Moles

The Mole people can be generally compared to a blend of Yurok native society and members of Talpidae biological family.
Moles are one of the fifty-five races of anthropomorphic mammals that populate Yanìs, and are grouped in the subgenus of Burrowers together with Bats, Hares and Raccoons.

Physically they are among the smallest anthropomorphic races, never exceeding 2.5 feet in height. They have cylindrical bodies and hairless, tubular snouts, short tails and legs, and short, velvety fur that is dark in color and devoid of any guard hairs.
Their forelegs are equipped with strong nails, and their hands are turned outward. They also have small eyes and poor vision, but only a few are born completely blind, although almost all become so in old age.

Moles' villages are built entirely underground, taking shape from tunnels that are dug and constantly renewed, making them almost invisible to those who walk on the ground above. Villages consist of single families living in separate single-family homes that are owned by the matriarch and inherited from the maternal branch among her relatives. Furthermore, the land is almost exclusively female property, passed from mother to daughter. Their society is divided into syahhlew (rich), wa'soyowok (poor), and ka'aal (slaves). The syahhlew are the only ones who are allowed to practice religious rites, and one can become a slave mainly due to debts to another family. The Mole people have no central leader, but in each village, a rich and educated female, called peyerk, takes the lead. A peyerk's upbringing involves a rite of passage during which she communicates with the natural world and spirits. Peyerks of different villages usually meet with each other to organize rites and resolve disputes. Moles' shamans are predominantly male and became such after having dreamed of their calling. They are often accompanied by an assistant who is required to help them in ritual dances.

The Mole people entered the exclusive enclave of Isilka thanks to the close proximity of their territory to one of the Oxen migratory passages. In fact, they too are fervent Lohudonist worshippers and, often threatened by polytheistic Badgers from the nearby mountains or by Wolf pirates from the north, they needed protection. In exchange for thriving commercial exchanges and mutual support in keeping alive ancient Lohudonist traditions, the Mole people managed to wrest an agreement from the Horses and Oxen, who granted them protection. Their underground lifestyle has allowed Moles to become great metallurgical and mining experts, as well as great tuber growers and earthworm and bug breeders. Like the other two peoples of Isilka, they have a culture of oral tradition, but they often excel in figurative arts such as rock painting, mosaic, and weaving. Every year, all close settlements gather together for a ceremony called the renewal of the world, where dancers dress in colorful suits created for the occasion and judged in artistic competitions.