Jerboan (Jer-BO-in)

The Jerboan people of the Great Blue Sand Wastes are a collection of nomadic tribes that use the resources of the desert to make their living. They are a Smaller species with fur that ranges from light to deep blue, with a bluish tint to the skin underneath. Their eyes are commonly blue to almost black in color and they have long, tufted tails left over from their prehistoric ancestors that continue to aid in balance and movement. Jerboan have long, thin and strong legs with large feet, and they are excellent at jumping, kicking, and short bursts of running. Their most prominent feature is their ears, which are large and thin. These allow them to pick up distant noses of the desert, avoid the few natural predators they have, and keep cool.
Given their nomadic ways, the Jerboan are only a loosely united people with each tribe having their own customs, rites of passage, and leadership. Most tribes range from ten to 50 individuals, though some tribes with more organized leadership structure may have larger numbers. In addition, there is a sect of Jerboa that watch over the waterways in the Caves under the desert to ensure that water does not go scarce. All tribes have representatives in this sect, who are regarded as holy by the people. Usually this consists of individuals with dark fur, from deep dark blue to the rare few who have black fur, making it easier to blend into the caves rather than the sand on the surface.
Jerboan clothing is typically a lightweight but tight woven cloak that covers the entire head save the ears, and has special panels that can allow for continued movement in dust storm conditions. These panels are often enchanted and must be woven with fibers spun out of specific plants that only the Largers can process. Loose pants and shirts are worn under these cloaks. Often times, however, lactating mothers will lack these other garments to be able to feed their babies.
When a Jerboan is born white or Albino, it is considered a bad omen. However, abandoning a child is a worse crime. When these individuals are born, they are considered to be Otherfolk, testing the worth of the Jerboan tribe they were born into. Most often, these children die in infancy, though there have been the rare case where one will grow up. Depending on the tribe, this can be a sign of favor or displeasure from the gods. Albino individuals are especially sensitive to all types of magic and learn to wield it very early on. They will often then serve as the defender of the tribe, though if the spirits are displeased, their would be defender may very well cause the death of the entire tribe.