Nander

A nander (pl. nander or nander folk; H. robustus) is a sapient creature.

Physical appearance
Nander are similar to humans, except with shorter, generally stockier bodies (average height: 127 cm). The head appears comparatively large because the changes to growth pattern affect the head much less than other parts of the body. The lungs are also large, and the legs are short. And because shorter bodies mean shorter nerves, they don't live in the past quite as much.

In some, growth pattern changes affected the sex hormones, leading to fuller and more rapid development of body hair than humans, albeit with faster pattern baldness. Others are no hairier than humans, and at times there is racial tension between "clean" and "hoary" nander.

It is thought that they are optimized over generations for mining and crafting in the more frigid, higher altitude lands. In any case, it fits the tendency of smaller mammals to have rounder bodies and more fur to conserve heat and the tendency of burrowing mammals to have stockier builds.

It takes a while to come to understand the mindset of people living in a mining colony, especially when a lot of them grow up knowing far more about mining and metalworking than some of our scouts do. For example, ventilation is driven by the forge at the center of each section of the mine. The rising warm air in the exhaust chimney creates a draft toward the forge, supplying the inhabitants with air. Intake and exhaust chimneys are topped by structures resembling wells, whose function H. G. could explain. Thus areas bordering nander mines never had to hire children as chimney sweeps. Underground cities not near a mine are kept warm with geothermal vents.