These fey spirits are born in the wild, though it isn’t uncommon for some to migrate to humanoid societies, often unnoticed due to their magical animal guise. They protect their abodes, bonding with a house’s owners if treated kindly.

A dvorkin has a small but lithe furry body, and its attitude resembles that of a child. It is usually friendly toward others, especially if they display kindness. If a creature is hostile toward the dvorkin, it returns the favor in its own wild fey fashion.

Wild Bond. A dvorkin is not a creature that one owns. Rather, these fey creatures choose people to bond with. The relationship is not hierarchical, but symbiotic.

In exchange for food, shelter, and kindness, the dvorkin protects the people, their land, and the things precious to them. Most commoners wouldn’t even know a dvorkin has made its home amidst them, as these creatures take the form of pets, commonly a dog or a cat. The people protected by a dvorkin don’t hold any sway over it but live in tandem with the creature.

The dvorkin is a friend and a helper with its own mind and character, not a servant—it’s quite important to remember that. Kind and protective as they are, they’re spirits of nature and retain their wild and chaotic individuality, following their own whims and emotions. Sometimes, an ill-treated dvorkin can commit horrible acts of spite, vengeance, or jealousy.

Supernatural Senses. The dvorkin has extraordinarily sharp senses, surpassing most humanoids in sensitivity and acuteness. Its special sight goes even beyond those limits, into the realm of the supernatural, peering through invisibility and into the Ethereal Plane.

In the woodland realms where it hails from, the dvorkin uses its special sight to spot malevolent cursed spirits or concealed evildoers, alerting the more powerful denizens of the forest so such threats can be dealt with.

In humanoid settlements, the little fey spends most of its time outdoors, which is why people call it “dvorkin”—a phrase that can be vaguely translated to “spirit of the yard.” The dvorkin shares animalistic traits with domesticated beasts, but it has a superior intellect akin to its humanoid friends.

It helps the people it lives with, shepherding their cattle, guarding their chicken coops from predators, and foiling the plans of even the best of thieves. Moreover, it keeps its household safe, looking out for any supernatural threats that may harm its family.