustified misconception (probably made up by
humans and others), as stoatmen closely follow their animal counterparts
by being relatively quiet most of the time.
Culturally, stoatfolk carry something of a reputation not unlike certain
traditionally roaming groups of people. Think Irish Travellers, some
traditional Roma, etc. On the plus side, it's often seen with positive
connotations, so it's not exactly some sort of damning reputation.
They are, in their fashion sense, attitude to life, and their adventurous spirit, a whole species of potential swashbucklers.
I mentioned the feline humanoids of other fantasy works already, and I'd
say the stoaties have a similar reputation as the Khajiit from The
Elder Scrolls series, albeit in mustelid form. Not just the adventurous
habits, tendency towards bending "creatively reinterpreting" rules and laws, but also the reputation for flamboyance and rumoured substance abuse.
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Galéria
My hand-drawn concept sketch for the stoatfolk, a.k.a. stoatmen, with a close-up on the head and neck
"Stoaties" are often closely associated with a practical but flamboyant fashion sense, plumed hats being a particular favourite
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Demonymá
| Anglické názvoslovie | Slovenské názvoslovie | Etymológia a poznámky |
|---|---|---|
| Beastpeoples | Zveroľud(ia) | The general term for beastpeoples in Aporue and other continents of the Orbis Furum. |
| Beastman, Beastwoman, Beastmen, Beastwomen | Zveran, Zveranka, Zverani, Zveranky | The everyday terms for males and females of the various beastpeople species. |
| Stoatfolk | Hraniľud | The stoat-like humanoids of Aporue, a less common but frequent species of beastpeoples. |
| Stoatman, Stoatwoman, Stoatmen, Stoatwomen | Hranimuž, Hranižena Hranimuži, Hraniženy | The everyday terms for males and females of the stoatfolk. |
| Stoatie, Stoaties | Hraník, Hraníci Hraňko, Hraňkovia | The nicknames for the stoatfolk. The Slovak term for both a stoat and an ermine is hranostaj. (The ermine pelt of a stoat is called a hermelín.) I avoided Latin references, because mustela is interchangeable with the name of the stoat's smaller cousin, the lesser/common weasel. |
| Nosymuzzles, Naughtyfeet | Drzoňufáci, Nezbednohy | The derogatory nicknames for the stoatfolk. |
| Aporueans | Aporuejčania, Aporuejci | Any inhabitants of the continent of Aporue. Equivalent of Europeans. |
| Melzans | Melzania | Demonym for people of the Melzan statelet (the country) or its capital city of Melza. |
| Melzan | Melzan, Melzanka | A male or female inhabitant of the statelet in my fictional world, or of the city of Melza that the overall monarchy is named after. |
| Cittan | Mesťan, Mesťanka | Contrast these newly coined words with citizen and townsman and občan and mešťan (same meaning in English). The Cittans / Mesťania are only the people from The City (city / mesto), the city of Melza proper. These are always capitalised. "Cittans are citizens/townsmen of Melza." / "Mesťania sú občanmi/mešťanmi Melzy." Yes, the Slovak equivalent of Cittans only differs by two letters from the real term for "townsmen". |
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This concludes the overview of the main sapients of Aporue. Which do I
consider the main ones ? Those that are playable in my RPG. However,
there are three more non-playable, NPC sapient species I would like to
cover. We will finish those off in the following two posts.
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Ďalšie prehľady mysliacich druhov v Príležitosť robí zlodeja (Thick as Thieves)
- Ľudia (ľudstvo) - prehľad
- Mločniaci (Mlokoľud) - prehľad
- Ježani (Ježoľud) - prehľad
- Kuňania (Kunoľud) - prehľad
- Guloni (Rosomľud) - prehľad
- Vydrania (Vydroľud) - prehľad
- Homárňania a Krabeni (Kôriľud) - prehľad
- Vranmuži (Vraniľud) - prehľad (apokryfný druh)
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