#mincelers

[enbywerewolf]

I saw this and was like "MINCELERS! I predicted them!"

Then i went looking for the pictures of the actual mice. And it's, uh, not quite the same.

In fact, i think i won't share it.

[enbywerewolf]

[enbywerewolf]

So you can play gartic phone solo

[enbywerewolf]

Some mincelers. Did you know house mice have furry tails?

[enbywerewolf]

Introducing: Mincelers

Hi all, I created a new species!

This started as a joke between my sister and me about closed species (which we think are dumb).  I was going to pretend this is a closed species, but I don’t have the energy for sarcasm right now, so here’s an earnest post about the species my sister and I made up and are excited about.

Minceler Communities

Mincelers are quite simply, mice with antlers.  But they’re not as much like wild mice as you might think.  For starters, mincelers are very intelligent, with their own languages (spoken and written), cultures, and customs.  Their interactions with each other and the world around them is very different from how mice behave from day to day.

There are many species of mincelers, which will be explored down the line.  They all have a few things in common.  Mincelers live communally, led by a small group of elder mincelers known as “matrons.”  The matrons oversee different aspects of minceler life, like food gathering, schooling, observance of spiritual customs, child rearing, etc.  Each clan of mincelers also has a spiritual leader, known as The Elder, whose advice and guidance is valued, but does not have the final say in all decisions.  

Minceler communities will generally be made up of hunters, farmer/gatherers, solders, artisans, and scholars.  Different communities often have different specialties in arts and crafts, such as woodworking, clothing design, weapon smithing, etc.  Trade between communities is common.  

Minceler homes are usually in burrows, or may be constructed out of hedges or hollow trees.  House mincelers tend to live in human constructions.

Within a community, minceler family groups are broken up into 2-5 adults who live together in a household and care for children, the number of which is very much dependent on the needs of the clan.  Young mincelers will not be born in times of famine, homelessness, or other uncertainty.

Minceler Reproduction  

This is accomplished by the unusual way that mincelers are born.  All mincelers have antlers.  Depending on the species, these antlers fall off and regrow at different times of the year.  Fallen antlers are carefully collected by the mincelers and watched over.  Because there’s a chance with any antler that a baby minceler will sprout from its base.  The first few weeks of the baby’s life, it is nourished by the antler, and as it grows, the antler shrinks, until it becomes a nub on the pup’s head.  In time, the baby will grow its own antlers. Minceler pups are assigned to families who are looking to raise babies of their own, and are not necessarily raised by the mincelers that they originated from.

In times of famine, the budding of new mincelers can be prevented with secret rituals.  No matter what, fallen antlers are kept in special antler storage rooms, where they are watched over by specially appointed minceler priests.  After a certain amount of time, there is no chance they will bud a new pup, and they may be used to craft items, like jewelry or utensils, that are given special importance in minceler communities.

Minceler Gender

Though they reproduce asexually, it is important to note that mincelers do have a concept of gender.  They have several genders, in fact, and different communities may have different ideas about what those genders are and what they look like.  There are males and females, but there are also individuals who would be considered nonbinary.  Gender is highly individualized with mincelers, and they do not always have names for their gender identities.

Minceler Appearance

Mincelers are all very similar in appearance, as are mice in general.  There are some differences between species, including differences in size, ear size, fur color, and antler shape.  Most mincelers are a shade of brown or gray, some with white bellies and some not.  Rarely, an albino minceler is born.  

Unlike the normal house mouse, no mincelers have ever been domesticated, and there has been no effort to cultivate “fancy” color patterns.  But mutations are possible, and a very rare minceler may be born with larger white patches like can be found in pet mice.

Mincelers often wear clothes, but because they don’t have a sense of “decency” and do not need clothes for warmth, what they wear is up to personal preferences, and can vary widely.  Some minceler communities have dedicated seamstresses as well as individuals create textiles.  Others may only wear things made out of simple materials they can find in nature or scavenge from other creatures.   Mincelers tend to dress conservatively, in comfortable clothes that blend into backgrounds easily.  But some-especially house mincelers-prefer more flamboyant styles.  One thing is consistent, though, mincelers never wear shoes (it would interfere with climbing).

MInceler Magic

Most mincelers learn how to perform some kinds of magic, especially rituals for keeping communities and homes clean and safe.  They guard their spells and rituals closely, and different communities may have very different knowledge about spells.  Minceler magic users may be considered priests or witches, with spiritual connections to the world that inform their abilities.  There are also mincelers who tap into wild magics which we might consider something like druids.  So far, no one has ever heard of a minceler wizard.

Mincelers and “Big Folk”

Mincelers try to avoid humans and other “big folk,” and generally they succeed.  Most humans will never know that mincelers exist.  Even when we catch sight of one, we tend to not look too closely and just assume it was a mouse.  But some minceler communities will communicate and even trade with big folk who are more attuned with magic in the world.  House mincelers especially will take up residence in the homes of witches, demons, elves, and the like and will try to ensure their cohabitation is peaceful.  

Minceler Language

Mincelers speak through squeaks, teeth grinding, and body language.  Different communities may have different languages, but the proliferation of the house minceler has caused a version of their language to be known among most mincelers.  Mincelers cannot speak human languages, and in order to communicate with big folk, magic must be used.  

Minceler Diet

Mincelers mostly subsist on seeds and grains, but they will also partake in a variety of vegetables, fruits, and even insects and meat.  Mincelers mostly farm and gather foods, eating whatever the season brings, but also storing foods for later.  They do not farm as humans do, but tend to the plants that grow naturally in their area, gathering some seeds to eat and planting some. Hunters tend to go after small prey, like grasshoppers and earthworms.  But a group may also take down small birds or lizards.  Bird eggs are a highly prized treat.  Some minceler communities also depend on fishing to supplement their diets.

Most communities have their own cuisine and special recipes.  Preserving food is especially important in areas with harsh winters.

Some mincelers-especially house mincelers-will scavenge from big folk.  But this is dangerous, and most prefer not to do it. 

[enbywerewolf]

Finishing up the week with some random mincelers

[enbywerewolf]

Here's some early sketches and my first minceler drawing from when i was figuring out how to draw mice

[enbywerewolf]

Bea helped me create the mincelers