The Dẃoff

### **Description:**

The Dẃoff (*Do-off*) are a race of bipedal pig-dwarf people with no true magical connections to the world they live in. Despite their depictions as dwarfs, the Dẃoff posses no extensive mining kingdoms, no fantastic technologies, and generally no true industries all their own. Within the book these people are depicted as pinkish, fairly Caucasian people typically dirtied by the intensive work they are subjected to do. The descriptions of psychical features vary greatly throughout the books, as some are depicted with floppy long ears, short ears with rounded tops, protruding teeth, long dropping pig snouts or simply pushed in pig like noses. Beards and hair also tend to be a very distinctive feature, so to is the smell they tend to carry, of course this may be due to jobs most hold. Tails have also been both mentioned and ignored within the story, leading the possibility that not all Dẃoff have tails or if they do may hide it away. Height and life span wise the Dẃoff stand to be the shortest, though within the series this seems to be a product of their unfortunate role of laborers rather than something truly biological.

#### **Life Style:**

Unlike the Flóff and the Únoff the Dẃoff harbor no special talents or abilities to aid their plight, yet due to their classification as lesser beings, the Dẃoff have typically been left out of wars (aside from The Three Wars). This of course does not mean they are without strife, while their numbers have histrionically always been larger than the other tribes after wars, their dependence on the two other main tribes have stunted their growth. With no formal education wide spread, nor a true trade guild devoid of outside influence there seems to be no clear hope for a near Dẃoff uplifting. Even before the events of Artésque the Dẃoff life style has never grown beyond the life of a farmer or laborer. Their bulky frame, typically pudgy bodies and lack of power have resulted in the Dẃoff's glorified status as a slave class. As a result three distinctive life styles have formed:

##### **Interactions With Flóff:**

The Flóff lack of true land for their power means interactions between Dẃoff and Flóff are rather limited. The Flóff provide protection and weather control while the Dẃoff collect resources and grow food for the Flóff. Of course, under the Flóff control no Dẃoff may be trained in combat or harbor weapons. The overall freedom of the Dẃoff people under the Flóff is realtivly better than the Únoff, though living conditions and trade with other settlements is harder to achieve economically.

##### **Interactions With Únoff:**

Both the Únoff and the Dẃoff have been aligned for numerous years, though normally with the Únoff pulling the strings. As stated throughout the series, the Únoff have dominated both land trade and industry, despite the heavy Dẃoff labor mostly used. Much like the Flóff overlords, the Únoff held areas demand that Dẃoff peoples abide by their laws. Trade and protection however is a dual effort in most instances. Those under the crowns control typically have Dẃoff security within the settlement while those under a Lords of Trade have a substantial Únoff influence. Even still, as shown in the books, those Dẃoff within Únoff holds enjoy the same technological advances the Únoff bring such as running water and working lights (Helió stones see **Márjx**). Of course, the jobs are still labor intensives, farming, building, ect. while an economy of sorts exists within these holds, very few Dẃoff are able to leave a life of labor.

##### **Interactions With Minor Tribes or self Governing:**

Under the treaties of Artésque, the Flóff sought to weaken the Únoff holdings over the Dẃoff. While not as a humanitarian effort, the series has presented this as a way to ensure the Dẃoff maintain some autonomy from the Únoff if a war ever erupted. The treaties called for several predominantly Dẃoff settlements to remain purely Dẃoff controlled with no outside factors. Of these cities, only one proved to be successful, the Dẃoff hold of Passvórtall which has founded its economy of that of raiding the old land of Oválll for resources and goods not taken before the mass exodus from the land. Within the book however, it is clear that Passvórtall, to some extent, is being financed by an Únoff power. Yet, with a relatively content population of Dẃoffs, only a war would truly show how far the seeds of Únoff power have been sowed.

With other minor tribes, the Dẃoff have shown promise in growing farming based settlements fitted with simple trade, typically following an Únoff style however.

#### **Religion:**

While it is true that none of the three main tribes host a real religion, the Dẃoff beliefs have been more tailored to that of ancient ideals (**History**). The Dẃoff having no formal education system nor typically possessing the means of learning or teaching others to read tend to tell stories. Within these stories the common beliefs of the people are seen. The Dẃoff, unlike the other tribes view themselves as nothing more than subservient beings awaiting their role in the greater goal of the devún (D-V-Un) and the Arcx-oTik (*R-co-tick).*Yet, despite such dedication to "higher beings" the Dẃoff tend to take on a neutral role, looking to take the path of least resistance. Many Dẃoff cling to older stories as well, most telling of Émortit Déth, a belief that both life and meaning are far too hard to understand or try for and that it is best to just do what is asked, rather than think.

**Marriages:**

Unlike the other two main tribes within Artésque the Dẃoff operate as a family unit. Marriages, for the most part, are not to broaden powers nor even to strengthen family ties, instead marriages are a product of proximity. Even still, Dẃoff families are shown throughout the series to care for one another, with settlements of families acting as one cohesive group. Due to this, Dẃoff children tend to stay closest to their families, settlements and towns only growing with the population rather than for the sake of expansion. Along with this, those Dẃoffs outside the direct control of another tribe tend to rely on simple farming, cutting the need for most trade and growth.

#### **National:**

Little is shown about the Dẃoff inner workings on the large scale, there does exist a voting system for the common Dẃoff to express concerns, though its working has never been shown. Beyond this, the Dẃoff have an elected chancellor, who is at current **Chancellor Clay**, beneath this person seems to be an appointed second in command. Within the books, the larger government of the Dẃoff seems rather weak; no formal armies, no ways to raise one, and very little money. Typically, the chancellor trades services (labor deals) that the Dẃoff within other holds abide by for services or trade in return. Due to this, the Dẃoff's larger government seems to be nothing more than a workers union with very little sway, aside from worker protest.

#### **Local:**

Unlike the national level, Dẃoff local governments thrives. With the simple, closely knit communities that the Dẃoff develop in or out of another tribe's hold the local government remains important. With this, Jartál (hold masters) within each area act as personalized union bosses, able to collect taxes, pay guards, and maintain certain rules that other tribes must adhere to. Of course, with little power beyond the local mobs, the "rules" set at the local level depend on the true masters of each hold. Under Únoff rule, those holds under the control of a Lord of Trade, tend to find certain rules overlooked, or hardly enforced. This is the same for those Dẃoff under the rule of a Flóff. Yet, under the one truly Dẃoff run city of Passvórtall and under the direct control of the Únoff crown, the Dẃoff local government seems well funded and runs fairly well for the people it oversees.

Both levels though, for the most part, are hardly considered true governments as the Dẃoff populations tend to only exist within or under the control of another tribe.