Niffen

Niffen
Classification	Small Humanoid
Faction/Affiliation	Independent
Racial capital	Loamm Mmarl
Racial leader(s)	Aurantia
Homeworld	Azeroth
Area(s)	Zaralek Cavern (Dragon Isles) Azj-Kahet (Khaz Algar)
Sources: World of Warcraft: Dragonflight

The niffen are a subterranean race of small, mole-like humanoids, found in Zaralek Cavern underneath the Dragon Isles and Azj-Kahet in Khaz Algar. They have limited sight, and rely on their smelling senses.

Background

Niffen have poor eyesight, but make up for it with their extremely sensitive noses that are used as their primary means of navigating the world. Not only can they determine direction and location through smell, but also a person's characteristics and emotions.

To evade danger, a niffen can swiftly burrow underground with their huge claws. These claws are also well adept for self-defense and hunting. Niffen monster hunters work to keep their people safe by culling any dangerous creatures that get too close to settlements or caravans.

The niffen and drogbar of Zaralek Cavern have established an amicable relationship between their people. According to Harlowe Marl, "snails, swallows and premium crystals keep the drogbar and niffen friendly with each other." At some point in their shared history, the town of Loamm began hiring drogbar as Kithguards to help guard its borders.

There was once a group of niffen bandits called the Bristle Brigands who had a hideout in the Gaze of Neltharion.

Culture

A niffen flute player and dirtkicker dancers.

Niffen are friendly traders renowned for their hospitality and peculiar bartering trade system. They transport goods by snail-drawn wagons with many of their people conducting work as snailriders, snail handlers, and even snail racers. Niffen exchange their goods and services for a variety of currency, including coins and bricks, but they covet smooth, shiny objects like crystals or stones as highest in value. Salvaging for valuables across the Zaralek Cavern is a common enterprise among their people. The bravest niffen seeking treasures beyond local trash piles, who delve deep into uncharted caverns, are called Sniffenseekers.

As traders, the niffen also foster a culture of artisans. The center of Loamm is ringed with vendors of every profession, as well as incense brewers and potters. The most skilled potters are called kiln-singers and they use a connection to the elements of earth and fire when creating their wares. Niffen of old made vibrant pottery, the method of making the pigments used by these niffen has seemingly been lost in time.

Niffen are led by a High Redolence who functions as the authority of goings-on in their community. The High Redolence of Loamm is Aurantia.

As a subterranean people, niffen refer to the land above the Zaralek Cavern as the "sunlands" and accompanying visitors as "uplanders". Credit to their survival in a hostile, underground environment includes the practice of a buddy system when venturing beyond settlements.

Incense is a vital part of life as each individual smell is how niffen distinguish one another, mark travel routes, and identify locations like settlements or dwellings. A kith's unique incense is their pride and joy. Incense brewers use a snail slime base for all their concoctions, and the most ambitious brewers are called Smellomancers.

'Dirtkicking' is a style of niffen dance, often accompanied by flute music.

The niffen have a long history of storytelling. Brigands such as the Bristle Brigands would compose epics of their exploits, often accompanied by music and merriment. They would even engage in battles of poetics, taking turns composing lyrics to insult the other. And the winner was whoever most damaged the reputation of their opponent.

Cuisine

A niffen cooking kitchen.

Niffen cuisine utilizes the plentiful bugs, grubs, slugs, mushrooms, and moths found throughout their cavern home. The meat from successful monster hunts is highly valued and coveted as an ingredient in niffen dishes. Cooking primarily occurs by stewing or grilling, most evident by the community grill found inside Floressa's inn in Loamm.

 [Freshly Squeezed Mosswater] is a favored refreshment among the niffen, while  [Fungishine] is a common brew distilled from cave mushrooms.

Rock candy is a favorite treat among niffen children, often to the dismay of exasperated elders when consumed in large amounts.

Notable

Name	Role	Affiliation	Status	Location
Aurantia	High Redolence	Loamm Niffen	Alive	Loamm, Zaralek Cavern
Effervesta	Lady Redolence	Loamm Niffen	Alive	Loamm, Zaralek Cavern
Elder Honeypelt	Monster Hunter	Loamm Niffen	Alive	Loamm, Zaralek Cavern
Floressa	Innkeeper	Loamm Niffen	Alive	Loamm, Zaralek Cavern
Kayann	Ambassador of Craft	Loamm Niffen	Alive	Valdrakken, Thaldraszus
Ponzo	Barterer Extraordinaire	Loamm Niffen	Alive	Loamm, Zaralek Cavern

Notes

• They are a renown faction, known as the Loamm Niffen.
• The niffen are voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.

Gallery

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  Niffen model

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  Niffen screenshot

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  Niffen creature concept

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  Niffen houses

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  Niffen stalls

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  Niffen market

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  Prop concept

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  Loamm

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  Stress Express

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  Smellincense

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  Shalewing