Erina
The Erina are a race of hedgehog-like Beastfolk born of earth, dusk, and the quiet protection of the wild. Created by Quillamar, the hedgehog Animal Lord and patron of patience and defense, the Erina embody resilience, humility, and an enduring Spirit that thrives in hidden hollows and forest glades. Sturdy and humble in appearance, they live not for conquest or renown, but for community, memory, and the preservation of peaceful life beneath the canopy of the world.
Erina stand between three and four feet tall, their compact bodies cloaked in layers of thick fur and tough quills that bristle when threatened. Their faces are gentle and inquisitive, with dark, intelligent eyes and soft snouts. They move with a surprising nimbleness, curling into defensive balls when danger strikes and unfurling with deliberate grace. Many Erina braid charms and runes into their quills—tokens of family, tradition, and protective wards.
Culturally, Erina are deeply rooted in oral tradition and ancestral wisdom. Villages often form in root-bound hollows or subterranean tunnel networks, each community led by a "Spinekeeper"—an elder who recalls the stories and spirit-lore passed down by Quillamar’s earliest children. They practice quiet crafts: woodworking, herbalism, rune-carving, and subtle forms of druidic or divine magic that focus on warding, healing, and preservation. While rarely seeking out conflict, Erina train in defensive martial styles that emphasize counters, traps, and positional awareness—turning the aggression of others against them.
Erina revere balance over dominance. They see themselves as stewards of small sanctuaries: glens, thickets, and groves where wounded spirits—be they beast, Fey, or mortal—may find refuge. As such, they often ally with druids, nature spirits, and animal lords, acting as gentle mediators and hidden guardians. When evil arises, Erina do not march to war but instead encircle what is precious, shielding it with body, spirit, and will. When their kin are harmed, however, their retaliation is swift, calculated, and quietly devastating.
Their society is communal and cooperative, placing emphasis on shared labor, mutual respect, and deep emotional bonds. While slow to trust outsiders, those who prove themselves kind and respectful of nature find Erina allies to be fiercely loyal, rich in wisdom, and profoundly nurturing. Songs around firepits, mushroom harvests, and the quiet carving of stone into protective runes mark the rhythm of Erina life—slow, steady, and full of meaning.
Though small in stature, the Erina are mighty in purpose. To threaten their kin is to awaken a wall of bristling quills and unwavering resolve. To gain their friendship is to find a hearth that never falters, even in the darkest storm. In the whispering wilds of Aigusyl, few peoples are more beloved by the land—and few stand stronger in silence—than the Erina.
