MOLES

These days, under the prosperity of The Union, Moles enjoy an undisturbed reign over mining and industry in the Land. It was not always so…

Some remember a darker time, when groups of Mole miners and sappers would fight for supremacy below the earth. These times are long gone, however, stories for our fathers and grandfathers, a history of mistakes that none are keen to make again. All Moles, without exception, prefer to live underground and the mines that they have grown famous for were, in the beginning, merely a by-product of the natural tunnels that they built to live in. It wasn't long before the Toads in their factories and workshops (and, of course, their Weasel landlords) realised the true power and potential that the Moles held under their sharpened claws. They quickly established a booming trade in Coal - a trade that (but for the long, troubled times of the Crow Coal War) has remained largely unbroken.

Moles are a practical people by nature, not usually given over to flowery language or philosophy. The exception to this being, of course, their dedication to the Union - they are fond of political rhetoric and love a good speech as much as the next Mole.

Fash’n and Fashions

Moles tend to be less involved in the Heights of Fash'n, leaving such frippery to the Toads and Weasels - there's not much point in fine shoes when you know that they're going to get covered in coal dust. Current fashions in Mole mines have remained largely unchanged for generations; practical, hard-wearing, clothes in strong fibres. Moles will tend to have a stout pack or satchel to carry tools in. Moles who have travelled outside their mines will often not have relinquished their safety gear - good solid armour and helm will protect you against the claws of a ravenous Fox just as well as it will protect you from falling rocks or support beams.

The State of the Mine…

All Moles, if they are part of the Union (and all good, honest Moles are) will be attached in some way to a Mine - even if it's only in a peripheral sense - they may have worked an apprenticeship there, or have a brother who is a Foreman. They tend to live in large groups of families or workers, all attached to a single mine or building project, with the whole family taking part in the work – each according to their abilities. As such, they will always be able to tell you the conditions that the Rabbits there are working under, last month's yield of Coal, or a good price-per-ton in the City, during June. And what's more, they will usually be able to wax lyrically about it.

What Food One Enjoys…

Moles are, historically, great cooks and gourmands - a mole supper will often have four courses and take some hours to prepare. This isn't to say Moles will gorge themselves any more than any other of the Peoples, but more that they, culturally, take great pleasure in the eating of - and the discussion of - food and flavour. After a meal in Mole society it is considered complimentary to discuss the food one has just eaten - its various merits and flaws and the particular drink or company that it would go with.

Where Home Is…

Moles appear to have an innate sense of where Home is and what state it is in. They are often keen to fill their homes with precious things and will always know where they are. This often extends to one's belongings - for Home is as much what you bring with you as what you decide to leave behind…

“From the Miner to the Engineer to the Foreman and to the Elder we will all have the responsibility to contribute fully to the great collective of The Union. Ones who shirk these responsibilities shall be dealt with swiftly and harshly, without mercy! There is no life but the life that is for the good of all. Do you doubt? You just have to ask the previous owner of my new fur jacket… Stand together, Compatriots! For the good of the Union! For the benefit of all!”

- Elder Scargill, Mole Unionist

Suggested Character Types: Miner; Engineer; Archaeologist; Geologist; Sapper; Hermit; Treasure Hunter; Architect; Excavator; Unionist; Monk.

Mole Minimum Phys-rep Requirement: “Mole” mask or prosthetic.

Countryside Nature

* Your nature is “COUNTRYSIDE” - you are affected by all calls involving “COUNTRYSIDE”.

• You may attempt to Stake Claims in any Territory, however, holding Claims in the Countryside will be significantly easier.
• You may use any item that requires “COUNTRYSIDE” as a Nature. This includes Clockwork and Steam but not Powder.
• You may not use any item which requires a different Nature.

ALL Moles have the following Merits and Flaws:

Mole Merits

DIGGING CLAWS: You have Natural claws and may call SINGLE with an appropriate larp-safe claw phys-rep.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT: You have been told of the importance of safety equipment since birth. You may count CRAFTED armour as 1 hit greater than it shows on the item card.

COALSHED You receive the Advantage “Coal:Coalshed” for 0 points - you will receive ten free sacks of COAL at character creation.

Mole Flaws

DEVOTION TO HOME: You may only hold a CLAIM on a single territory at any one time.

POOR EYESIGHT: The light of the world above blinds you. You may never use firearms or projectile weapons with any degree of accuracy and may not target another character with them.

All Moles are able to perform the Downtime Action “Dig Mole Tunnel”, in order to create an entrance to the underground realm of the Moles. It takes 12 weeks to dig a Mole Tunnel – this time can be reduced by a week for every Rabbit slave that is used, to a minimum of 2 weeks.

Mole tunnels improve many Downtime actions including trade, mining and hunting.

You have FIVE points to spend on characteristics

You may pick ANY characteristic from the following list

* You may take the “Coal: Coalshed” advantage for free once, after which you may buy it at a cost of 1 character point per advantage.

** Cultural Bonus: You are particularly good at getting Slaves to work harder if you take this Elder Lore. To be a Mole Elder, your character MUST own (or have previously owned) a Mine.