Burrowguard
“Trackkeepers of the Driftwood Express, Stitchers of Time, Children of Asgorath.”
Burrowguard Traits
Ability Score Increase.
Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Age.
Average Lifespan: 250
Alignment.
Burrowguard are deeply lawful and good-aligned by nature, bound by cosmic duty and divine design. They follow train law and celestial order instinctively.
Size.
Burrowguard are small creatures, standing around 3 feet tall and weighing 40 to 50 pounds.
Speed.
Your base walking speed is 25 feet. You have a burrow speed of 10 feet.
Basic Information
Anatomy
General Appearance
- Species Type: Celestial-Beastfolk (beaver-like)
- Body:
- Broad shoulders, powerful forearms (for digging, carrying, and spell weaving)
- Barrel chest — symbolic of resilience and their oath-bound hearts
- Slightly hunched, with a center of gravity ideal for stability during planar shifts
- Tail:
- Flat and leathery like a traditional beaver’s
- Some carry carved sigils, tattoos, or runes of their station or devotion to Asgorath
- Used for balance, communication, and even planar anchoring rituals
- Fur:
- Short to medium-length; water-resistant and infused with stardust-like sparkles
- Common hues: chestnut, silvery grey, obsidian black, or moss green (in forest or Fey-touched Burrowguard)
- Eyes:
- Large and expressive, glowing faintly with planar threads (color depends on planar alignment — silver for Mechanus, gold for Celestia, deep blue for the Astral Sea)
- Hands & Claws:
- Dexterous fingers with reinforced nails for both woodcraft and glyph-scribing
- Capable of burrowing, tuning the Astral Odyssey’s controls, or crafting with soulwood
Biological Traits
Burrowguard Biological Traits
Lifespan & Life Expectancy
- Average Lifespan: 250 years
- Life Expectancy (active guardians): ~180–220 years
- Life Expectancy (domesticated or exiled): ~100–130 years
- Adulthood: Age 15
- Elderhood (Celestial Emergence Phase): Age 200+
In this phase, Burrowguard develop radiant fur patterns, dreamwalk instincts, and chronomantic foresight.
Height & Weight
| Group | Height Range | Weight Range |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Burrowguard | 2’8” – 3’2” | 35 – 48 lbs |
| Chronostitchers | 2’6” – 2’10” | 30 – 42 lbs |
| Rail Wardens | 3’0” – 3’4” | 45 – 55 lbs |
| Gatelords | 3’2” – 3’6” | 50 – 65 lbs |
Note: Most Burrowguard are slightly heavier than average halflings due to dense musculature and spiritually saturated marrow from their star-bone structure.
Gender Differences
- Male-presenting Burrowguard:
- Tend to have wider tails, thicker brows, and deeper vocal tones
- Often become engineers, wardens, or defenders of the rail
- Female-presenting Burrowguard:
- Tend to have longer whiskers, sharper facial markings, and more iridescent fur
- Often become conductors, chronomancers, or ritual singers
Despite biological distinctions, Burrowguard society is strongly egalitarian, and most roles are chosen based on talent and spiritual alignment, not gender.
Role-Based Variations (Divine Resonance Traits)
1. Rail Wardens (Warrior-Caretakers)
- Slightly taller and broader.
- Bone density is higher, granting natural resistance to force damage.
- Tails are segmented like armored hinges, usable in combat.
2. Chronostitchers (Temporal Weavers)
- Smaller, lighter, with elongated fingers.
- Constant low-level glow around their eyes and whiskers.
- Possess the rare "chrono-pulse", a faint rhythmic pulse in their heartbeat that syncs with time anomalies.
3. Gatelords of Ashmere (Gate City Guardians)
- Tallest and most radiant of all.
- Facial fur patterns resemble celestial maps or planar runes.
- Their tail emits soft vibrations near portals, acting as a compass for interplanar energy.
