Barzduks

Lore

Barzduks are small, gnome-like folk who live underground. They build their homes—burrows—beneath trees, often choosing the elder tree, which they consider sacred. In their subterranean dwellings, they store bread, beer, and other food. They furnish their homes like ordinary people and were believed to have large reserves of food.

According to sources, the name "Barzduks" comes from the phrase "thick beard," which is their characteristic feature and pride. They might weave cloth strips into their beards or braid them into spikes, but you might also encounter a Barzduk without a beard, though that's a great rarity. In such a case, he'd be rather sad until his beard grows back. They live peaceful lives, wishing harm to no one, simply going about their daily tasks in their burrows and occasionally carrying out assignments from their deity.

A Prussian legend tells of the origin of the Barzduks. There was a time when people, feeling their own strength, became arrogant; they grew bold and no longer feared the forces of nature. They began to mock the gods and scold them, considering themselves just as great. At some point, they declared war on the gods, inviting evil spirits and mighty dragons to aid them... But the gods did not remain passive and punished each according to their deeds: those who wielded fire and were connected with dragons turned into savages covered in fur... And those who possessed strength were deprived of it and also lost their human form, becoming small in stature. Now they live in burrows and hide under stones.

The Barzduks later became helpers of the god of the harvest. When people made numerous pleas, he might task the Barzduks with filling a granary with grain. They would all work together throughout the night, carrying grain from their burrows into people's granaries.

Therefore, villagers respect these little gnomes; they know that in difficult times, the Barzduks will come to help. Additionally, locals hold feasts for them twice a year, preparing various dishes and baked goods, and then observe which foods the Barzduks ate the most of. Together with the village elder, they make predictions about what the harvest will be like and which crops to sow for the next season.

Villagers also love planting elder trees in the hope that the Barzduks will settle nearby.

small underground-dwelling humanoids, similar to gnomes, who keep bread and beer beneath trees.