The Stone Sky
Above the cities of the Nanadoob Confederation, there are no stars. There is only stone. The 'sky' is the vaulted ceiling of a cavern so vast that clouds of condensation drift across it. Light comes not from a sun, but from a million torches, cultivated glowing mosses, and the priceless, fist-sized gems embedded in the walls of every home and workshop. It is a world of warmth, echoes, and the ever-present, comforting weight of the world above.
The Durgensnobbers
Short, sturdy, and endlessly cheerful, the Dinglehoff Durgensnobbers see the world as a grand project waiting to be improved. They are masters of engineering, geology, and gem-cutting, and their fortified halls ring with the sound of pickaxes and laughter in equal measure. While disciplined in their work, they are whimsical at heart, adorning their most powerful mining machines with intricate filigree and naming their deepest, most dangerous mines after beloved foods and cheerful songs.
The Hidden Trade
The Confederation wants for little, but it is not entirely isolated. A handful of hidden, puzzle-locked doors connect to the surface world in the most unlikely of places—the back of a cave, the bottom of a well, behind a waterfall. The locations of these doors are the Durgensnobbers' most closely guarded secret, known only to trusted trade partners. Through these passages, they maintain their connection to the 'Over-world,' always listening, always learning, but rarely interfering. Their greatest fear is not invasion, but the discovery of their peaceful home by those who would seek to exploit its riches.