Other Biological Markers
| Trait | Description |
|---|---|
| Thermoregulation | Adapted to extreme planar temperatures, especially astral cold and purgatorial heat. |
| Olfactory Sensitivity | Can detect trace smells from different planes (e.g., sulfur from Avernus, myrrh from Elysium). |
| Dental Adaptation | Incisors are reinforced with soulwood enamel, able to gnaw through minor planar rifts or spiritual bark. |
| Whisker Reflexes | Whiskers vibrate subtly near lies, unaligned magic, or corrupted planar passages. |
| Blood Hue | Shimmers faintly with silver or prismatic hues when exposed to moonlight or divine essence. |
Genetics and Reproduction
Burrowguard Reproduction & Life Cycle
Reproductive Nature
- Type: Monogamous pairs, bonded by soul-thread (a celestial concept of paired destiny)
- Reproduction: Sexual reproduction, though initiated through a soulbonding ritual overseen by a Planar Warden or elder
- Fertility Cycle: Once per year, aligned with The Shifting of Rails, a seasonal convergence of planar ley-lines (akin to a celestial spring)
Growth Rate & Stages
Gestation & Birth
- Gestation Period: ~6 months
- Carrying Method: Internal gestation, with mild exposure to planar harmonics used to stabilize and “attune” the unborn child
- Number of Offspring: Typically 1, rarely 2 (twins are seen as prophetic)
- Birthplaces: Special “Nest-Holds” — planar-stabilized burrow sanctuaries on the Plane of Purgatory (Ashmere) or tucked into hidden stations on the Astral Odyssey
Newborn Traits
- Called: Kits
- Born with soft fur, closed eyes, and latent planar sensitivity
- Kits often glow faintly with the color of the outer plane they were conceived closest to
- They bond immediately to their parents’ soul-thread, granting subtle empathic awareness
Growth & Maturity
- Crawling/Awareness: 2 weeks
- Speech/Planar Sense Awakening: ~6 months
- Walks and burrows: ~9 months
- Begin Minor Duties: Age 5
- Rite of Binding (Adolescence): Age 13 — the kit chooses its “track” (Train Crew, Warden, Chronostitcher, etc.)
- Full Adulthood: Age 20
Behaviour
Order-Bound Soul
You are bound by divine law.
- You cannot lie, even through omission or deception (like a Zone of Truth always active on yourself).
- You cannot steal unless commanded by an agent of Asgorath or in defense of the Driftwood Express.
- You gain advantage on saving throws against enchantment or charm spells that would make you break these oaths.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Burrowguard Social Structure
1. The Conclave of Rails (High Council)
- Role: The divine leadership of the Burrowguard species, composed of 13 elder Burrowguard known as Track-Keepers.
- Function: Interpret Asgorath’s will, chart the shifting cosmology of the Outer Planes, and issue major rulings for the Astral Odyssey’s path.
- Location: Reside within The Hollow Hub, a soulwood sanctum on the Astral Plane where all planar rails converge.
- Selection: Elders are chosen by celestial omen — marked by a spontaneous burst of constellations appearing in their fur during the Shifting of Rails festival.
2. The Rail Wardens (Regional Stewards)
- Role: Oversee specific routes of the Astral Odyssey and maintain the harmony of portals and passageways.
- Titles: Known by their assigned tracks — Warden of Celestia's Climb, Warden of the Voidspur Branch, etc.
- Authority: Act as magistrates, judges, and dimensional cartographers for their territory.
- Symbol: Each carries a divine-tuned lantern capable of sensing planar disruptions.
3. Chronostitchers (Temporal Custodians)
- Role: Specialized caste responsible for repairing time fractures and regulating causality in affected zones.
- Traits: Often reclusive, deeply studious, and semi-monastic. They memorize sacred timetables and wield relics made of anchored timewood.
- Hierarchy: Answer directly to a Triumvirate of Timekeepers, often regarded as sacred seers by younger Burrowguard.
4. Gatelords of Ashmere (City Guardians)
- Role: Serve in the planar city of Ashmere, the Gate City on the Plane of Purgatory. Act as peacekeepers, divine customs officers, and interplanar border patrol.
- Rank System:
- Gatehands – apprentices or entry-level watchfolk
- Gateknights – trained defenders and investigators
- Gatelords – elite commanders with planar authority
- Rite of Passage: Must successfully seal a rogue gate or escort a lost soul across the planes.
5. Linekeepers (Common Folk)
- Role: Maintain the Astral Odyssey’s infrastructure — repairing the track of existence, crafting soulwood ties, tending to the locomotive hearts of planar travel.
- Professions: Artisans, engineers, woodsmiths, planar cooks, weavers of glyph-ink, etc.
- Community Values: Service, precision, and patience. Every job is seen as contributing to the Great Journey.
