HABITAT: Orzammar, Crestwood, Emerald Graves, Emprise du Lion, Exalted Plains, Frostback Mountains, Hinterlands, Forbidden Oasis, Storm Coast
COMPANION: Yes
MOUNT: ..... (no)
SHAPESHIFT: Yes
CALLED UPON Yes

Nugs are diminutive, hairless creatures found exclusively in the subterranean realms of Thedas. These small, nearly blind animals sport pointed snouts ideal for digging through cavernous environments. Despite their innocuous appearance, nugs are voracious omnivores, consuming a wide array of sustenance found on the cavern floors, from insects and worms to minerals like limestone and simple metals when food sources are scarce. Their industrious digging habits have earned them the affectionate nickname among dwarves as "mud splashers."

In various cultures across Thedas, nugs play multifaceted roles. In Orzammar, nug-wranglers capture and sell nugs for various purposes, including as pets and as a crucial food source. Among the noble circles of Orlais, there exists a niche market for "lap-nugs," specially bred for companionship and luxury. Dwarven cuisine prizes nugs as a staple food, cherished for their tender meat that blends the flavors of pork and hare—a delicacy prepared in diverse culinary styles such as nug pancakes, nug-gets, and even nug bacon.

Despite their adaptation to underground life, nugs are ill-suited to non-temperate environments and remain vulnerable prey to a myriad of predators. One peculiar and often unsettling feature of nugs is their limb structure, which terminates in appendages eerily resembling hands—a characteristic shared with their larger relatives.

Beyond sustenance and sport, nugs also participate in a unique form of entertainment popular among the lower castes of dwarven society: nug racing. Bred for speed and agility, these nugs race through specially prepared tunnels, spurred on by the scent of roasted roof beetles. The races, adorned with house emblems and attended by nobles and casteless alike, provide not only entertainment but also a means of livelihood for successful breeders who later sell the retired nugs for consumption.

In essence, nugs embody a fascinating blend of utility and cultural significance across Thedas, from their role as a dietary staple to their involvement in unique sporting events, illustrating their adaptability and enduring presence in dwarven society.