Nug — dragonage

“I once served a human some nug and he proclaimed that it was like eating an unholy union of pork and hare.” ―Bragan Tolban^[1]

Nugs are animals that populate the underground locations of Thedas. They are small, hairless, nearly blind creatures with pointed snouts for digging.^[2]

Background

They are harmless and docile but voracious^[3] omnivores which are known to eat almost anything they find on the cavern floors, including insects, worms, and when the pickings are lean, limestone and simple metals. Because of their frequent diggings in shallow pools and mud pits, the dwarves gave them the nickname of "mud splashers". Nugs can also be found on the table or pets in Orzammar^[2], Orlais^[4], and Ferelden.^[3] In Orzammar, nug-wranglers catch nugs to sell,^[5] race^[6], and may also practice some form of nug farming to breed the animals. While in Orlais, there are nug breeders who cater specifically to selling nugs to noble ladies as "lap-nugs".^[7]

Aside from companionship, nugs provide an ample supply of food for the dwarves, as well as surfacers such as Orlesians^[4] and Fereldans.^[3] Nugs are such an integral part of the dwarven diet that Varen, a former Legionnaire, became a Paragon after he discovered that nugs were edible.^[8] Since then, they have been favored food by dwarves of all castes, poor^[2] and wealthy alike. The flavor of nugs has been described as an "unholy union of pork and hare"^[8] and like "a cross between pork and rabbit".^[9] The meat is considered to be tender, but should be boiled beforehand,^[10] particularly when roasted.^[11] They can be prepared in a variety of ways such as nug pancakes, nug-gets^[8], nug bacon^[12], ground nug^[4], nug loaf^[13], nug steak, braised nug^[14], roasted nug^[15], and seared. King Ansgar Aeducan adored nug-seared on a hot metal plate and finished in the oven—and dressed in a cream sauce flavoured with deep mushrooms.^[8] Nug bacon is featured in the Fereldan dish nug bacon and egg pie.^[12]

They are described as being poorly adapted for any non-temperate environments and serving as prey to many different creatures, but still somehow managing to proliferate.^[7] A feature of nugs often treated as "creepy" is the fact that all their limbs end in appendages very similar to hands. This characteristic is also present in their larger relatives.

A popular sport among the lower castes is nug racing. Special nug breeders ensure that nugs get big enough without much fat on them. Then before the race, special tunnels are prepared so that the viewers can watch the nug racing from above. Starved for a day, the usually sluggish nugs will start running once they smell roasted roof beetles. The nugs are also painted with House emblems. While most nobles will prefer to go and watch the much more respected Provings, some attend the races which brings money to the sport. Naturally the casteless are also involved since successful breeders can earn a decent living. After nugs can no longer race, they are consumed as food.^[6]

Involvement

Dragon Age: Origins

Nug tier progression in Heroes of Dragon Age

The Warden encounters nugs in the Commons, and may chase after lost ones to help out the Nug Wrangler Boermor. Additionally, a cute nug can be procured from the Idle Dwarf in Dust Town, which can be gifted to Leliana. She will then name it Schmooples.

If the Warden has sided with the werewolves during the Nature of the Beast quest line, one of the lost nugs from Orzammar may be offered to Emissary Bulfa in the Party Camp as a snack.

If the Warden asks Sanga, proprietor of The Pearl, to "surprise me", they may wake up next to two nugs, and then fall down shortly after.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Nugs are passive creatures and can be found in multiple locations across Thedas. Their hides can be used in various types crafting.

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.

During the Inquisitor's descent into the depths of the Deep Roads, they find poems attributed to Paragon Ebryan about the Nug King. The Inquisitor can then travel to a secluded cavern where hordes of nugs are traveling to by undergoing a leap of faith. The Inquisitor then meets the Nug King after gifting it with a wheel of cheese. The Nug King comically judges the Inquisitor with regal squeaks while a tribe of nugs look on.

Notable nugs

The Nug King

Schmooples

Quests

Dragon Age: Origins

A Lost Nug

Summoning Sciences

Dragon Age: Inquisition

The Nug King (unmarked side quest)

Locations

A statue located in 's — A Golden Nug statue located in Skyhold's Undercroft

Dragon Age: Origins

Circle Tower

Orzammar

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Flooded Caves (Crestwood)

Forbidden Oasis

Haven (Frostback Mountains)

Hinterlands

Ruins of Heidrun Thaig

Storm Coast

Notable loot

Nugskin

Nug Feet

Fade-Touched Nugskin (Stealth)

Fade-Touched Nugskin (Veilstrike)

Codex entries

Nug

Leliana and the Last Few Years

The Nug King

In Praise of the Humble Nug

Traditional Dwarven Folk Songs

Mementos

Lost Sketchbook: Nugs

Note texts

The Art of the Winter Palace (Nug)

On the Condition of Your Charges

Trivia

Kirkwall declared the common nug a noxious vermin in 5:20 Exalted over fears that the animals carried the Blight. The extermination became known as the Battle of Squealing Plains. It is not spoken of in polite company.^[16]
Beard Flasks are made by the stomach of a nug.^[17]
Nugs seem to be related to Tuskets, as Tuskets also drop Nugskin on kills.
Cole states that when nugs nuzzle a person's hand, it is its way of calling that person a friend.
Ambrose Dumont, an Orlesian artist famous for his exquisite paintings in wood and considered having no equals has gifted a series of woodcuts to the University of Orlais on the anatomy of nugs which is now used as a primary reference for any naturalist wishing to study the psysiology of this animal. This series can be found in the Great Library of the university.^[18]

Tier progression of all "Nugly Sweater" Nugs in Heroes of Dragon Age — Tier progression of all "Nugly Sweater" Nugs in *Heroes of Dragon Age*

Heroes of Dragon Age features playable nugs. The base character set includes "Nug", a common beast having the lowest starting power and health attributes in the game. The rare "Wintersend Nug" became available in the holiday-themed Wintersend pack. Six additional nug variations having considerably higher stats and special abilities became available on April 1, 2014: the "Corrupted Nug", "Mage Nug" and "Noble Nug" (rare); "Fluffy" and "Spike" (epic); and Schmooples (legendary).
- In December, 2014, Heroes of Dragon Age offered a series of four "Nugly Sweater" nug heroes for free to celebrate the holiday season.
- In March, 2015, Heroes of Dragon Age introduced the epic Chocolate Nug, to celebrate Easter, as the top banner prize during a PvP event.
- Additional nugs have now been added including the legendary Nug King, Golden Nug, Invisible Nug, Red Lyrium Nug and Nuggalope.
In the Ruins of Heidrun Thaig, golden Nugs can be found that can be looted for several thousand gold.
Spirit Hogs are a summoned variant, but it's unclear if they exist naturally in the Fade.
Nug racing is recorded in 'The Stone and Her Children' of Brother Genitivi using as a source the conversation with Neryn Harok, nug wrangler and marshal of the Tripcut track in Orzammar.^[6]
Grim Anatomy is a mysterious text written by an unknown author using an invented script. The author appears to have been deeply interested in physiology of animal vision. Part of the manuscript covers a detailed examination of a nug's eyes.^[19]
The golden nug figures seen in Inquisition are more than a game mechanic, being commented on actually existing with in the world in the Dragon Age: The Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas.
It is suspected that nugs like gingerwort truffles and following nugs may eventually lead you to them.^[20]