- Education: Young Burrowguard attend Burrowhalls — part school, part guildhouse, where trade, magic, and lore are taught in balance.
6. The Hearthclans (Family Units)
- Structure: Multigenerational, communal burrows called Nests.
- Naming Conventions: Names often reflect duties or sacred omens (e.g., Tallyroot, Starbrim, ThirdBell)
- Elders: Each Nest is led by a Bellkeeper, an elder who rings the family bell to mark rituals, mealtimes, and shifts in the planar tides.
7. The Faithful Few (Draconic Vassals)
- Role: A rare spiritual caste who are blessed with Asgorath’s direct favor.
- Abilities: Speak True Draconic, may temporarily grow wings during sacred events, and are often treated as prophets.
- Ceremony: During The Shifting of Rails, they lead the dance of stars that realigns the train to cosmic schedules.
Intercaste Dynamics
- Collaborative: Despite clear roles, there is no arrogance or classism — each station is respected as vital.
- Rotational Service: Young Burrowguard often take pilgrimages through multiple roles before settling into one, encouraging humility and experience.
- Conflict Resolution: Disputes are handled through the Bell Tribunal, where opposing sides plead their case with honesty and witnesses.
Domestication
Domestication of the Burrowguard (Rare & Ethically Questionable)
Cultural Note:
Domestication is viewed as a violation of divine order by most Burrowguard, and any attempt to enslave or repurpose one often draws the wrath of Gatelords, Rail Wardens, or even Asgorath’s divine agents.
Domestication Process (In-World Myths & Fringe Cases)
1. Spiritual Severance
- How: Through magical experimentation, imprisonment on a non-planar world, or exposure to Null Zones (areas with no connection to Outer Planes).
- Effect: The Burrowguard loses connection to the Astral Odyssey and can no longer sense planar rhythms.
2. Generational Drift
- How: If multiple generations are born in isolation from planar rails or among material-plane societies.
- Effect: Lineage forgets its divine purpose, turning toward mundane survival and local traditions.
3. Indoctrination by Other Powers
- How: Raised in monasteries, arcane guilds, or noble households that overwrite their cosmological duty.
- Effect: They become loyal to an earthly master, often seen as "mascots" or "luck spirits."
Morphological Changes from Domestication
| Trait | Wild Burrowguard | Domesticated Variant |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ~3 ft tall, robust build | Slightly smaller, less muscular |
| Fur & Markings | Radiant with planar hues and patterns | Duller coats, faded or non-existent sigils |
| Eyes | Star-flecked, multicolored irises | More uniform — brown, black, gray |
| Tail | Braided soulwood-plated texture | Softer, furred tails; sometimes flabby |
| Glow/Planar Aura | Glows subtly in divine presence | Minimal or no glow without magic aid |
| Resonant Hum | Emits during casting or travel | Often lost; magical resonance is weak |
Psychological Changes from Domestication
| Trait | Wild Burrowguard | Domesticated Variant |
|---|---|---|
| Planar Instinct | Acute awareness of planar rifts and flows | Dulled sensitivity, or absent entirely |
| Divine Compulsion | Cannot lie, steal, or break Train Law | Sometimes overridden due to spiritual drift |
| Sense of Duty | Life defined by sacred pilgrimage | Loyalty may redirect toward family/master |
| Social Independence | Operates within a communal caste | Often becomes overly attached to handlers |
| Cognitive Style | Linear, lawful, ritualistic thinking | Can become erratic or “playful” if unstimulated |
| Magical Potential | Innate burrow magic tied to planar threads | Greatly reduced or manifests as odd cantrips |
Ethical Implications in Gameplay
- Planar Authorities like the Gatelords of Ashmere or Track-Keepers may see a domesticated Burrowguard as a victim to be rescued or restored — or in tragic cases, a fallen guardian who must be quietly retired.
