---

Whisper is Soan's Voice. He stands out like a sore thumb among his human peers of the same title, and while the title of "Voice" has an inherent class and prestige attached to it, Whisper is often denied it by those who are uncomfortable seeing his likes among their ranks. He's always been a rather bristly, short tempered sort--but this social climate makes sure his short fuse is frequently lit.
Nobody's sure why Soan has selected such an unusual creature to serve him, but despite Whispers numerous short comings, Soan seems content with his decision. Whisper does an excellent job of testing the seemingly infinite patience of his master, but shows his fondness for the big ol' bug in his own ways.

A bit more...:

Hoblings have big, exaggerated claws for digging and large eyes for seeing in the dark. They are adapted for life conducted in dark burrows and nocturnal activity. Bright light tends to stress them out, sometimes even resulting in a "deer in headlights" reaction.
A hobling's "mane" is called a ruff. The ruff is divided into two portions: the area around the head is called a "pouf", and the area around the neck is known as the "trail". Like their overall stature, hobling ruffs vary enormously. Some hoblings possess thick, majestic ruffs with lengthy trails, and others (like Whisper!) are very short and svelte. Hobling pelage can vary enormously with the region, producing pale, thick coats near the poles and summery, spotted red-golds in warmer areas.
Hoblings rarely, if ever, serve as Voices. There are none recorded in known history. Soan's Voice is a particularly unusual choice for that reason, and others: this guy is a mischief maker, prickly, and radically introverted by turns, rarely exhibiting the studious, highly loyal traits that mark most Voices.
-Soan's Voice is young, but fully grown. They stand at five feet, a far cry from the large, tawny warriors that humans occasionally employ as bodyguards. Stereotypes would place him as a wily pickpocket on the street, or a lowly servant-type only fit for menial tasks.

---