Welcome friends and strangers, you are invited by Rebbie MudFish to a clip and conversation at Reb’s Barber Shop. Located right down Dark Street next to The Black Castle Shop, where I provide cuts, shaves, trims, and styles to any specification. We use our exclusive turtlewort antiseptic between each service. While you’re here at the shop get your tonics, balms, dyes, and stukons in a variety of aromas. We are also featuring The Widow Thunderaxe’s soap lumps. Right now get a free flea balm with every beard shine.
Having been highly recommended, my shop recently had the honor of a visit from Lord Pumhak Lisk who has been granted Lordship of Fithur Hall. He is the first of the Croshni people granted a title within our noble aristocracy. This visit prompted me to learn as much as I could about the Croshni. In this edition of Fathom House Watch I am going to tell you all I have learned, about these newcomers to our city.
First, I think it is important we recognize the familiarity you may see in the Croshni folk. Sitting across a tavern table you would be pressed to find anything out of the ordinary, as their features, manners, and often styles and tastes will not appear much different from any humans around them. Even the dyed hair would not be an uncommon sight in our city, but you may begin to notice the higher quality and brilliance of the colors they wear. Sometimes colors you may not have seen before, as they come from expert dye makers.
Their eyes can easily be described as striking, exotic, sometimes bright. In lantern light a slight move of the head, or a look to the side and you would catch quick flashes of reflected silver-blue. A longer study and you will see they are larger on the face with oversized pupils and irises. They may seem more similar to the eyes of a bear or corbi.
This animal-like resemblance may be further re-enforced by the occasional glimpse of their pointed teeth. But, the dental, and overall exceptional cleanliness of the Croshni, could easily confuse this comparison. There are a great many in our city that could learn from their level of hygiene.
Of course you may not notice any of this at all. Their mannerisms are so similar to those around them, you may never think to look closer. They are very sociable and cultured, with familiar gestures and expressions coming naturally to them. You could easily get wrapped up in a conversation and feel there is nothing foreign about them at all.
As we view them standing or walking around, all the familiar things will seem more exceptional. Their lower half looks out of place for an upright creature, being more akin to something from the realm of beasts. The Croshni legs are entirely covered in fur, which I have been told does not extend much above the hips. These are jointed like many fur bearing animal’s hind legs, supported on sturdy paws that are large and wide in proportion to the body. Despite their tough pads they will often favor different forms of footwear. Mr. Noch, a cobbler friend told me these could be fully enclosed with extra space, or with openings for the clawed ends of their four toes. These claws can be good for climbing or digging, but that is rarely a necessity in urban life.
On their legs you will find many different dyed patterns. These are most often used to accentuate the many types of patterns already occurring naturally in their fur, and often incorporate the shape of their short deer or corbi-like tail. The coloration may hold significance to some, or be purely decorative for others. In either case this is always an excellent example of their richly artistic culture.
The colors of their dyes tend to be offset by their less flashy dress. Walking around the city you will see them wearing many of the same styles as everyone else, but with changes here and there to make them more individual. Shorter pants and longer dresses can be a refreshing break from the typical trends of our community.
Encountered on a typical day you will be met by someone with both common nature and a gracious manner. Even when surly or cross you will likely not realize it through the polite conversation over their subtly irritable countenance. Confusion that can come from foreign customs is seldom seen due to their expert knack at local nuances. It can be easy to feel like they are locals, even if they have only been in town for a short time.
Their demeanor and adaptability have lent to their finding employment easily in many trades around our city. No matter their vocation they approach it with the serious attention of an artisan. At home in Osend, in the southern mountain ranges they can be renowned tradesmen, and given the opportunity, even adept mystics. Many are accomplished warriors, favoring community defense over conquest. These are all skills that aid them in finding a suitable way of life in our great city.
The Croshni may be few here. However, I encourage all the people of Gate City to welcome them and their growing contributions to our community.
From an edition of Fathom House Watch by Rebbie MudFish, a newsletter found on posts and bulletin boards of common houses throughout Gate City.