Sapients of Aporue: Stoatfolk

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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.

Author's note

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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Gallery

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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Demonyms

English terminology	Slovak terminology	Etymology and notes
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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The stoatfolk are playable in the Thick as Thieves tabletop RPG. Your player character can be a member of the stoatfolk and the same is true for NPCs.

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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Other overviews of the Thick as Thieves sapient species
- Humans (Manfolk) overview
- Newtmen (Newtfolk) overview
- Hedgehogmen (Hedgefolk) overview
- Martenmen (Martenfolk) overview
- Wolverinemen (Wolverfolk) overview
- Ottermen (Otterfolk) overview
- Lobstermen and Crabmen (Crustfolk) overview
- Ravenmen (Ravenfolk) overview (apocryphal species)

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Copyrights

(C) 2014, 2021 P. Molnár & Knight-Errant Studios - Concepts/ideas, writing, drawn concept art, mockups