- Restoration rituals exist. With great effort, a lost Burrowguard can rekindle its divine purpose through:
- Visiting the Platform 13¾ and hearing the Bell of True Rails
- Participating in the Shifting of Rails festival
- Being exposed to a Chronostitcher’s Light
Facial characteristics
General Shape & Structure
- Face Shape: Broad and rounded with strong cheekbones and a gently sloped brow
- Jaw: Slightly pronounced, with thick bone structure to support powerful chewing muscles — inherited from ancestral burrowers and spiritual connection to the World Tree
- Muzzle: Short and flat with a stubby snout; their noses are leathery, wet, and highly sensitive to planar shifts (like a magical compass)
Eyes
- Size: Large and expressive, set wide apart — helps with peripheral vision in dimensional spaces
- Coloration: Reflects planar alignment or divine purpose:
- Astral-born: Iridescent silver or violet
- Purgatory-born: Smoky gray with flecks of gold
- Celestia-touched: Bright amber or pure white glow
- Mechanus-linked: Metallic bronze or cogwheel-patterned irises
- Trait: Eyes shimmer or flicker like starlight when using planar sense or magic
Teeth & Mouth
- Front Teeth: Prominent buckteeth (like a beaver), used primarily for woodworking and soulwood carving rather than combat
- Inner Teeth: Flat and wide — optimized for plant-based astral foods and chewable spell-ingredients
- Smile: Gentle and warm, though rarely wide — often more of a serene, knowing grin
- Voice: Calm, melodic, and resonant — their speech carries harmonic undertones when speaking Draconic or Planar Cant
Nose & Whiskers
- Nose: Rounded and dark, moist like an otter or beaver’s; their scent glands can detect planar rot or leyline fractures
- Whiskers: Long and sensitive — extend along the snout and jawline; these twitch when near unstable magic or emotional shifts
Ears
- Shape: Rounded, slightly drooping beaver-like ears
- Location: Mid-high on the sides of the head
- Mobility: Slightly twitchy and expressive — they perk when they sense dimensional changes or when speaking with fellow train-bonded kin
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Planar Instinct
You have a supernatural sense of planar instability.
- You can cast detect evil and good once per long rest, without material components.
- You can innately sense the presence of portals, planar rifts, or conjuration magic within 30 feet.
Draconic Favor
You are blessed by the prime dragon Asgorath.
- You can speak, read, and write Draconic.
- Once per year, during The Shifting of Rails, you may sprout spectral dragon wings for 1 hour, gaining a flying speed equal to your walking speed. You can maintain this ability once per long rest for 10 minutes outside of the festival, with DM discretion.
Burrow Magic
Your magic is derived from the soul-wood and stardust in your being.
You know the mending cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast feather fall once per long rest. At 5th level, you can cast slow once per long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Regenerative Woodcraft
Burrowguard can mend damaged wood, including railcars, tools, or trees, using touch.
- You can repair up to a 5-ft section of wood or natural material as if using fabricate, once per long rest. This is in addition to the mending cantrip.
Origin/Ancestry
Beavers
Lifespan
250
Average Height
3’2” to 3’8”
Average Weight
40–55 lbs
Average Physique
Compact but sturdy; dense with natural muscle beneath plush fur
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Base Fur Coloring
The fur of a Burrowguard is dense, water-resistant, and subtly infused with planar essence.
Common Tones (Prime Material Origin)
- Chestnut Brown – Most common among surface Burrowguard
- Ashen Gray – Often from those stationed in Purgatory or under Asgorath’s direct charge
- Earthen Umber – Seen in Nest-Hold keepers and rootwatchers
- Driftwood Tan – Pale-furred variants often born near ancient soulwood trees or the Astral Odyssey
Markings & Sacred Patterns
Burrowguard bear unique natural markings tied to their soul-thread lineage and divine attunement.
Common Patterns
- Spinal Stripe: A faint stripe along the spine — often glows during rituals
- Starbursts: Flecks along shoulders, cheeks, or paws in constellations
- Planar Rings: Circular patterns around ankles, wrists, or eyes — reminiscent of train wheels or orbitals
- Root-Vein Lines: Subtle markings along limbs, resembling tree roots or ley-lines; these sometimes glow when casting burrow magic
Belly, Paw, and Tail Coloring
- Underside Fur: Usually lighter than the main coat — sandy, cream, or gray
- Paws & Digits: Darker in tone, often tipped with calloused pads for climbing and rail work
- Tail: Wide, flat, and paddle-like — scaled in texture, resembling a woven braid of bark or celestial armor plating
Magical Glow Traits
- During spellcasting, divine boons, or when traversing planar gates, a Burrowguard’s:
- Fur may shimmer with radiant or chromatic light
- Markings may pulse like distant starlight
- Tail may resonate with a deep harmonic hum (used to tune the Ever—Astral Odyssey)
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