Buddler

Used for Transport of Underground Goods

Once seen as an obscure and reclusive animal, the buddler has become a stable for larger mining towns around Dysvoll. They're used for the transport of goods from the mines to the surface and was first seen in use on a larger scale in Neklian, a city-state known for its gem-mining.  

Anatomy and Morphology

Buddlers are quite large mammals who are adapted to fare well in underground lifestyles. Some people compare them to be a large version of moles, and this isn't wholly incorrect as they are quite closely related to moles.   They have an oval body shape and stand on their hind legs when they are above ground or in large underground rooms. When on their hind legs, they stand at around 90-110 cm, and are therefore the size of an average 4-year-old human child.   They have brown velvety fur, which insulates them well from the cold they encounter underground.   Their most notable feature is their strong and powerful arms and large, clawed paws that are able to dig at a fast rate and enables them to climb through underground tunnels with ease.   They live primarily underground but are also commonly found around their entrances to their burrows on the surface when food is too scarce underground and they need to gather it otherwise. This has led them to have eyes that easily adjust between complete darkness and light. If they didn't have that, they would be an easy target when they first exit their tunnels and would be temporarily blinded.  

Buddler Specific Haemoglobin

A very important feature of the buddlers is that they are able to survive in environments with high levels of CO2, compared to humans.   This is due to the fact that their blood cells have a different type of haemoglobin than human blood cells have, and this haemoglobin has a much higher affinity for O2.   A higher affinity means that the oxygen binds way faster, and means that the concentration of oxygen can be quite low and it still binds to the haemoglobin in the blood cells. This makes it so that they can reuse air they've already breathed in and out multiple times and still get more oxygen and not get carbon dioxide poisoning.
 

History of Domestication

The buddlers used around Dysvoll in mining towns all hail from the population of buddlers that were first domesticated by the Neklians who came to Dysvoll Ellecran Forest. It took years before the idea even came to the new residents of the place, but afterwards they became an important and valued part of life in the shining city of Neklian.  

Avoidance

The Neklians encountered the animal when Telia Ravenswood first used her Earth Magic to sense the gems beneath the earth, and also sensed the buddlers.   At first, they avoided the buddlers best they could, as they were unsure whether the animals were aggressive.  
Buddlers are such sweethearts, they help us out so we don't get back pains and they make oddly good companions, they're very loyal.
— inhabitant of a mine town

First contact

As the Neklians' mining venture evolved to a larger scale, it was no longer possible to avoid contact and they came face to face with the buddlers on multiple occasions, luckily, nothing bad happened to the miners other than a fright.   They discovered that the buddlers were naturally quite mild-tempered and that they only became aggressive when their cubs were threatened in any way.   The Neklians made a great effort to make sure that they didn't hit any of the main hubs of buddler activity as to not upset their new neighbours.
 

A budding friendship

After years and years of making sure they didn't upset the habitats of the buddlers, the Neklians had a new idea. They would continue to make sure they didn't infringe on the animals' territory, but perhaps they could try and see if they could tame them. This was due to the heavy toll the transport of gems up from the mines took on the people who did it. The buddlers were adept diggers and climbers and would be much more suited for the task.   It became a success and after many years of breeding and the buddlers became highly valued in Neklian. They helped out greatly in the The Glittering Caves, which was where most of the gem mining in Neklian took place.   Since Neklian was a cultural centre, many came to visit the beautiful city and soon other nations took note of their transport system and bought the buddlers off of the Neklians.
Lifespan
20-25 years
Average Height
90 - 110 cm
Average Weight
18 - 25 kg
Geographic Distribution

The Glittering Caves
Geographic Location | Jul 16, 2021

The Gem Caves of Neklian, which have been funding the city-states expenses for hundreds of years. Now they are abandoned along with the rest of Neklian.

 
When I first sensed the buddlers underground, we were all quite frightened of this big and adept underground creature.   However, when we had met them enough times, we realised they were peaceful and mild animals who looked out for their own.
Telia Ravenswood
 
Neklian
Organization | Dec 13, 2021

Neklian was an influential city state located in the Ellecran Forest in Dysvoll, but the town lay in ruins after the mysterious and sudden disappearance of the ruling court.



Cover image: by Ninne124

Comments

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Jul 16, 2021 16:03 by Avalon Arcana

The name buddlers is just so cute. I like there was a relationship between them and the people first before taming, it really makes my heart happy. Wonderful article :)

You should check out the The 5 Shudake, if you want of course.
Jul 17, 2021 19:51

Thank you!! ^-^   I found the name very cute too when it was proposed to me, so I used it.   And thanks, that was an aspect I really liked coming up with as well. Mutual respect like that with nature is always admirable.

Grab your hammer and go worldbuild! :3
Jul 20, 2021 05:46 by Wendy Vlemings (Rynn19)

I love your working animal. They sound so cute and sweet. Beautiful article! :)

Author of Ealdwyll, a fantasy world full of mystery.
Jul 20, 2021 06:20 by Stormbril

Aw, they sound so cute -- so fitting for their adorable name :D I love that detail on being able to handle higher CO2, that's really interesting!   Great working animal :D

Nov 28, 2021 14:23 by Kaleidechse

Beautiful work, I love the way you describe these sweet creatures and their relationship with the miners! Also, the detail about their special haemoglobin is truly fascinating.


Creator of the Kaleidoscope System and the planet Miragia.