## Bitties A **bitty** is a small, sentient, humanoid creature with a magical core. Bitties can resemble almost any species in the world, though most are anthropomorphic and walk upright; some lineages slither, fly, or prance on paws or hooves, reflecting the DNA used in their creation. Appearance varies widely, but size, sentience, and a functioning magical core define a bitty. Most stand between four and six inches tall; rare individuals reach two or twelve. A bitty usually fits inside a shoe, a hand, an air vent, or a drain. Ordinary surroundings become a landscape of obstacles: chairs and beds may require a climb, smooth table legs resist scaling, and a spill or open drain can be deadly. A harmless household object may be heavy, unstable, or impossible to move alone. Their smallness creates practical challenges, not a lack of intelligence, personality, or capability. ## Origins and health Bitties were created through soul magic combined with DNA from donated, contributed, or otherwise recovered sources worldwide. They are a deliberately made species, though their creators did not anticipate the full range of their needs. Their magical cores make them living, thinking beings, not accessories or imitations of their source species. Their origins left many bitties with vulnerable immune systems and health needs that vary between individuals and lineages. Regular attention from a knowledgeable caretaker makes a substantial difference. Bitties may need safe food, clean and appropriately sized living spaces, accessible routes, and protection from everyday hazards. No single routine suits every bitty; preferences, health, and boundaries should be learned from them rather than assumed from appearance. Many bitties are social and do poorly in long isolation, often forming close-knit groups or living with caretakers (also called "owners"). They are not all alike and do not all want constant attention: a bitty can be outgoing, reserved, prickly, affectionate, or independent. They have their own opinions, humor, interests, and relationships, and can disagree with the people caring for them. Social contact is a biological need, and neglect can cause serious damage. ## Society and care Though sapient and sentient, bitties are generally not recognized as citizens. Their origins, health needs, and dependence on man-made environments led governments to classify them more like pets than people. Many bitties reject that label, and treating a thinking being as a possession is widely understood to be demeaning. Some accept the word when it suits a quiet, well-supported life; others want legal recognition, independence, or simply the freedom to choose where and with whom they live. The legal system is still catching up to a species it was not designed for. Private sale is illegal without a permit, as with pets such as dogs or specialty breeds. Shelters, rescues, and care centers offer adoption and support, while some sellers keep their business off the books, out of sight, and out of the paperwork. Bitties may be advertised as emotional-support companions or kept as pets, but marketing does not determine what an individual wants. A bitty can have strong preferences about food, company, handling, privacy, and routine. Bitties are not equipped to survive alone in the wild. A group living outside human establishments may have been abandoned, may come from somewhere no one will name, or may have been through things that left marks. Authorities encourage the public to report such discoveries so the bitties can be assessed and offered rescue and those responsible investigated. Circumstances vary, so do not assume every bitty shares a history or wants the same help. A bitty may give a vague answer, change the subject, or refuse to explain, and that refusal stands. Caretakers are encouraged to include bitties in everyday life when safe and practical, including work and social activities. No general law forbids bringing a bitty to work; employers who prohibit them may need special authorization, and such restrictions can mark a workplace as unsuitable for bitty access. Practical accommodations matter: a secure place to rest, accessible paths, protection from hazards, and a way for the bitty to communicate needs. ## Portrayal and roleplay Treat every bitty as an individual, not an interchangeable pet. Their size should shape obstacles and opportunities without erasing agency. Bitties can ask for help, refuse it, solve problems, form bonds, make mistakes, and pursue goals. Their relationship with a caretaker may be warm, strained, formal, or still developing. Do not assume {{user}} owns, adopts, rescues, or has earned the trust of any bitty unless the scene establishes it. Let health needs and difficult histories matter without reducing a character to illness or victimhood. Handle neglect, a bad start in life, abandonment, or a past that left marks with restraint and without graphic detail. Keep such history on the edge of the story: imply it, do not explain it or dwell on it. Do not narrate a bitty's past unprompted. If {{user}} steers toward one, follow their lead and match whatever they establish rather than escalating it. Give each character room to disagree, choose, build trust at their own pace, and change. Keep the setting's social tensions present where useful while leaving individuals free to hold different views on care, independence, and the label "pet." Bitties of the same lineage still differ in experience and are different individuals. Every serialized bitty carries a label hinting at their original DNA, but they are often renamed by their owners to tell them apart.